According to Microsoft, the minimum requirements for a successful Vista installation are:
Processor of at least 1GHz 32bit(x86) or 64bit (x64)
1Gb of system memory.
A graphics card which is DirectX 9 capable and with 128Mbs memory.
40Gb hard disk space ( I have only 30Gbs, no problems )
DVD Drive. You may have to look at double layers for the final release!
Audio and Internet capability, of course.
1. Installing Vista RC1 without a key
You can install Vista without a CD key. Just leave the product key field blank ,hit next, and answer no to the dialog box. You can then select any edition of Vista to install (Ultimate, Home Premium, Home Basic, Business, or Starter). Check the box at the bottom and there you go. Vista with no key. Note: You cannot activate if you don’t do this unless you have a CD key for the version you installed.
2. Logging on as Local Administrator if you have already logged in as a user.
a. If you are having trouble logging on as the built-in Administrator account, you will have to modify some registry entries to display the Administrator account.
Log in using the user account you created during the Windows Vista setup process.
From the Start menu, click All Programs and then expand Accessories.
Right click on “Command Prompt” and click “Run as Administrator”.
Click on “Allow” from the Windows Security dialog.
In the Command Prompt window, type “regedit” (without the quotes) and press Enter.
In the Registry Editor, browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Add a new key called “SpecialAccounts” (without the quotes).
In the “SpecialAccounts” key you just made, create a sub-key called “UserList” (without the quotes)
Make sure you are navigated to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList
In the “UserList” key, create a new DWORD (32-bit) item and name it Administrator.
Double click on the new DWORD item and set its value to 1.
Close Registry Editor and the Command Prompt.
NOW:
Go to Start/All Programs and right click the command prompt.
Type Control UserPasswords2.
Click Advanced.
Click Advanced again.
Select Users.
Select Administrator and untick the the box “Administrator is disabled”NB. If you follow the above path (Tip 2.) you may find that some of the following tips, related to security, are not needed. Bu believe me, it makes a difference working withou those nags.
3. Exclude some unused services
It’s a good idea to try disabling these services a little at a time. If you do not have a complete knowledge of you computer, you may need some of these. Alternatively, you may leave them all in, they will not impair too much on the resident memory.
1. Run services.msc via the Run command (Win key +R).
2. Stop the following services and change their start-up type to disabled
- Computer browser (if not connected to LAN)
- Fax (if not using printer and fax)
- Windows Error Reporting Service
- Secondary logon
- Tablet PC Input service
- Print spooler (if not using printer and fax)
- Windows time
- Media center receiver service (This caused some dysfunction on my computer)
- Security center
- Routing and remote access (if not connected to LAN)
- Internet connection sharing
- TCP/IP NetBios helper
- Server (if not sharing resources through LAN)
- Offline files
3. Close the services management console.
By taking these steps, you will ensure that your OS has less processes running in the background, so more memory can be dedicated to the programs you open, not the ones that are used by Windows itself, by default.
4. Disable system restore
1. Control panel- System and maintenance- System
2. Advanced system settings
3. System protection tab
4. Uncheck all the drives.
5. Apply changes.
5.Disable some UI effects
1. Control panel- System
2. Advanced system settings
3. Advanced tab/Performance/Settings
4. Uncheck the following boxes:
- Fade or slide menus into view
- Fade or slide tooltips into view
- show shadows under menus
- Show translucent selection rectangle
- Slide open combo boxes
- Use a background image for each folder type
5. Apply changes.
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6.Disable options in folders
1. Open an explorer window. hit the ALT key to make the classic menu appear. Select tools and then folder options.
2. Select the view tab.
3. Uncheck the following boxes:
- display file icon on thumbnails
- display simple folder view in navigation pane
- use sharing wizard
- show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color
- show pop-up description for folder and desktop items
4. Apply changes.
7.Stop the start menu balloons nagging you saying that there has been a new program installed.
