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Original post : BCDEdit - Guide for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10.
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This guide explains how to use the <strong>BCDEdit</strong> (bcdedit.exe) utility for the following Windows versions: <strong>Vista, 7, 8, 8.1</strong>or<strong>10</strong> BCDEdit is the command-line utility that you can use to manage BCD stores on your computer. BCDEdit works similarly to Bootcfg.exe available on Windows XP systems, but with more options available and various improvements. <h2>BCDEdit on Windows</h2> <p class="warning">You must be logged-in as an Administrator in order to use BCDEdit.</p> Always create a backup of your current BCD file before using the utility with the help of the <code>/export</code> parameter: <pre>bcdedit /export C:\exportBCDfile</pre> <strong>To open bcdedit, you need to:</strong> <ol> <li>Open Command Prompt</li> <li>Type: <pre>bcdedit</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> </ol> When you type <code>bcdedit</code> in Command Prompt, the output is your computer's current BCD configuration: <pre>Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0] Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. C:\Windows\system32>bcdedit Windows Boot Manager -------------------- identifier {bootmgr} device partition=C: description Windows Boot Manager locale en-US inherit {globalsettings} default {current} resumeobject {0} displayorder {current} toolsdisplayorder {memdiag} timeout 30 Windows Boot Loader ------------------- identifier {current} device partition=C: path \Windows\system32\winload.exe description Microsoft Windows Vista locale en-US inherit {bootloadersettings} recoverysequence {0} recoveryenabled Yes osdevice partition=C: systemroot \Windows resumeobject {0} nx OptIn</pre> <h3>BCDEdit on Windows XP</h3> Windows XP doesn't have a bcdedit.exe utility available, but the bootcfg.exe utility instead. Bootcfg.exe is part of the Windows XP's Recovery Console. <p class="info">To read about bootcfg, follow our guide: <a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/bootcfg/">Bootcfg – Guide for Windows XP</a>.</p> <h3>BCDEdit on Windows Vista</h3> To run bcdedit.exe on a Windows Vista system, you have these options available: <ul> <li>Use the original Windows Vista installation media to access Command Prompt</li> <li>If Repair Your Computer option is available on Advanced Boot Options menu, boot into this mode to access Command Prompt</li> <li>Use Easy Recovery Essentials</li> </ul> <strong>If you have the Windows Vista installation DVD</strong>, follow these steps: <ol> <li>Insert the installation media and boot from it</li> <li>Select a language, time and keyboard and click <strong>Next</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Repair your computer</strong> [caption id="attachment_2109" align="alignnone" width="393"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2109" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/06/windows-vista-repair-your-computer.png" alt="Windows Vista Repair Your Computer Menu" width="393" height="277" /> Windows Vista Repair Your Computer Menu[/caption]</li> <li>Select the operating system</li> <li>Click <strong>Next</strong></li> <li>At the <em>System Recovery Options</em> screen, click <strong>Command Prompt</strong> [caption id="attachment_2110" align="alignnone" width="340"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2110" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/06/windows-vista-system-recovery-options.jpg" alt="Windows Vista System Recovery Options" width="340" height="255" /> Windows Vista System Recovery Options[/caption]</li> <li>Type: <pre>bcdedit.exe</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> </ol> <strong>If you have the "Repair Your Computer" option available</strong>, you can access Command Prompt from there: <ol> <li>Restart the computer</li> <li>Press the <kbd>F8</kbd> key to open the <strong>Advanced Boot Options</strong> menu</li> <li>Select <strong>Repair Your Computer</strong> and press <kbd>Enter</kbd><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1719" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/02/advanced-boot-options-repair-computer-windows-vista-on-dell.png" alt="advanced-boot-options-repair-computer-windows-vista-on-dell" width="980" height="650" /></li> <li>If Repair Your Computer isn't available, the recovery tools aren't installed on your computer.</li> <li>At the System Recovery Options screen, click <strong>Command Prompt</strong></li> <li>Type: <pre>bcdedit.exe</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> </ol> <strong>If you use Easy Recovery Essentials Command-line:</strong> [partial name="partial_easyre_commandline"] <h3>BCDEdit on Windows 7</h3> The options to run bcdedit.exe on Windows 7 systems are similar to <a href="#BCDEdit_on_Windows_Vista">those of Windows Vista</a>. <strong>If you have the Windows 7 installation DVD available</strong>, follow these steps: <ol> <li>Insert the DVD in the optical drive</li> <li>Boot from it by restarting the computer and pressing any key when prompted</li> <li>Select a language, time and keyboard</li> <li>Click <strong>Next</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Repair your computer</strong> [caption