Kitz Forum

Computer Software => Windows Vista => Topic started by: oldfogy on February 15, 2008, 12:05:46 AM

Title: Vista, How to change the Boot preference text etc
Post by: oldfogy on February 15, 2008, 12:05:46 AM

Can any one explain how do I alter the text when Dual Booting that says "Start from a Earlier version of Windows.

I would like to change the text just to say Boot from XP
Also to change the default boot from Vista to XP.

Thanks.

Title: Re: Vista, How to change the Boot preference text etc
Post by: Accordion on February 15, 2008, 11:27:16 AM

I can't test this out OF, I only have single OS on all machines at home, but try looking at the boot.ini file.
You may be able to edit that and change the default path for which OS is launched.

The boot.ini file is in XP, but not Vista, so you may need to look at bcdedit instead:

http://computerbits.wordpress.com/2006/06/26/where-is-bootini/

Title: Re: Vista, How to change the Boot preference text etc
Post by: Pwiggler on February 15, 2008, 12:44:05 PM

i usually point people at this one too:

http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/2014/vista_using_bcdedit_boot_up_options_dual_boot_xp_prof

Title: Re: Vista, How to change the Boot preference text etc
Post by: oldfogy on February 15, 2008, 01:31:01 PM

Thanks people, that looks like the info I need.
Unfortunately I am not going to be able to try it until this evening, so I will let you know how it goes.

**************************************

I have tried running BCDEDIT from a comand prompt but no joy I'm afraid, it just does not recognise BCDEDIT.

Title: Re: Vista, How to change the Boot preference text etc
Post by: soms on February 15, 2008, 06:03:28 PM

As mentioned in the other topic, there is a program called EasyBCD which can be installed on Vista and has a lovely GUI which allows you to change all the boot options as you please.

EasyBCD (http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1)

(Posted it here as well for consistency)

Title: Re: Vista, How to change the Boot preference text etc
Post by: oldfogy on February 15, 2008, 10:38:37 PM

WOW,
That was, Quick, Easy and Painless.

It took all of 30 seconds to load the program, (then had a little look around) selected "Change Settings"

1. Selected "Global Settings", Defaults OS: and changed it to Windows XP followed by "Save Settings"

2. Selected "Entry-Based Settings", Choose an OS to change the associated settings, then typed in the name I wanted to be displayed (Microsoft Windows XP) instead of "Earlier Version of Windows"  followed by "Save Setting"

Thats it, job done, time taken 20 seconds max.

(In fact it took much longer to type this comment than to change the two settings themselves)
Thanks for the EasyBCD link and other advice give to everyone.