Startup Options - Enable or Disable in Windows 8

How to Enable or Disable New Startup Options Boot Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

This will show you how to enable or disable the new Startup Options GUI boot menu in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.

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

---

• How Run a "Automatic Repair" to Fix Windows 8 Startup Problems
• How to Boot to the Windows 8 Startup Options Menu
• How to Create a "Startup Options Menu" Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Boot to the "System Recovery Options" in Windows 8
• How to Boot to the Advanced Windows "Startup Settings" in Windows 8
• How to Choose a Default Operating System to Run at Startup in Windows 8
• How to Delete an Operating System Listed in Windows Boot Manager
• How to Enable or Disable "GUI Boot" in Windows
• How to Load SATA Driver During Windows 8 Setup
• How to Boot from a USB Drive within Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Boot from a USB Drive on Surface
• Enable or Disable Always Automatically Boot PC from USB Drive in Windows To Go Startup Options

 

[ajay250496]

I am trying to get the new GUI menu. I am running windows 10 and windows 8.1. As you can see everthing is set to standard



Everything is set to standard yet i get the legacy boot menu.

 

[Brink]

Hello Ajay, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Double check the items listed in the blue note box at the top of the tutorial to see if anything may apply.

 

[ajay250496]

Hello Ajay, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Double check the items listed in the blue note box at the top of the tutorial to see if anything may apply.

I checked the notes however most of them does not apply to me as i am doing windows 8.1 and windows 10 which both have the gui manager as default. Yet it does not pop up all the time. I find it odd that sometimes the gui pops up then other times the legacy boot manager pops up. I will keep investigating and post if i figure out the problem

 

[Brink]

The key should be what common action is done when it shows the legacy boot manager.

 

[ajay250496]

The key should be what common action is done when it shows the legacy boot manager.

Is there a way i can check this? logs perhaps?

 

[Brink]

Other than noticing what you're doing when it happens, I'm not sure what else to check yet.

 

[ajay250496]

I have not noticed anything different as i am simply shutting the pc off and turning it on.

However upon investigating the issue i have booted off a windows installation and run the command:

Bootrec /scanos

And i get 0 total windows installations as illustrated hrre:


If i run the bcdedit command i get both windows installations exactly how i screenshotted in a previous post.

I am looking into this now. Any help would be much appreciated

 

[Brink]

I'm not sure what else to suggest either.

 

[ajay250496]

I am going to see if i can make a separate post and hope for a solution. Its quite frustrating cause i am pretty knowledgeable on windows OS's and its frustrating that i cant figure out the problem.