Change Default Dual Boot Order in XP, 2000, or Longhorn/Vista System

Contributor Icon Contributed by AlexTheBeast  
Tag Icon Tagged: Windows  

This explains how to set the default OS on your windows dual boot system.


I recently installed the new Longhorn/Vista beta as a dual boot; however, I didn’t want my family to have to play with my development OS after every reboot. Here is how to change the default OS that loads after a reboot.

1. Right-Click on My Computer and select properties
– (In Vista you can select View System Information from the Computer window.)
2. From the System Properties window select the Advanced tab
3. Push the Settings button under Startup and Recovery
4. Select the default OS from the Default operating system dropdown box.
5. Click OK twice.

 

28 Comments -


  1. Stefan said on October 2, 2008

    Excellent… it has been annoying me forever that the wrong OS loaded when i wasn’t paying attention and too late to change it on start up…

  2. steve said on March 5, 2009

    This is exactly what I am looking for.
    Thanks

  3. DavidDStubbs said on April 9, 2009

    After installing Ubuntu Linux, that system is the first, or default, OS in boot order. The Windows dialog does not even list the Linux system as a choice for demotion. Can you post additional clues?

    Thanks very much!

  4. Samuel Gomes said on April 21, 2009

    Thank you very much, this was very helpfull :)

  5. John said on April 21, 2009

    THANK YOU!

  6. Choonster said on April 29, 2009

    The same is happening to me, any advice is appreciated

    Thanks

  7. Kevin Pratt said on May 12, 2009

    Worked a treat. Just installed Windows 7 RC evaluation but wanted to keep XP as default. Son kept moaning why isn’t windows working! Thanks.

  8. Kap said on June 6, 2009

    You need to change the boot order from the Linux operating system. check this page for info- https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GrubHowto

  9. Kap said on June 6, 2009

    or this one – https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GrubHowto/ChangeDefaultOS

  10. Alex said on June 19, 2009

    Thanks!

  11. Terry said on June 26, 2009

    The only option that shows is xp, but if i am away from the pc on startup it logs into windows 7

  12. Terry said on June 26, 2009

    Ok Got it. Changed the options within Windows 7. Works a treat. Thanks

  13. Anonymous said on September 2, 2009

    Thanks . I tried in bcdedit but didnt worked. This helped me
    -Nazar

  14. Anonymous said on December 6, 2009

    I did as suggested above, but I picked the wrong default OS. Now I can’t get back in to the preferred XP install to change it back. The other install was the beginnings of an XP install which I was trying to bypass, so I can’t change the default OS back.
    Thanks
    Mike

  15. Anonymous said on March 22, 2010

    I have loaded 1- Windows XP-SP3, 2 -.Windows 7 And 3 – LINUX Mint.
    Now Mint has become default but I want Win XP SP-3 as deault.
    Please advise.

    Bernard.

  16. Anonymous said on March 29, 2010

    I have laptop with dual boot one is window xp in c drive and windows 7 in d drive.I have installed antivirus in c drive now i want to use it on d drive for windows 7 partition what should i do now please help me …..

  17. Ken Milsom said on May 12, 2010

    Did not help me.It only showed windows xp and windows xp tuneup backup – My windows 7 was not listed here I have both operating systems on their own hdd.
    HERE IT IS ?????

    ;
    ;Warning: Boot.ini is used on Windows XP and earlier operating systems.
    ;Warning: Use BCDEDIT.exe to modify Windows Vista boot options.
    ;
    [boot loader]
    timeout=0
    default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINDOWS
    [operating systems]
    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINDOWS=”Microsoft Windows XP Professional” /NOEXECUTE=OPTIN /FASTDETECT /usepmtimer /TUTag=XWJ95U /Kernel=TUKernel.exe
    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINDOWS=”Microsoft Windows XP Professional (TuneUp Backup)” /NOEXECUTE=OPTIN /FASTDETECT /usepmtimer /TUTag=XWJ95U-BAK

  18. kumar said on June 4, 2010

    but nothing is there………….. what can i do?

  19. travelman said on June 10, 2010

    awesome man!! that was very helpful..u the man!

  20. Nn Kartik said on June 29, 2010

    I have Windows 7 and XP set up in a dual boot situation.
    Is there a way to change the order of choices on the boot menu?
    The default is ” an earlier version of Windows”. I would like to have “Windows 7″ be the default.

  21. Manohar budhwant said on July 12, 2010

    Thanks for this info. It worked for me and saved my time……..

  22. Kenneth Woodward1 said on September 4, 2010

    Works perfect on my Vista system……Thanks

  23. Anonymous said on September 13, 2010

    i have 2 os ,linux redhat9 & windows xp sp2 that i change my windows 1 week ago .
    now linux can not boot & in –>Startup and Recovery –> Default operating system
    just exist 1 os (windows xp).
    please help me

  24. Kuldeep_singh said on October 22, 2010

    Thanks.worked for me.windows 7

  25. nibu a r said on December 19, 2010

    Thank you so much

  26. Jalsasubbu said on February 10, 2011

    thank you so much………………….

  27. Sashus said on February 21, 2011

    Thank you so much!

  28. Valid said on March 2, 2011

    Thanks for saving my system too :)

 

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