1. Start/Run and type gpedit.msc Select user config/Administrative Templates/ start menu and taskbar.
2. scroll down to the line remove balloon tips on start menu items
3. enable it.
8. Disable the UAC
This is the one that keeps interfering with requests for Administrator permission.
1. Press the Windows Key +R
2. type msconfig
3. Go to the tools TAB, scroll down to Disable UAC and click run. A command prompt will pop up saying Command completed successfully.
On your next restart the service will be gone.
9.Keep uac active, but get rid of annoying popups.
When UAC is enabled, software which is run “As Administrator” requires, by default, that a pop-up prompt be responded to, and the Administrator password required (or, if no password has been defined, just a click in the box).
It is possible to get rid of this annoying pop-up, as follows:
Start/Run and type secpol.msc
Select Security Settings/Local Policies/Security Options
scroll down to
User Account Control: behaviour of the elevation prompt for admins
User Account Control: behaviour of the elevation prompt for standard users
For each line, select the desired option
Selecting “No prompt” will get rid of the annoying pop-up boxes, and will also help software load faster
User Account Control:Run All users, including admins, as standard users: Disabled
Reboot
10. Get rid of the Security Centre.
The security centre is a very annoying feature with a built in pop up. If it annoys you too, get rid of it like this.
1. Start/Run and type cmd
2. Type cd\
3. Type cd windows\system32
4. As a user, Run these commands, If you have followed the tweak above, you can just go straight in and rename them:
a. takeown /f wscapi.dll
b. takeown /f wscsvc.dll
c. takeown /f wscui.cpl
This has given you ownership of the three files. Enter the System32 directory via Windows Explorer and right click each of these three files. Go to the Properties/Security Tab and edit/add an entry for everyone and give them all full access. (tick all the squares). Rename these three files with a BAK extension. In Start/Run type services.msc and disable the Security Center Service.
If you want to commit to getting rid of it all together, go to a Command prompt (in Accessories) and type
REG DELETE HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\WSCSVC /F
AND THEN ENTER. Now reboot and the OS is all yours.
11. Disable DEP/NoExecute Protection.
This prevents processes from being altered in live memory. Apparently it also has adverse effects on some programs. Please be aware that this opens a small niche for outside attacks, so only do this if you feel you need even more freedom with installation of doubtful programs.
1. Click Start/All programs/Accessories, and right click on Command Prompt. Click Run as Administrator.
2. If asked for permission to run Windows Command Processor, click on Allow.
3. At the Command prompt, type bcdedit.exe /set {current} nx AlwaysOff
4. The message should pop up Operation Completed Successfully
5. Restart.
12. Wireless Network Search Refresh
When looking for a wireless networks to connect to there is no refresh button on the screen that displays found wireless networks. Hit F5 to easily refresh this list.
Restart the Explorer.exe process or just reboot your computer.
13. Enable Add-ins in Windows Live Messenger
Copy and Paste the following into a .reg file and import it.
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MSNMessenger]”AddInFeatureEnabled”=dword:00000001
Once you import it, restart Windows Live Messenger and under Options you will have a new list item for Add-ins.
14. Disable Welcome Center
As soon as you install Windows Vista you are bombarded by the Welcome Center that is designed to help beginner Windows users easily configure their new computer This new welcome screen is a nice feature the first time you start using Windows vista but quickly becomes annoying.
Disabling the Welcome Center is very easy to do and can speed up your boot as well.
1. Start Regedit.
2. Navigate through HKEY_CURRENT_USER, Software, Microsoft, Windows, CurrentVersion, Run.
3. Right click on the WindowsWelcomeCenter key and select Delete.
The next time you restart the Welcome Center will be gone.
