Startup Options - Enable or Disable in Windows 8

**Brink** · 24 Mar 2012

How to Enable or Disable the New Windows 8 Startup Options Boot Menu

Information

This will show you how to enable or disable the new Windows 8 Startup Options GUI boot menu. If disabled, you will see the old Windows Boot Manager screen like in Windows 7 and Vista at boot instead.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this tutorial.

Note

You will only see the new Windows 8 Startup Options GUI boot menu if you either multi-boot Windows 8 with another OS (ex: Windows 7 or Vista) with Windows 8 set as the default OS to run at startup, added Safe Mode to the Windows Boot Manager, use the Startup Options menu shortcut inside Windows 8, or boot from your Windows 8 installation media (ex: DVD/USB).
If you dual boot Windows 8 with another OS (ex: Windows 7 or Vista), and the other OS (ex: Windows 7 or Vista) is set as the default OS to run at startup, then you will not see the new Windows 8 Startup Options GUI boot menu. Instead, you will only see the old Windows Boot Manager screen.
If you added Safe Mode to the Windows Boot Manager and Safe Mode is set as the default OS to run at startup, then you will not see the new Windows 8 Startup Options GUI boot menu. Instead, you will only see the old Windows Boot Manager screen.
This tutorial does not affect the Startup Options screen if opened using your Windows 8 installation media (ex: DVD/USB), or the Startup Options menu shortcut inside Windows 8.
If you have fast startup (hybrid shutdown) turned on and do a hybrid shutdown from the Power menu, then you will still get the Windows 8 Startup Options GUI boot menu at boot no matter if you have set Windows 8 Startup Options GUI boot menu to be enable or disabled in this tutorial.
If you disable the Windows 8 Startup Options GUI boot menu, then it will only not show at boot when you do a full shutdown or restart of the computer.
If you disable the Windows 8 Startup Options GUI boot menu, then you will be able to press F8 at boot to boot to the Advanced Boot Options screen.

EXAMPLE: Windows 8 "Startup Options" GUI Boot Menu Enable or Disabled

Here's How:

1. Open an elevated command prompt or a command prompt at boot.

2. In the command prompt, type bcdedit, and press Enter.

3. From under a Windows Boot Loader section, look for the description that has Windows 8 listed, and make note of it's identifier number (ex: {current} (in Windows 8) or {default} (at boot) ) . (see screenshots under step 5 or 6 below)

4. Do either step 5 or 6 below for what you would like to do.

5. To Enable the Newer Windows 8 "Startup Options" GUI Boot Menu
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) In the command prompt, type the command below and press Enter.
NOTE: Substitute identifier number in the command below with your actual Windows 8 identifier number from step 3.

bcdedit /set {identifier number} bootmenupolicy Standard

For example:
I would type this command below exactly since my Windows 8 identifier number is {current}.

bcdedit /set {current} bootmenupolicy Standard

B) Close the command prompt, and go to step 7.

6. To Disable the Windows 8 "Startup Options" GUI Boot Menu to have the old "Windows Boot Manager" Screen Instead

A) In the command prompt, type either command below and press Enter.
NOTE: Substitute identifier number in the command below with your actual Windows 8 identifier number from step 3.

bcdedit /set {identifier number} bootmenupolicy Legacy

OR

bcdedit /deletevalue {identifier number} bootmenupolicy

For example:
I would type either command below exactly since my Windows 8 identifier number is {current}.

bcdedit /set {current} bootmenupolicy Legacy

OR

bcdedit /deletevalue {current} bootmenupolicy

B) Close the command prompt, and go to step 7.

7. If you like, restart the computer to see the change.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**Tweaker** · 14 Jul 2012

It doesn't work for me.I'm currently dual booting Windows 8(Release Preview) and Windows 7

**Brink** · 14 Jul 2012

Hello Tweaker, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Are you trying to enable or disable the Windows 8 startup options, and what is it doing currently?

Double check to make sure that you are using the correct identifier number.

Double check the items in the blue NOTE box at the top of the tutorial to see if any may apply.

**hansii99** · 13 Aug 2012

I disabled the Windows 8 "Startup Options" GUI Boot Menu.
But this only works when a Restart or an Full Shutdown is initiated.

When I use the Hybrid Shutdown (this is default in Win 8, I think) the GUI boot menu comes up.

(My System: Dual boot Windows 8-RP / Windows 8-RTM)

I there a Limitation für hybrid boot ?

**Brink** · 13 Aug 2012

Hello Hansii,

Yes, that would be correct. If you do a hybrid (fast) shutdown, then you will still get the Windows 8 "Startup Options" GUI at boot whether it's been disabled or not. Only with a full shutdown or restart will it remain disabled if set that way.

**Bare Foot Kid** · 24 Aug 2012

Hello Shawn.

When first I tried this I tried from Windows 7 and it would not work, I booted into Windows 8 and it would work from there, if that's listed above in the tutorial I must have missed it.

Thank you very much for all the hard work you put in at these sites.

**Brink** · 24 Aug 2012

Hey Ted, and thank you.

Were you sure that you were using the correct identifier number for Windows 8 while in Windows 7? It wouldn't be Current while in Windows 7 since Windows 7 is the current OS loaded.

**Bare Foot Kid** · 25 Aug 2012

That was it mate, thanks!

**Brink** · 25 Aug 2012

That's great news. You're welcome mate.

**Dave76** · 21 Nov 2012

Hi Shawn,
My laptop was alternating when starting, to the Windows 8 GUI boot menu /Old W7 GUI boot menu. Every time a different GUI boot menu.

Followed your tut and now is starting with the Windows 8 GUI boot menu after a full shutdown. When restarting it goes to the Old W7 GUI boot menu.
This is fine, just wondering if that is normal?

Similar Threads
Tutorial	Forum
Startup Options Menu - Boot to in Windows 8	Tutorials
Does one click Disable/Enable Metro work on W8 CP?	General Support
Startup Options Menu Shortcut - Create in Windows 8	Tutorials
Microsoft have made a terrible omission - Startup Options (F8)	Virtualization

Startup Options - Enable or Disable in Windows 8

Published by

Tutorial Tools