We all know that Microsoft has replaced the old boot loader with a new Metro boot loader in Windows 8. You can read more info about this new boot loader in following article:
How to Access and Use Windows 8 Metro Boot Loader and Advanced Boot Options?
The new boot loader is better and advanced than the previous boot loader present in Windows Vista and Windows 7.
But there is one problem with this new boot loader which occurs when you dual boot between Windows 8 and any other previous Windows version such as Windows Vista or 7.
If you have set Windows 8 as default boot entry in your system, first Windows 8 boots and the new Metro boot loader to select installed OS is shown after Windows 8 boot screen. It might become quite annoying if you want to boot into other Windows version. First you'll have to watch Windows 8 boot screen and then you'll be able to select previous Windows OS from new Metro boot loader.
On the other hand in previous boot loader, no installed OS boots until you select it from the OS list in boot loader. It saves lots of time.
Today in this article, we are going to tell you how to disable new Metro boot loader and bring back Windows Vista and 7 style boot loader in Windows 8.
So if you also want to get Windows Vista and Windows 7 style classic boot loader back in Windows 8, follow these simple steps:
1. To disable new Metro boot loader we'll need to execute a command in Command Prompt. So first open Command Prompt as Administrator using following tutorial:
[Guide] Different Ways to Open Command Prompt as Administrator in Windows
2. Now type following command and press Enter:
bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy
You'll get a message "The operation completed successfully".
That's it. Restart your system and you'll see classic Windows Vista and 7 style boot loader in Windows 8.
3. In case you want to re-enable Windows 8 Metro boot loader in future, simply execute following command in Command Prompt:
bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy standard
Again you'll get a message "The operation completed successfully". Restart and you'll get the new Metro boot loader back in Windows 8.
Posted by: Vishal Gupta | Categories: Troubleshooting, Windows 8
alex
wow people love to kill everything good about windows 8 all cause they are not smart enough to use the new stuff such a fail but good post
The Rock
Thanks VG. I wanted this. :)
leomate
I want to see how to customize OS tile icon. To make even more personality.
leomate
@alex
Actually legacy boot loader more better if you frequently switch OS. So you dont need to boot win8 first,
btw, i installer Program called iReboot. I love it and definitely recommended it for multi OS users.
semtex
And after this it is possible to enter Save Mode via F8 in Windows 8? If yest than it one of most useful hacks related to Windows 8 :)
MJPollard
@alex: Thank you for showing us the error of our ways for trying to do things in a Non-Microsoft Approved Way(tm). How can we ever repay your kindness and generosity?
NSDCars5
@MJPollard By using the features you got Win8 for. :P If you don't like it, use Win7.
Samprikta Sarkar
Awesome!
This is what I have been looking for. Thank Vishal. You are cute.
JK
Great article. However, I think by making Windows 7 or Vista as default OS this problem can be solved.
Asrin475
The Genius!!, This is Solution for My Question. Thanks VG....
Harish
Thank You so much for your research and post.. The main annoying feature which I raise in Windows 8 is the boot loader.By God's grace,I can now comfortably select the desired OS which I need. Thank you Vishal Gupta.
peter
@semtex: EVERY hint to get rid of tiles and other W8 crap is worth to publish to the masses.
Unfortunaly in the near future most poeple will be forced to buy a PC with no choice then tiles.
Though Anval is the more promoter of W8 his tips for disabling the most perverted UI-gimmicks are nice to find.
Buy a Mac instead as long you can get it without IOS-crap on the desktop. ;-)
Diogo Silva
I'm using "bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy standard" and my windows keeps loading windows 7 bootloader and rarely but sometimes it loads windows 8 bootloader.
Its kinda wierd.
Would be great to get some help :x
VG
^^ What is your screen resolution?
Diogo Silva
1366x768
When I reboot my PC, it comes with Windows 7 bootloader but when I shutdown and press the power button to start it starts with Windows 8 bootloader :/
VG
^^ It might be a Graphics card driver issue.
Diogo Silva
Talking about that! Windows installed AMD Radeon HD 7400M Series (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM v1.20) but I have an AMD Radeon HD 6450M! Might be that?
VG
^^ Might be. Since Windows 8 RTM is new, you should wait for some time until the graphics card company releases a new updated driver for your PC.
Matthew
This does not appear to work for me.
I actually like the Metro loader. Since I am dual booting between Windows 8 and 7, I used the options on the metro loader to make Windows 7 the default. As soon as I did that, the Metro loader was replaced by the windows 7 legacy loader.
To try and get the Metro loader back, I tried the following
1) I booted into Windows 8 and ran the steps above:
bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy standard
As soon as I did that, the legacy boot menu actually disappeared all together. It started booting directly into Windows 7.
2) I tried booting the WIndows 8 installation meter and repaing the master boot records and but those commands did nothing, and actual said it could not find any installed os.
3) Eventually I was able to get the legacy boot menu back by downloaded a free boot ini file editor. Both windows os versions were still in the file, but I moved things around to make sure the file updated.
Yet, nothing I do has resulted in getting the metro loader back.... Any ideas?
VG
^^ It was actually very simple. You just need to set Windows 8 again as default OS using msconfig while running Windows 8.
Chapre
Great, my dying PC takes more than 5 trial to power ON; so I better stick to Legacy boot-loader
vishal
i have windows 8 & xp installed... but i get an error executing this command...
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.2.9200]
(c) 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Windows\system32>bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy
The element data type specified is not recognized, or does not apply to the
specified entry.
Run "bcdedit /?" for command line assistance.
Element not found.
C:\Windows\system32>
VG
^^ It seems Windows XP is set as default OS in your system. Is it right? If yes, first set Windows 8 as default OS to boot and then try the command.
vincedchart
alex, That's not really it, dual booting win 8 with existing win7 is a pity, maybe this fix will help ?
Adrian
This didn't work for me. Every time I boot my laptop, after BIOS, it will go straight to the loading windows screen then windows 8 metro manager then I choose windows 8. but if I restart the laptop, after BIOS, it will go straight to windows 7 boot manager. I have a dual boot setup with windows 8 and linux mint 14.
I like the new boot manager for its looks but I hate it when I choose to boot Linux Mint. it will reboot -- not pass it to GRUB boot loader to load Linux -- and waste precious boot time. so I want it removed and found this solution but didn't get what I wanted.
Taufiq
Actually there is an easier way to do this.
1. Boot to Windows 7
2. Open System in Control Panel.
3. Klik Advanced System Settings.
4. Klik Advanced Tab.
5. Klik Setting button on Startup and Recovery section.
6. On Default Operating System drop-down box choose windows 7.
7. Ok, Ok. Restart.
VG
^^ But there is one problem in doing your steps! It'll make Windows 7 as default OS. What if you want to keep Windows 8 as default OS but want to have classic boot loader? In this situation the method mentioned in above tutorial will help. ;)
Taufiq
@VG Thanks for the input. It just, i don't know where did i go wrong.
The purpose of this tutorial is to replace Windows 8 boot loader (the first screenshot) with Windows 7 boot loader style right? (the second screenshot), and of course that means still having the option to choose which OS to boot. If i choose Windows 8, then it will boot straight to Windows 8 without that annoying restart, and if i choose Windows 7 it will boot straight to Windows 7. Well..., that's what happen to me, or perhaps i misunderstood the purpose of this tutorial. :)
Did you checked the 'Time to display the list of operating systems' check box?
VG
^^ If you use the method mentioned in above topic, It'll keep Windows 8 as default OS but will use Windows 7 style boot loader. If you use your method, it'll force you to set Windows 7 as default OS even if you want to have Windows 8 as default OS.