15. Prevent network flooding and connection drops
The new networking stack contained in Windows Vista, as with many new betas, has some issues. It seems to drop wireless connections and in rare cases block all traffic on wireless routers, requiring a restart of the router itself. I have not experienced this, so perhaps it is concerned only with certain makes of router.To fix these problems, complete the following instructions
WARNING: Please note that this will disable IPv6 connectivity, as well as the Windows Firewall security, and is not recommended unless you are experiencing these issues. This will also invalidate any network related bug reports you file for Windows Vista.
Click Start,settings & Control Panel. Under “Network Centre and Sharing”, Click “Manage Network Connections”
Right click on your network connection (for example: Wireless Network Connection: Local Lan connection.
Click your adapter.
Click on the Power Management tab.
Disable all power management items listed on the Power Management tab.
If asked for permission to open Network Connections, click on Allow.
Go back to the properties window,highlight the following items and press the “Uninstall” button:
Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper I/O Driver
Link-Layer Topology Discovery Responder
Uncheck “QoS Packet Scheduler”
Press OK.
Note on this: In RC1, MS have done something wrong with some of the network adapters drivers. If you experience unusual difficulty whilst trying to browse, do this. Select Control Panel/Device Manager. Scroll down to Netawork adapters. Right click you adapter (Marvell etc) and select properties, and then the driver tab.Select “update driver” and then the option to install the drivers manually. If you know where your XP drivers are (CD.etc.) scrooll there and select. Vista will reinstall and you should find everything OK. Hopefully MS will send out an update for this shortly.
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16. Internet Explorer 7 User Agent String
This was posted over at the IE MSDN Blog http://blogs.msdn.com/ie. It outlines how to change the user agent string back to IE6 as it appears that some Online Banking sites will not work with IE7.
Simply save the following as IE7UA.REG. Double-click the file to merge it into your registry and restart the browser to see the change.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\User Agent]
“Version”=”MSIE 6.0”
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\User Agent\Post Platform]
“SV1″=-
You can easily undo the change by saving and merging the following IE7Undo.reg.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\User Agent]
“Version”=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\User Agent\Post Platform]
“SV1″=””
You can test the change using a simple page that echo’s the User-Agent, e.g.: http://www.fiddlertool.com/useragent.aspx
17. Media Center Black Screen TV Issue
There is an issue with Media Center in this build where the screen will go black after watching TV for 10 minutes. This can be fixed via a registry setting.
Copy the following into notepad and save it as MCEFIX.REG
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SCrunch\CodecPack\MSDVD]
“DXVA2″=dword:00000000″
18.Tweaks for older hardware.
Those attempting to install Windows Vista on older hardware, for example having an older Sempron CPU or Pentium III for example, would be well-advised to apply the following Services tweaks, which have been found to provide some performance improvements on such older machines. This looks similar to the above tip but the end function is for a different purpose.
Start/Run
Type services.msc
Disable the following Services:
Application Layer Gateway Service
IKE and AuthIP IPSec
IIS Admin Service - do not disable if you plan on using IIS
Infrared monitoring service - do not disable if using a remote with the Media Center shell
Offline Files
Unsupported Graphics card disable
Desktop Window Manager Session Manager Service.
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19. Increase Performance
Windows defender automatically loads on startup. It is not, at its present development, and in my opinion, a particularly worthwhile program. I prefer to use other third party programs to perform its functions. (Anti virus, defrag.etc.)You can stop it from running via MsConfig. Note that if you leave it running, it, by default, runs a scheduled defrag, which can seriously hinder your startup speed. Maybe you’ll feel more comfortable just having a look at the “tools” panel and altering some of the defaults.
20. Add another time zone to your clock
One nice addition to Windows Vista is the ability to display the time in other time zones.
Click on the clock.
Click “Date and Time Settings”.
Click on the “Additional Clocks” tab.
Check the box labelled “Additional Clock #1″, and from the drop down menu choose a time zone.
Give the clock a name, such as “Microsoft” or “Texas”.
You can repeat this for the second additional clock as well.