id="attachment_1505" align="alignnone" width="800"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1505" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/10/Install-Now-Windows-7.jpg" alt="Windows 7 setup Install Now dialog, with repair your computer link" width="800" height="600" /> Install Now (Windows 7)[/caption]</li> <li>Select the operating system from the list and click <strong>Next</strong></li> <li>At System Recovery Options, click <strong>Command Prompt</strong></li> <li>Type: <pre>bcdedit.exe</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> </ol> <strong>If you have the "Repair Your Computer" available at "Advanced Boot Options"</strong> (most Windows 7 systems have these recovery tools installed), follow these steps: <ol> <li>Restart the computer</li> <li>Press the <kbd>F8</kbd> key to open <strong>Advanced Boot Options</strong></li> <li>Select <strong>Repair your computer</strong> [caption id="attachment_1399" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1399" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/Windows-7-Advanced-Boot-Options.png" alt="Advanced Boot Options on Windows 7" width="1024" height="768" /> Advanced Boot Options on Windows 7[/caption]</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>At the <em>System Recovery Options</em>, click <strong>Command Prompt</strong></li> <li>Type: <pre>bcdedit.exe</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> </ol> <strong>If you use Easy Recovery Essentials Command-line:</strong> [partial name="partial_easyre_commandline"] <h3>BCDEdit on Windows 8</h3> On Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 systems, you need to have the original installation media (DVD or USB drive) in order to access Command Prompt. <strong>If you have the installation media</strong>, follow these steps: <ol> <li>Insert the Windows 8 DVD or Windows 8.1 USB drive</li> <li>Restart the computer and boot from the DVD/USB</li> <li>Click <strong>Repair your computer</strong> [caption id="attachment_2111" align="alignnone" width="610"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2111" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/06/windows-8-repair-your-computer-screen.png" alt="Windows 8 Repair Your Computer Menu" width="610" height="430" /> Windows 8 Repair Your Computer Menu[/caption]</li> <li>Click <strong>Troubleshoot</strong> [caption id="attachment_1723" align="alignnone" width="980"]<img class="size-large wp-image-1723" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/02/windows-8-recovery-options-screen-troubleshoot-1024x687.png" alt="Troubleshoot in Windows 8 recovery options screen" width="980" height="657" /> Troubleshoot in Windows 8 recovery options screen[/caption]</li> <li>Click <strong>Command Prompt</strong></li> <li>Type: <pre>bcdedit.exe</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> </ol> <strong>If you use Easy Recovery Essentials Command-line:</strong> [partial name="partial_easyre_commandline"] <h3>BCDEdit on Windows 10</h3> On Windows 10 systems, you need to have the original installation media (DVD or USB drive) in order to access Command Prompt. <strong>If you have the installation media</strong>, follow these steps: <ol> <li>Insert the Windows 10 media</li> <li>Restart the computer and boot from the DVD/USB</li> <li>Click <strong>Repair your computer <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5053" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/12/Win10_setup.png" alt="Windows 10 Setup screen" width="603" height="419" /></strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Troubleshoot <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5190" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/03/Win10_restore.png" alt="win10_restore" width="1024" height="768" /></strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Command Prompt</strong></li> <li>Type: <pre>bcdedit.exe</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> </ol> <strong>If you use Easy Recovery Essentials Command-line:</strong> [partial name="partial_easyre_commandline"] <h2>Commands and parameters</h2> For the complete list of commands and parameters you can use with BCDEdit, type: <pre>bcdedit /?</pre> Whenever you are using this utility to modify a BCD store, make use use of these parameters: <ul> <li><code>/createstore</code> to create a new empty boot configuration data (BCD) store.</li> <li><code>/export</code> to export the current configuration of the BCD store.</li> <li><code>/import</code> to import a previously exported configuration file.</li> <li><code>/create</code> to create a new entry in the BCD store.</li> <li><code>/delete</code> to delete an entry from the BCD store.</li> <li><code>/deletevalue</code> to delete a specified value.</li> <li><code>/set</code> to set a new value.</li> <li><code>/default</code> to specify the default entry.</li> <li><code>/timeout</code> to specify the timeout at startup value.</li> </ul> For example, to create a new entry in the BCD file to load Windows XP, run these commands: <ol> <li> <pre>bcdedit /create {ntldr} /d "Windows XP"</pre> </li> <li> <pre>bcdedit /set {ntldr} device partition=C:</pre> </li> <li> <pre>bcdedit /set {ntldr} path \ntldr</pre> </li> <li> <pre>bcdedit /displayorder {ntldr} /addlast</pre> </li> </ol> <h2>More Information</h2> <h3>Linked Entries</h3> <ul> <li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/bootcfg/">bootcfg</a></li> </ul> [partial name="partial_moreinfo" versions="xp,vista,7,8,10"]