Alter Your Boot Configuration Data (Windows 8)

Before we start let us make a short description on what BCD is. Boot Configuration Data is shortened as BCD, it is like the database containing the information about boot setings, MBR (Master Boot Record) and other required data to load the windows. 

The bootsector loads the windows Boot Manager, accesses the boot configuration data store and uses that information to load the operating system successfully. It is a firmware independent database for boot time configuration data. It is used by new Windows Boot Manager and replaces the "boot.ini" that was used by NTLDR.

Functions that bcdedit can perform:-

=> Change the default boot settings having multiple operating systems (Multi Boot Systems).

=> Timeout Adjustments

=> Change the descriptions of boot menu items

To start BCD Editing, go to start screen by pressing windows key and type "Powershell" and right click on Windows Powershell and click on "Run as Administrator". Make sure to start it as Administrator as you are going to edit the system's Bootloader which demands administrator privileges.

Before you make some sought of settings to windows bootloader, make sure to take the backup of current settings.

Backup command- "bcdedit /export E:\bcdbackup" 

E:\ is the path where backup is created and bcdbackup is the name of the backup file.

Output:- 

  

Backup Operation of BCD

Now, after the powershell window opened, type bcdedit and press enter. Out Shown Below:-

Windows Powershell

BCDs common commands:-

Timeout:- This command is used to change the default timeout duration to user defined time value. Like if system is on dual boot and want to chose the OS which user wants to start, so he's got 10 Seconds or 30 Seconds to opt for the one.

Syntax:- bcdedit -timeout 20

Output- 

Changing Timeout Value to 20 Seconds

DisplayOrder:- This command is used when you have installed more than one operating system installed on your computer. This helps to change the order in which the operating systems got listed by default. 

Syntax:- bcdedit -displayorder {current} {OS 2}

Output:- I'm currently using only single OS, so, the users using more than one OS got more than one result listed against displayorder option in the following command. Using the value against displayorder you can switch over the OSes. 

Display Order

Note:- It may be dangerous to edit your bootloader's settings, so make sure you have a backup of your current settings. If you failed to successfully edit the settings and crashed the bootloader, then just boot from windows 8 DVD and click on "Repair your computer" => Advanced Options => Command Prompt => Go to C:\ Prompt by entering the command cd\ 

After that enter the command to recover the damaged bootloader:-

BootRec /RebuildBcd. That's it You Repaired your bootloader successfully.