21. To add a location to the Places bar (left hand pane in Windows Explorer)
22. Missing the old File, Edit, View menu bar?
If you are a frequent user of the menu in Windows Explorer, you may have a bit of a hard time adjusting to Windows Vista’s new Windows Explorer window style, which doesn’t include the menu.
There are two ways to bring it back, one is temporary and the other is more permanent:
If you want to view the menu but not have it always displayed, simply press the Alt key. The menu will fade into view.
If you want the menu to always be turned on, click the first button on Layout configuration button (first button on the top most bar in Windows Explorer). From the drop down list, check “Classic Menus”.
Folders List Returns!
If you want to view a tree-view of your hard drive and navigational path, simply click on the arrow next to the “Folders” bar in Windows Explorer, located on the Places bar.
In Windows Vista, there is a new pane on the left hand side of Windows Explorer which contains links to items you wish to access quickly. In previous builds, you could not really customize the Places bar but now you can! Simply drag and drop a folder onto the plane, and voila!
23. Disable the Windows Mail Splash Screen
Using Windows Mail? If the splash screen is displayed too long for your liking or if you just want to get rid of it, this is the trick for you.
Press WinKey+R.
Type “regedit.exe” without the quotes.
If you are asked for permission to run the Registry Editor, click on Allow.
Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Mail
Create a new DWORD (32-bit) value called “NoSplash”.
Double click on the “NoSplash” DWORD you just created and set its value to 1.
Press OK and close the registry editor.
24. Stylising the Watermark.
This may not work on all builds, it was only tested on 5472:
1. Start
2. Run…
3. regedit.exe
4. Local Machine—->Software—->Microsoft—->Windows NT—–>Current Version
5. Find the string buildlab on the right panel.
6. Delete the long build number or change it to what you want it to say
7. Kill the process explorer then open it up again.
8. In RC 1 if you do the first three steps then go to:
9.�
Local Machine—–>Software—->Microsoft—–>Windows NT—->Current Version and delete the 5600 in the build number it just removes that when you kill explorer and restart it.
25. To totally remove Vista(including the Vista Boot manager)
If you have previously installed the Recover Console in XP, (Start Menu/Help and Support and type Recovery Console in the search panel and then follow the instructions) Then you need only select the Recovery Console as you boot option when the boot menu appears.
1. Boot onto XP CD.
2. Press “R” to enter Recovery Console
3. Select your keyboard.
4. Choose the correct installation (1 or \Windows XP..etc)
5. Type admin password if you have inserted one.
6. type “fixmbr” say “y” (as in yes) when asked
7. type “fixboot” say “y”(as in yes) when asked
8. type “exit” (closing the Recovery Console)
9. When rebooting, the Vista Boot Manager disappears, and only XP Boot Logo appears
10. On XP, remove these (Boot folder, bootfont.bin, bootmgr, BOOTSECT.BAK, Boot.BAK) If you cannot see these files, then follow these instructions first (they can be undone when you are finished)
Open up My Computer and go to Tools/Folder Options/View and uncheck “Hide protected operating system files (recommended)” then click OK and close the dialog box. If this is not your normal default then enable this setting when you have performed the following actions.
12. On XP, reformat the Vista partition in order to entirely remove Vista.
NB. A number of people are responsible for these tips. Only a couple have I added myself. I acknowledge the interest and work done by those persons (chris123nt and others)and am grateful that they have helped to make the Vista Betas more of a pleasure to test, rather than a burden.
As always, this is a Beta program and the tips, in a similar way, are Beta tips. Always be aware that whilst they are all tested, in some cases, with incompatible hard and software, they may spoil your installation.
I have added one more below, for dedicated tweakers. It is not easy to follow but crash in if you dare!
Editing the new Vista Boot Manager:BCDEDIT.EXE
Please press START and RUN (have you activated “RUN”? >Go to ADMINISTRATOR, right-click Taskbar, Properties, Start Menu, Start Menu Customize, check Run command, OK) and type in: command and press OK.
