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Windows 7: Windows Boot Manager - Delete a Listed Operating System


Windows Boot Manager - Delete a Listed Operating System

How to Delete an Operating System Listed in Windows Boot Manager
Published 17 Jan 2009
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How to Delete an Operating System Listed in Windows Boot Manager

information   Information
This will show you how to delete a non-default operating system in Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8 from the list in Windows Boot Manager or Startup Options (Windows 8) that allows you to select a OS to run at startup.

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


EXAMPLE: Windows Boot Manager or "Startup Options" (Windows 8)
NOTE: This is the boot screen where you select what operating system that you would like to start. By default, you have 30 seconds to choose another operating system before the default operating system will start automatically.
Windows Boot Manager - Delete a Listed Operating System-boot_manager.jpg Windows Boot Manager - Delete a Listed Operating System-startup_options.jpg



OPTION ONE
Through System Configuration
1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type msconfig, and press Enter.

2. Click/tap on the Boot tab. (see screenshot below)
Windows Boot Manager - Delete a Listed Operating System-boot.jpg
3. Select the operating system you want to delete that is not set as the Default OS, and click/tap on Delete. (see screenshot above)
NOTE: If the OS you want to delete from the list is the Default OS, then you will need to change the default operating system to another listed OS first.

4. Check the Make all boot settings permanent box, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 2)

5. Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)
Windows Boot Manager - Delete a Listed Operating System-confirm.jpg
6. Click/tap 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.
Windows Boot Manager - Delete a Listed Operating System-restart.jpg



OPTION TWO
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 are under the Windows Boot Loader section(s). For example, Microsoft Windows Vista (description) as {730ab458-b062-11e0-84f1-fa307df851c2} (identifier).
Windows Boot Manager - Delete a Listed Operating System-cmd-1.jpg
3. In the elevated command prompt, type the command below for a listed OS that you want to delete, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If the OS you want to delete from the list is the Default OS, then you will need to change the default operating system to another listed OS first.
bcdedit /delete {identifier}

For example: If I wanted to delete Microsoft Windows Vista (description) as {730ab458-b062-11e0-84f1-fa307df851c2} (identifier), I would type this below and press Enter.

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

Windows Boot Manager - Delete a Listed Operating System-cmd-2.jpg
4. In the elevated command prompt, type bcdedit and press enter. (see screenshot below step 3)
NOTE: This will let you see and verify that the OS has been deleted.

5. When finished, close the elevated command prompt.



OPTION THREE
Using the "EasyBCD" Program


Note   Note
Note provided by Ray.

If you use EasyBCD in Windows 8, EasyBCD will use the Windows 7 Boot Loader.

If you would like to use the Windows 8 Boot Loader, refresh Windows 8.

After doing a refresh, you will be using the Windows 8 Boot Loader. Refresh will also delete the EasyBCD program.

1. 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, select the OS (ex: Microsoft Windows Vista) that you want to delete, and click on the Delete button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If the OS you want to delete from the list is the Default OS, then you will need to change the default operating system to another listed OS first.
Windows Boot Manager - Delete a Listed Operating System-easybcd-1.jpg
3. Click/tap on Yes to confirm deletion. (see screenshot below)
Windows Boot Manager - Delete a Listed Operating System-easybcd-2.jpg
4. The OS (ex: Microsoft Windows Vista) is now deleted. (see screenshot below)
Windows Boot Manager - Delete a Listed Operating System-easybcd-3.jpg
5. When finished, close EasyBCD.
That's it,
Shawn










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Loading
17 Jan 2009   #1
skunksmash

SEVEN x64
UK
 
 

thanks Shawn........

i've had a rouge Windows 7 boot option ever since 6801 & now i can remove it....





SK
My System SpecsSystem Spec

17 Jan 2009   #2
Brink

64-bit Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 & Windows 8 Enterprise
Texas
 
 

You're welcome Mitch.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
11 Aug 2009   #3
WildCard

xp pro
 
 

I have Window XP Pro 32bit and had installed Windows 7 64bit RC1 on a sperate hard drive. I have since formatted the drive with Windows 7 on it and still have the dual boot manager. Unless I am there to choose the XP the system will try to boot to Windows 7 that isn't there anymore. How can I get rid of the dual boot manager and automatilly boot to XP? Thanks for your help in advance.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
.


11 Aug 2009   #4
Brink

64-bit Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 & Windows 8 Enterprise
Texas
 
 

Hello WildCard, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You can use EasyBCD in the Add/Remove Entries section to remove the Windows 7 boot entry from with XP. You will also need to install .Net Framework 2.0 for EasyBCD to work in XP though.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
My System SpecsSystem Spec
11 Aug 2009   #5
WildCard

xp pro
 
 

Thank You so much Brink! I had just about given up hope. I had tried some other things but was having no luck and your solution worked like a charm. Took me less than five minutes and the problem was solved. Thanks again for the help.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
11 Aug 2009   #6
Brink

64-bit Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 & Windows 8 Enterprise
Texas
 
 

You're most welcome WildCard.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
14 Aug 2009   #7
drywallguy

Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Austin
 
 
Thanks

You would think that after dual booting the last 3 operating systems on
more than 1 computer a person would remember these things. Alas no.
Thanks for jogging my memory, Doug
My System SpecsSystem Spec
14 Aug 2009   #8
Brink

64-bit Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 & Windows 8 Enterprise
Texas
 
 

You're welcome Doug. We have so much to remember, that it's not hard to forget something every now and then.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
23 Oct 2009   #9
nate42nd

Windows 7 Professional x64
The Wild West
 
 

To stop dual booting, you should be able to use this method within Vista or Windows 7 and then extend that "C" partition into the one created for the dual boot. Will this work as long as the default is to the left on the "disk management" screen?
My System SpecsSystem Spec
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