Startup Options - Choose a Default OS to Run at Startup in Windows 8

How to Choose a Default Operating System to Run at Startup in Windows 8

information   Information
If you have more than one operating system installed along with Windows 8 for a dual or multi boot system, then this will show you how to choose a default OS to run at startup automatically.

By default, the choosen default OS will always run at startup automatically after the default 30 seconds timeout period expires unless you choose another listed OS within the 30 seconds to have that OS run at startup instead.





OPTION ONE

To Choose a Default OS in Startup Options at Boot


NOTE: Any user can do this option at boot.
1. Boot to the Startup Options screen.​
2. Click on Change defaults or choose other options at the bottom. (see screenshot below)​
Startup_Options-1.jpg
3. Click on Choose a default operating system. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: This will also show you what your current default OS is.​
Startup_Options-2.jpg
4. Select (click on) a listed OS that you want to be the new default OS to run at startup automatically. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: You will also see what your current default OS is at the top.​
Startup_Options-3.jpg
5. Verify that this is the default OS you want, and click on the back arrow at the top left corner. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: If the default OS shown is not what you wanted, then repeat step 3 above.​
Startup_Options-4.jpg
6. You are finished, click on the OS that you want to run at startup for just this time. (see screenshot below)​
Startup_Options-5.jpg






OPTION TWO

To Choose a Default OS in Startup and Recovery


NOTE: You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option.
1. Do either step 2 or 3 below for how you would like to open System.​
2. Open the Power Users Task Menu, and click on System. (see screenshot below)​
Startup_Recovery-1.jpg
A) Go to step 4 below.​
OR
3. Open the Control Panel (icons view) and click on the System icon.​
A) Go to step 4 below.​
4. In the left pane, click on the Advanced system settings link. (see screenshot below)​
Startup_Recovery-2.jpg
5. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes, and close the System window above.​
6. In the Advanced tab, click on the Settings button under Startup and Recovery. (see screenshot below)​
Startup_Recovery-3.jpg
7. Under System Startup, select a OS from the drop down menu that you want to be the default OS to run at startup automatically, then click on OK. (see screenshots below)​
Startup_Recovery-4A.jpgStartup_Recovery-4B.jpg
8. Click on OK. (see screenshot below step 6)​






OPTION THREE

To Choose a Default OS in System Configuration (msconfig)


NOTE: You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option.
1. From the Start screen, start typing msconfig and press Enter when finished.​
NOTE: You could also press Windows+R to open the Run dialog, type msconfig, and click on OK.​
2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.​
3. In the Boot tab, select (highlight) a listed OS that you want to be the new default OS to run at startup automatically, click on the Set as default button, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: The current default OS will have Default OS to the right of the listed OS.​
msconfig-1.jpg
4. When ready, click on the Restart button to apply. (see screenshot below)​
WARNING: This will restart the computer immediately. Be sure to save and close anything open that you do not want to lose first.​
msconfig-2.jpg





OPTION FOUR

To Choose a Default OS in a Command Prompt with BCDEDIT


NOTE: You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option.
2. In the command prompt, type bcdedit and press enter. (see screenshot below)​
Note   Note
This will let you see what the default OS is 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, Windows 7 Ultimate (description) as {08ea7340-743c-11e1-a16b-000c29ebef34} (identifier).

Note   Note

CMD-1.jpg
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 Windows 7 Ultimate (description) as {08ea7340-743c-11e1-a16b-000c29ebef34} (identifier), I would type this below and press Enter.​
bcdedit /default {08ea7340-743c-11e1-a16b-000c29ebef34}
CMD-2.jpg
4. When finished, close the command prompt.​

That's it,
Shawn


 

Attachments

  • Advanced_Startup.png
    Advanced_Startup.png
    1.6 KB · Views: 356
Last edited:
Great tut Shawn. That is even easier than with EasyBCD. And very useful if you have Win7 and Win8 because then you can chose Win7 as default to avoid the act of the UEFI boot.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Thank you Wolfgang. I also find that using the Advanced Startup shortcut or option (option two) while in Windows 8 makes it real easy to switch to say Windows 7 without the usual double full restarts.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hi Brink. Is there any way to do this, to another person's computer's hard disk? Like his dual boot is failing to boot up from Windows 8, and can I take out his hard disk, and edit his hard disk so that when it gets pop back in to his computer, it boots from Windows 7 instead?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 and Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad X201T

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Sorry about that. :(
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Back
Top