Boot Configuration Data Editor in Windows OS

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The toughest part when you go for dual boot or multiple boot is that sometimes the boot managing director won't recognize the older operating systems. This could be because the older operating systems use a different blazon of boot loader like those prior to Windows Vista or simply because Windows failed to assign a bulldoze name for the missing operating systems.

Boot Configuration Data (BCD) Editor

The Bcdedit.exe command-line tool modifies the boot configuration data shop. The boot configuration data store contains boot configuration parameters and controls how the operating system is booted. These parameters were previously in the Boot.ini file (in BIOS-based operating systems) or in the nonvolatile RAM entries (in Extensible Firmware Interface-based operating systems). Y'all can employ Bcdedit.exe to add, delete, edit, and append entries in the boot configuration information shop.

This article focuses on Kick Configuration Data Editor and attempts to answer how it can help y'all to fix errors similar Operating Arrangement Non Found, Not able to observe secondary and tertiary operating systems in case of multiple boots and similar errors.

Why the change from Boot.ini to BCD

BCD was created to provide an improved mechanism for describing boot configuration information. With the evolution of new firmware models, an extensible and interoperable interface was required to abstract the underlying firmware. This new design provides the foundation for a variety of new features in Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 and Windows 11, like the Startup Repair tool and Multi-User Install shortcuts.

What does BCD Editor practise

BCD Editor is provided as GUI in Windows. There are not many options available, but y'all tin can fix the boot manager and repair the Master Boot Tape using the graphical user interface.

The graphical user interface also allows you to fix issues where the Bootmgr is found to be missing in certain cases.

Location of BCD Registry

The Boot Configuration Datastore contains boot configuration parameters and controls how the operating system is started.

The BCD registry is located in the \boot\bcd folder of the agile partition.

For EFI-based systems, the default location of BCD registry is on the EFI partition.

Read: How to Backup & Restore BCD file in Windows.

Command line version of BCD Editor

The command line version of BCD Editor is much powerful and can be used to perform a variety of functions:

Create a BCD store
Add entries to an existing BCD shop
Modify existing entries in a BCD store
Delete entries from a BCD shop
Export entries to a BCD store
Import entries from a BCD store
List currently agile settings
Query entries of a particular type and
Employ a global modify

To view what else y'all tin do with BCDEdit.exe, type bcdedit.exe /? at the command prompt. It volition list the complete options and operations that you can perform with the BCD editor using the command prompt.

Multiple Boot Environments

If y'all intend to apply 2 or more operating systems, proceed the following in listen:

Install Windows Vista or above operating system on a different partition. As a dominion, each OS should accept its ain partitioning else mutual folders similar Windows, Programme Files etc will create conflicts and may crash your estimator. That said, if yous intend to use older operating systems, first install operating systems prior to Windows Vista so that they can continue using kicking.ini and and so install Vista or afterwards operating systems so that there is no conflict with bootcfg.
You will have to make sure that the operating systems older than Vista utilize boot.ini and the ones starting from Vista or later operating systems use BCD. This tin can be accomplished using the BCD control line and also via MSCONFIG control.
Never disable BCD fifty-fifty if you lot wish to run older operating systems like Windows XP forth with Vista or college versions. The BCD helps in finding out the boot.ini that in turn helps in loading the older operating systems. If you disable BCD, your computer might not recognize older operating systems.

Modify Default Operating System Using BCD

The easiest and quickest fashion is to utilise the command line version of BCD.exe. Use the following command at command prompt:

BCDEDIT /DEFAULT {ID}

To find out the ID for each operating system, use the following control:

BCDEDIT /ENUM ALL

From the list of IDs, copy the one next to the Os you desire to set every bit default and paste it in place of {ID} in the beginning command.

Kick Configuration Data Editor has stopped working

If you received this error, you will have to run Startup Repair. These links may help y'all:

Run Startup Repair in Windows 7
Run Automatic Repair in Windows eight
Run Automatic Startup Repair in Windows xi or Windows 10. You will become the settings under Advanced Startup Options.

For a detailed read please visit TechNet.

EasyBCD, Visual BCD Editor and Dual Boot Repair Tool are three freeware that let you lot edit and repair Windows Kicking Configuration Data easily.

Anand Khanse is the Admin of TheWindowsClub.com, a 10-twelvemonth Microsoft MVP (2006-sixteen) & a Windows Insider MVP. Please read the entire postal service & the comments first, create a Arrangement Restore Indicate before making any changes to your organisation & exist conscientious about whatsoever third-party offers while installing freeware.