Yes, it looks like MS-DOS! It’s name is Windows DOS…
Then you must type in: bcedit
and the nice program starts and shows for example this:
Microsoft® Windows DOS
©Copyright Microsoft Corp 1990-2001.
D:\USERS\ADMINI~1>bcdedit
Windows Boot Manager
——————–
Identifier: {bootmgr}
Type: 10100002
Device: partition=C:
Description: Windows Boot Manager
Locale: ENG-US
Inherit options: {emssettings}
{dbgsettings}
Default: {871d699a-68d1-11da-9f30-eb66f9279051}
Display order: {legacy}
{871d699a-68d1-11da-9f30-eb66f9279051}
{d3e15d7c-66fb-11da-83c4-f23116dca051}
{77e994d8-64b9-11da-afd6-cd1e42667751}
{748c9ce4-6497-11da-b587-ba41a6a3f856}
{6bde53aa-630a-11da-b591-bb4bd04c9f19}
{d9b222a6-5f5b-11da-8e9c-87c5457d571e}
{eafe9a2c-558c-11da-86bb-9237c2e1a919}
{3ffee100-4b31-11da-b300-e812ef50ad19}
{eda3906c-438e-11da-b934-f4ecbe0a3419}
{4f964faa-3d7a-11da-bb88-b7df6f4d4219}
Timeout: 3
Windows Legacy OS Loader
————————
Identifier: {legacy}
Type: 10300006
Device: partition=C:
Path: \ntldr
Description: Legacy (pre-Longhorn) Microsoft Windows Operating System
Windows Boot Loader
——————-
Identifier: {871d699a-68d1-11da-9f30-eb66f9279051}
Type: 10200003
Device: partition=H:
Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Description: Microsoft Windows
Locale: en-US
Inherit options: {emssettings}
{dbgsettings}
{5189b25c-5558-4bf2-bca4-289b11bd29e2}
Windows device: partition=H:
Windows root: \Windows
No Execute policy: OptIn
Windows Boot Loader
——————-
Identifier: {d3e15d7c-66fb-11da-83c4-f23116dca051}
Type: 10200003
Device: partition=H:
Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Description: Microsoft Windows
Locale: en-US
Inherit options: {emssettings}
{dbgsettings}
{5189b25c-5558-4bf2-bca4-289b11bd29e2}
Windows device: partition=H:
Windows root: \Windows
No Execute policy: OptIn
Windows Boot Loader
——————-
Identifier: {77e994d8-64b9-11da-afd6-cd1e42667751}
Type: 10200003
Device: partition=H:
Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Description: Microsoft Windows
Locale: en-US
Inherit options: {emssettings}
{dbgsettings}
{5189b25c-5558-4bf2-bca4-289b11bd29e2}
Windows device: partition=H:
Windows root: \Windows
No Execute policy: OptIn
Windows Boot Loader
——————-
Identifier: {748c9ce4-6497-11da-b587-ba41a6a3f856}
Type: 10200003
Device: partition=D:
Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Description: Microsoft Windows
Locale: ENG-US
Inherit options: {emssettings}
{dbgsettings}
Windows device: partition=D:
Windows root: \Windows
No Execute policy: OptIn
Detect hal: Yes
Windows Boot Loader
——————-
Identifier: {6bde53aa-630a-11da-b591-bb4bd04c9f19}
Type: 10200003
Device: partition=J:
Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Description: Microsoft Windows
Locale: ENG-US
Inherit options: {emssettings}
{dbgsettings}
Windows device: partition=J:
Windows root: \Windows
No Execute policy: OptIn
Detect hal: Yes
Windows Boot Loader
——————-
Identifier: {d9b222a6-5f5b-11da-8e9c-87c5457d571e}
Type: 10200003
Device: partition=J:
Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Description: Microsoft Windows
Locale: ENG-US
Inherit options: {emssettings}
{dbgsettings}
Windows device: partition=J:
Windows root: \Windows
No Execute policy: OptIn
Detect hal: Yes
Windows Boot Loader
——————-
Identifier: {eafe9a2c-558c-11da-86bb-9237c2e1a919}
Type: 10200003
Device: partition=J:
Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Description: Microsoft Windows
Locale: ENG-US
Inherit options: {emssettings}
{dbgsettings}
Windows device: partition=J:
Windows root: \Windows
No Execute policy: OptIn
Detect hal: Yes
Windows Boot Loader
——————-
