Can I change someone's boot sequence remotely?

[SJMaye]

I live 600 miles aware from my Dad and use TeamViewer to connect and fix issues for him. I want to change his boot sequence to boot from USB stick. Is there a solution?

 

[Mcgluke]

What manufacturer is the system you are attempting to change? You unfortunately can't TV into his BIOS so it will have to be changed on site so the best option is to make it clear ans simple how to do this from BIOS

May i ask why you need to boot from USB?

Regards,

 

[SJMaye]

This is a dell pc. Why change boot priority? My Dad complains endlessly of slow boot times for Windows. All he uses the computer for is the internet. I was going to try running the ChromeOS from a flashdrive which requires booting from the flash drive. Hence the need to change boot priority.

Any thoughts?

 

[Mcgluke]

Well you (he) will have to change the boot order in the BIOS menu, You could use the one time boot option but that would require him to press the certain F key (HP is F9, Never owned a Dell) during the BIOS screen each time he wanted to use ChromeOS. If he need not boot back into Windows you can set the boot order to boot from USB first every time but then to get back into windows would be need to be changed again using the above method.

I suggest you use TV and clean up his Windows installation to make it faster and safer for his to utilize if you know what your doin

Regards,

EDIT:What's with the reply about Remote access? Wrong topic?

 

[SJMaye]

I suggest you use TV and clean up his Windows installation to make it faster and safer for his to utilize if you know what your doin

Well, knowing what I am doing? That's questionable. I constantly monitor what is booting, but there are so many processes and services loading that I do not recognize I am afraid to cut them in msconfig.

Is there anything here on Seven Forums to guide me to a stripped down boot up?

 

[badger906]

you can safely remove everything from the startup tab in msconfig.

windows will still boot and work.
you want to keep the virus scanner and any firewall/spyware programs that arw installed. As well as any dell features such as wifi drivers or hotkeys (if its a laptop)

if he really wants to juice things up get him to buy an SSD wont complain then!!

 

[Mcgluke]

I have never used ChromeOS, I am unaware of its complication, If any. There is no way known (to my knowledge) to change boot order without BIOS being entered unless you were to use third party software like EasyBCD or something similar if that is an option?

As for a "stripped down boot up" I would navigate to System Configuration, Go to services, Down the bottom of the current window you will see a box stating "hide all microsoft services" TICK that and see what else is loading during startup. You can safely untick all the remaining services although you would want to keep the important ones like anti-virus, Audio etc. and any crucial services for his needs.
You said he only uses it for browsing so i'd would assume you can untick all but your AV. While you are there i would also see what programs are starting with windows and again untick all that aren't required for his use.

This will speed up the boot time somewhat but i think to optimize we need to go much deeper, Which may not be needed.

What are the system specs may i ask?

You may have replied to the wrong post regarding Elena's question?

 

[Layback Bear]

I wouldn't bother with boot order and thumb drives for a browser.

Take a long look at this tutorial by Brink. # 8 & 9 should be helpful.
Read the whole tutorial and decide what to do.
All of the steps most likely won't be needed.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.html

 

[Mcgluke]

If only that were enough speed things up on a Win system He's just trying to keep you using Windows in my op

 

[SJMaye]

I wouldn't bother with boot order and thumb drives for a browser.

Take a long look at this tutorial by Brink. # 8 & 9 should be helpful.
Read the whole tutorial and decide what to do.
All of the steps most likely won't be needed.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.htmlhttp://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.htmlhttp://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.html

Thanks for this. I will certainly give it a try.

 

[LMiller7]

Windows and Windows software has no access to BIOS settings. The settings available and where and how they are stored is known only to the BIOS software. Windows has no knowledge of this.

This is a good thing. If legitimate software had access to the BIOS settings you can be very sure that malicious software would as well and would take full advantage. That would open up a whole new world of possibilities for such software.