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Stuart · 31-01-2007, 17:25

Vista doesn't use Boot.ini. It uses it's own, non-user-editable file. To change the startup options, right click on "My Computer" and select "Properties". Then click "Advanced System Properties". You might need to confirm you want to do that.

Now, click "Advanced" and "Startup and Recovery". This brings up what's basically the same dialog in XP for changing boot menu options. Make sure the option to display list of operating systems is ticked. Now, look at Default Operating System. Click on the drop down box below. You should see two options: "Microsoft Windows Vista" and "Earlier Windows". It may list Windows Server 2000 instead of "Earlier Windows". I am on my vista machine at work, which is single boot, so I can't check.

Now, when you reboot, you should get a boot menu with those two options, and Vista selected by default. If you select "Earlier Windows", it will bring back the old Windows boot menu (which uses boot.ini).

31-01-2007, 17:25	#3
Stuart - Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Somewhere Services: Virgin for TV and Internet, BT for phone Posts: 26,546	Re: Adding OS to VISTA boot menu. Vista doesn't use Boot.ini. It uses it's own, non-user-editable file. To change the startup options, right click on "My Computer" and select "Properties". Then click "Advanced System Properties". You might need to confirm you want to do that. Now, click "Advanced" and "Startup and Recovery". This brings up what's basically the same dialog in XP for changing boot menu options. Make sure the option to display list of operating systems is ticked. Now, look at Default Operating System. Click on the drop down box below. You should see two options: "Microsoft Windows Vista" and "Earlier Windows". It may list Windows Server 2000 instead of "Earlier Windows". I am on my vista machine at work, which is single boot, so I can't check. Now, when you reboot, you should get a boot menu with those two options, and Vista selected by default. If you select "Earlier Windows", it will bring back the old Windows boot menu (which uses boot.ini).