Identifier: {3ffee100-4b31-11da-b300-e812ef50ad19}
Type: 10200003
Device: partition=J:
Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Description: Microsoft Windows
Locale: ENG-US
Inherit options: {emssettings}
{dbgsettings}
Windows device: partition=J:
Windows root: \Windows
No Execute policy: OptIn
Detect hal: Yes
Windows Boot Loader
——————-
Identifier: {eda3906c-438e-11da-b934-f4ecbe0a3419}
Type: 10200003
Device: partition=J:
Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Description: Microsoft Windows
Locale: ENG-US
Inherit options: {emssettings}
{dbgsettings}
Windows device: partition=J:
Windows root: \Windows
No Execute policy: OptIn
Detect hal: Yes
Windows Boot Loader
——————-
Identifier: {4f964faa-3d7a-11da-bb88-b7df6f4d4219}
Type: 10200003
Device: partition=J:
Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Description: Microsoft Windows
Locale: ENG-US
Inherit options: {emssettings}
{dbgsettings}
Windows device: partition=J:
Windows root: \Windows
No Execute policy: OptIn
Detect hal: Yes
D:\USERS\ADMINI~1>
Sorry - a long one, but you will see, I have several entries of the same kind.
Partition H:\ three times and J:\ even more…
=========
Backup first!
=========
First of all, we need a backup/copy of our boot entries!
Step 1: Change to ADMINISTRATOR
Step 2: Type in: bcdedit -?
This will show us the HELP MENU of bcdedit.exe:
H:\USERS\ADMINI~1>bcdedit -?
BCDEDIT - Boot Configuration Data Store Editor
The Bcdedit.exe command-line tool modifies the boot configuration data store.
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). You can
use Bcdedit.exe to add, delete, edit, and append entries in the boot
configuration data store.
For detailed command and option information, type bdedit.exe /? . For
example, type “bcdedit.exe /? /createstore” (without quotes).
For command and option information, please run “bcdedit /? ” where
is one of the help topics listed below.
/bootdebug Enables or disables boot debugging for a boot application.
/bootems Enables or disables Emergency Management Services for a boot
application.
/bootsequence Sets the one-time boot sequence for the boot manager.
/copy Makes copies of entries in the store.
/create Creates new entries in the store.
/createstore Creates a new and empty boot configuration data store.
/dbgsettings Sets the global debugger parameters.
/debug Enables or disables kernel debugging for an operating system
entry.
/default Sets the default entry that the boot manager will use.
/delete Deletes entries from the store.
/deletevalue Deletes entry options from the store.
/displayorder Sets the order in which the boot manager displays the multiboot
menu.
/ems Enables or disables Emergency Management Services for an
operating system entry.
/emssettings Sets the global Emergency Management Services parameters.
/enum Lists entries in the store.
/export Exports then contents of the system store to a file. This file
can be used later to restore the state of the system store.
formats Displays the formats of the data required by the /set command.
id Displays the identifier parameter options that can be used
in several Bcdedit commands such as /create and /copy.
/import Restores the state of the system store using a backup file
created with the /export command.
/set Sets entry option values in the store.
/store Specifies the boot configuration data store to use.
/timeout Sets the boot manager time-out value.
/types Displays the data types required by the /set and /deletevalue
commands.
/v Displays all entry identifiers in full, rather than using
shorthand notation for the well-known identifiers.
