How to Change the Default Operating System to Start in Windows 7 and Vista
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.
EXAMPLE: Windows Boot Manager
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.
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.
That's it,
Shawn