John installed Vista and Windows 2000 on the same machine he uses to boot Windows XP. He wants the default OS to boot to XP and not show the other options. If he needs one of the other options he wants some sort of an option to get at it – obviously.
I told him the only way I know how and that is through the boot.ini file but we will get at it through a couple of check boxes from the system properties page.
Follow these steps:
- Right click on My Computer.
- Choose Properties.
- Click Advanced at the top.
- Choose the edit button under Startup and Recovery.
- Make sure your OS of choice is the DEFAULT OS.
- Un-check the box next to time to display list of operating systems.
Now when you reboot XP, will boot with out giving you any option of the other OS’s. Don’t worry they are still there. We didn’t delete anything. If you want to go to a different OS just come back to the properties screen above and re-check the box in step 6.
Anyone have any better ideas? I know you do – that’s what the comments are for!
And don’t forget about our Roxio 10 contest here. We will be picking the winner on Friday so there is still time to comment and win!!
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I prefer to select the OS to boot at start time by pressing F8 continuously before Windows start bootup.
I just deal with the boot loader screen. Ray that does not work for me on XP. F8 just gives me Safe mode type options. Do I need to configure something there? IF they show up in the boot loader and ini file?
I prefer to select the OS to boot at start time by pressing F8 continuously before Windows start bootup.
I just deal with the boot loader screen. Ray that does not work for me on XP. F8 just gives me Safe mode type options. Do I need to configure something there? IF they show up in the boot loader and ini file?
If you have Vista loaded on the same machine the boot.ini file will only cover XP and 2000. Vista uses the new boot configuration database (BCD).
So what you end up with is a BCD screen that offers Vista and “Older Version of Windows” and then if you select older version, the boot.ini screen offers XP and 2000.
You can use a tool like Vista Boot Pro to configure the BCD and you might be able to get all 3 on one screen. I haven’t had any luck with it, but I didn’t try too hard.
I set the timeouts to 5 sec and go do something else while it reboots. In my opinion, hiding the other options is more trouble than it’s worth because getting back at them latter becomes a PITA.
I will be sticking with my virtual machines on my single boot xp machine. thanks for the suggestions though ppl
I will be sticking with my virtual machines on my single boot xp machine. thanks for the suggestions though ppl
Kelsey Grammer goes for it, one additional time. You would believe after 3 efforts, he might possibly understand a lot better, however a person never educate any kind of guy. We’ll witness how incredibly long this one holds up, I guess.