H:\USERS\ADMINI~1>
Step 3: Type in: bcdedit -? export
You will get:
H:\USERS\ADMINI~1>bcdedit -? export
bcdedit /export
This command exports the contents of the system store into a file. This file
can be used later to restore the state of the system store. This command is
only valid for the system store.
The filename to be used as the desination for the export.
If the filename contains spaces, it must be enclosed in
double quotes (”).
Example:
The following example will export the system store to the specified file:
bcdedit /export “C:\Data\BCD Backup”
H:\USERS\ADMINI~1>
Step 4: Please make a new folder: C:\DATA
Step 5: Type in: bcdedit /export “C:\Data\BCD Backup”
You have now a BACKUP of bootmgr entries! With “import” you are able to restore it!!
You can afterwards also safe your new entries, no problem like:
bcdedit /export “C:\Data\BCD My New Boot Entries”
==========================
DELETE DOUBLE ENTRIES IN bootmgr
==========================
In the next step we will wipe out the double entries. (Always use your OWN identifiers!
My used one are only for explanation!!)
Step 6: Look at the double entries like: Device: partition=H:
Step 7: Type in: bcdedit -? delete
You will get:
H:\USERS\ADMINI~1>bcdedit -? delete
bcdedit -delete [-f]
This command will delete an entry from the boot configuration data store.
This specifies the identifier of the boot entry to be
deleted.
[-f] bcdedit will not delete any entries that have a well known
identifier. To force such a delete operation, specify this
flag.
Examples:
The following command will delete the specified OS entry from the store:
bcdedit -delete {cbd971bf-b7b8-4885-951a-fa03044f5d71}
The following command will delete the legacy OS loader entry from the store:
bcdedit -delete {legacy} -f
H:\USERS\ADMINI~1>bcdedit -delete {4f964faa-3d7a-11da-bb88-b7df6f4d4219}
The operation completed successfully.
H:\USERS\ADMINI~1>
Let explain with the follow examples of my bootmgr entries:
Windows Boot Loader
——————-
Identifier: {871d699a-68d1-11da-9f30-eb66f9279051}
Type: 10200003
Device: partition=H:
Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Description: Microsoft Windows
Locale: en-US
Inherit options: {emssettings}
{dbgsettings}
{5189b25c-5558-4bf2-bca4-289b11bd29e2}
Windows device: partition=H:
Windows root: \Windows
No Execute policy: OptIn
Windows Boot Loader
——————-
Identifier: {d3e15d7c-66fb-11da-83c4-f23116dca051}
Type: 10200003
Device: partition=H:
Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Description: Microsoft Windows
Locale: en-US
Inherit options: {emssettings}
{dbgsettings}
{5189b25c-5558-4bf2-bca4-289b11bd29e2}
Windows device: partition=H:
Windows root: \Windows
No Execute policy: OptIn
I want to delete the second (blue) one:
Identifier: {d3e15d7c-66fb-11da-83c4-f23116dca051}
Step 8: Type in: bcdedit -delete {d3e15d7c-66fb-11da-83c4-f23116dca051}
It is away!
All of this commands needs only the correct Identifier to scratch!
Now we can delete all other double entries in the same way.
=====================
RENAME ENTRIES in boot menu
=====================
The next step is to rename the entries.
The easiest one is the one you are in. If you have bootet VISTA 5259 TAP
you must type in:
Step 9: Type in: H:\USERS\ADMINI~1>bcdedit -set DESCRIPTION “VISTA 5259 TAP”
The operation completed successfully. Test it:
H:\USERS\ADMINI~1>bcdedit
The desription of your booted VISTA has changed from only “Microsoft Windows” to
“VISTA 5259 TAP”!
You can now boot in a other VISTA build, maybe 5231 or another. In 5231 for example there is also a BCDEDIT.EXE and you must type in the same with an other description or you are in VISTA 5259 and
you want to change the description from your “other” VISTA.
