Windows 7: Default Operating System - Change Default Boot OS

   Information

If you dual boot with one or more operating systems installed other than Windows 7 or Vista, then this will show you how to change the default operating system to start in the Windows Boot Manager.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

OPTION ONE

Through Startup and Recovery

1. Open the Start Menu.

A) Right click on the Computer button on the dark right side and click on Properties.

B) Go to step 3.

OR

2. Open the Control Panel (icons view) and click on the System icon.

3. In the left blue pane, click on the Advanced system settings link. (See screenshot below)

4. Close the System window. (See screenshot above)

5. Under the Advanced tab, click on the Settings button under Startup and Recovery. (See screenshot below)

6. Under System Startup, select a operating system from the drop down menu to be the new default operating system, then click on OK. (See screenshots below)

7. Click on OK. (See screenshot below step 5)

OPTION TWO

Through System Configuration

1. Open the Start Menu, type msconfig in the search line, and press Enter.

2. Click on the Boot tab. (see screenshot below)

3. Select a listed operating system that is not already set as the Default OS, and click on the Set as default button to make the selected OS the new default instead. (see screenshot above)

4. Click on OK. (see screenshot below step 2)

5. Click on the Restart button. (see screenshot below)
WARNING: This will restart the computer immediately. Make sure you save and close anything open that you do not want to lose first.

OPTION THREE

Using the bcdedit Command

1. Open a elevated command prompt or a command prompt at boot.
NOTE: If you have a RAID setup or a PCI-E SSD as your boot drive and want to open a command prompt at boot, then you may need to use the Load Drivers option in the System Recovery Options screen to load it's drivers first before Windows will see the boot drive to be able to use the bcdedit command on it.

2. In the elevated command prompt, type bcdedit and press enter. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This will let you see what OS is the default to start under the Windows Boot Manager section, and to see the description (name) and identifier of the operating system(s) listed in Windows Boot Manager under the Windows Boot Loader section(s). For example, Microsoft Windows Vista (description) as {730ab458-b062-11e0-84f1-fa307df851c2} (identifier).

3. In the elevated command prompt, type the command below for a listed OS that you want to be the default OS to start, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

bcdedit /default {identifier}

For example: If I wanted to change the default OS to start from Windows 7 Ultimate (description) as {current} (identifier) to Microsoft Windows Vista (description) as {730ab458-b062-11e0-84f1-fa307df851c2} (identifier), I would type this below and press Enter.

bcdedit /default {730ab459-b062-11e0-84f1-fa307df851c2}

4. In the elevated command prompt, type bcdedit and press enter. (see screenshot below step 3)
NOTE: This will let you see and verify the new default OS identifier to start under the Windows Boot Manager section. For example, {default} identifier for Microsoft Windows Vista (description) now.

5. When finished, close the elevated command prompt.

OPTION FOUR

Using the "EasyBCD" Program

1. If you have not already, download and install a free version of the EasyBCD program, then run it.
NOTE: The free version download is at the bottom under "Download free for limited, non-commercial use". Registration is not required to download.

2. Click on the Edit Boot Menu button, then check the box for the OS that you want to be the default OS to start in the Windows Boot Manager. (see screenshot below)

3. When finished, close EasyBCD.