Microsoft KB Archive/291980

Knowledge Base

A discussion about the Bootcfg command and its uses

Article ID: 291980

Article Last Modified on 1/15/2006

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional

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This article was previously published under Q291980

INTRODUCTION

This article discusses the bootcfg command and its uses.

MORE INFORMATION

The bootcfg command is a Microsoft Windows XP Recovery Console command that manipulates the Boot.ini file. This command has a function that can scan your hard disks for Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Microsoft Windows 2000, and Windows XP installations, and then add them to an existing Boot.ini file. The function can also rebuild a new Boot.ini file if one does not exist. With the bootcfg command, additional Boot.ini file parameters can be added to existing or new entries.

To use the bootcfg command, start the Recovery Console with the Windows XP CD-ROM, and then click Recovery Console. Or, install the Recovery Console locally, and then select the command from the Boot menu.

The bootcfg command has the following uses:

• The bootcfg /default command sets the default operating system option in the Boot menu. The command selects the operating system entry automatically.
• The bootcfg /add command scans the computer for Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows XP (if it is dual booting) installations, and then displays the results. From this location, you can add an installation to the Boot menu.
  
  You may receive a message that is similar to the following message:

  Scanning all disks for Windows Installations
  Please wait, since this may take a while...
  
  Total Identified Windows Installs: 2
  
  [1] C:\Windows
  [2] D:\Windows
  
  Select installation to add: (select a number)
  
  Enter Load Identifier: (Custom description for an operating system loading from the Boot menu)
  Enter Operating System Load Options: (that is: /fastdetect)

  This process adds a new entry in the Boot menu. When you add an installation, the bootcfg command also makes the installation the default operating system boot entry.
• The bootcfg /rebuild command scans the hard disks of the computer for Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows XP installations, and then displays the results. You can add the detected Windows installations.
  
  You may receive a message that is similar to the following message:

  Total Identified Windows Installs: 2
  
  [1] C:\Windows
  Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All):
  Enter Load Identifier: (Custom description for an operating system loading from the Boot menu)
  Enter Operating System Load Options: (that is: /fastdetect)
  
  [2] D:\Windows
  Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All):
  Enter Load Identifier: (Custom description for an operating system loading from the Boot menu)
  Enter Operating System Load Options: (that is: /fastdetect)
  

  
  

• The bootcfg /scan command scans the hard disks of the computer for Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 or Windows XP installations, and then displays the results.
  
  You may receive a message that is similar to the following message:

  Scanning all disks for Windows Installations
  Please wait, since this may take a while...
  
  Total Identified Windows Installs: 2
  
  [1] C:\Windows
  [2] D:\Windows

• The bootcfg /list command reads the Boot.ini file, and then displays the operating system identifier, the operating system load options, and the operating system location (path).
  
  You may receive a message that is similar to the following message:

  Total entries in boot list: 2
  
  [1] Microsoft Windows Whistler Professional
  Operating System Load Options: /fastdetect
  Operating System Location: D:\Windows
  
  [2] Microsoft Windows Whistler Server
  Operating System Load Options: /fastdetect
  Operating System Location: C:\Windows

• The bootcfg /redirect command enables redirection in the boot loader with the configuration specified as port and baudrate. This command is used to turn on the Headless Administration feature.
  
  The following example uses this command:

  bootcfg /redirect com1 115200
  bootcfg /redirect useBiosSettings

• The bootcfg /disableredirect command disables redirection in the boot loader with the configuration specified as port and baudrate. This command is used to turn off the Headless Administration feature.

You can also modify the Boot.ini file in the Windows XP graphical user interface (GUI):

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System.
2. On the Advanced tab, click Startup and Recovery, and then click Settings.
3. Under System Startup, click Edit.
4. Save your changes, and then click OK.
5. Click Start, click Run, and then type msconfig to start the System Configuration utility.
6. Click the Boot.ini tab.

Keywords: kbenv kbinfo KB291980

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