Step 10: Type in: H:\USERS\ADMINI~1>bcdedit -set {748c9ce4-6497-11da-b587-ba41a6a3f856} DESCRIPTION “VISTA 5231 IDX”
You have easily changed the description of your second VISTA, if have use the correct IDENTIFIER!
From my 6 entries about WINDOWS SERVER 2003 I have deleted 5 and renamed the last:
H:\USERS\ADMINI~1>bcdedit -set {6bde53aa-630a-11da-b591-bb4bd04c9f19} DESCRIPTION “WINDOWS SERVER 2003″
=============================
START XP/2000/20003/98x automatically
=============================
Now to the following problem:
You want to boot in your XP (2003, WIN98x) automatically?
MSCONFIG does not yet! Look in!
BCDEDIT does!
Step 11: Type in: bcdedit ? default
You will get:
H:\USERS\ADMINI~1>bcdedit -? default
This command sets the default entry that the boot manager will use when the
time-out expires.
bcdedit /default
Specifies the identifier of the boot entry to be used as the
default when the time-out expires.
Examples:
The following command sets the specified entry as the default boot manager
entry:
bcdedit /default {cbd971bf-b7b8-4885-951a-fa03044f5d71}
The following command sets the legacy Windows loader (Ntldr) as the default
entry:
bcdedit /default {legacy}
H:\USERS\ADMINI~1>
So a easy task, isn’t it? You only must do Step12!
Step 12: Type in: bcdedit /default {legacy}
To look at the correct entry, look at “DEFAULT”:
Microsoft® Windows DOS
©Copyright Microsoft Corp 1990-2001.
H:\USERS\ADMINI~1>bcdedit
Windows Boot Manager
——————–
Identifier: {bootmgr}
Type: 10100002
Device: partition=C:
Description: Windows Boot Manager
Locale: ENG-US
Inherit options: {emssettings}
{dbgsettings}
Default: {legacy}
Display order: {legacy}
{current}
{d3e15d7c-66fb-11da-83c4-f23116dca051}
{77e994d8-64b9-11da-afd6-cd1e42667751}
{748c9ce4-6497-11da-b587-ba41a6a3f856}
{6bde53aa-630a-11da-b591-bb4bd04c9f19}
{d9b222a6-5f5b-11da-8e9c-87c5457d571e}
{eafe9a2c-558c-11da-86bb-9237c2e1a919}
{3ffee100-4b31-11da-b300-e812ef50ad19}
{eda3906c-438e-11da-b934-f4ecbe0a3419}
{4f964faa-3d7a-11da-bb88-b7df6f4d4219}
Timeout: 3
Yes, it worked!
========================
CHANGE {legacy} to a nicer one!
=======================
In the next and last step we will learn to change the description entry of {legacy} from:
Legacy (pre-Longhorn) Microsoft Windows Operating System
to a neater one like:
Legacy (pre-VISTA) XP, 2000, 2003 , WIN98x
Step 13: Type in: bcdedit -set {legacy} DESCRIPTION “Legacy (pre-VISTA) XP, 2000, 2003, WIN98x”
Let’s have a look, how it worked:
Windows Legacy OS Loader
————————
Identifier: {legacy}
Type: 10300006
Device: partition=C:
Path: \ntldr
Description: Legacy (pre-VISTA) XP, 2000, 2003, WIN98x
Pefect!
With that renamed entry you will go directly in your NTLDR loader and there is working the good old
well known BOOT.INI!
Nice program, the BCDEDIT.EXE, isn’t it?
Like I have read anywhere in internet MS is planning to give us a GUI for that bootmgr editing!
I hope, we will get a fast, safe, and nice VISTA 2006!
Have fun with BCDEDITing and please, don’t forget to make first my described BCD Backup before
you fiddle to much and nothing worked for you after reboot.
HELP: After everey step type in: bcdedit and you will see what have worked.
Look at the “Windows Device”, “Description” and “Identifiers”.
