How to Disable New Metro Boot Loader and Restore Classic Boot Loader in Windows 8 and Windows 10

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1. ^^ You can boot into Windows 7 and set Windows 7 as default OS to boot using “Boot” tab in msconfig program. It’ll set Windows 7 boot loader as default and you’ll not see Windows 8 boot loader at startup.

2. Hi vishal, thanks for your reply. I said I’ve a windows 7 installer DVD and not that I’ve installed windows 7. Today I came across EasyBCD, there is an option in that to install [Windows Vista/7 Boot Manager] Can I safely install that? I have large amounts of very valuable data on my HDD and I’ve been using my system to dual boot windows 8 and os x mountain lion. Does installing that remove my existing entries?

3. ^^ I cant confirm but EasyBCD has worked fine for me in past.

4. Thanks. Hope this will enable me to enter safe mode. I’ve got a graphic card issue and windows 8 just loads to quickly for me to press f8 or shift f8. but hopefully I’ll be able to do it with legacy loader.

5. its working but after i shut down the pc its came back… what can i do?

6. Actually, VG, I wanted to do the opposite!

   But that’s easy to do, so if anyone installed Windows 8 and then 7, you’ll get the classic loader. Fix it by booting to windows 8 and then running a Command Prompt as admin. Type in

   bcdboot c:\windows

   This assumes your Windows 8 drive is C. Change if not.

   And voila you have the metro bootloader.

7. thanks very much… very very very useful info.. once again thanks. 🙂

8. Having problem after executing the above steps shutting down from windows 8 shows the standard bootloader where as shutting down from windows 7 shows the legacy bootloader when i open the system nexttime

9. Hey VG , I’ve got Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 running . If I run the command on Windows 8.1 , will I have to do this on Windows 10 as well (BTW I’ve Windows 8.1 as default , planning to change it to Windows 10)…………

10. @Alex:
    The legacy way was superior because it was very quick and simple. This new method requires several steps when only one was previously necessary. Why over-complicate things? It is also a HUGE PAIN when you need Safe Mode right away due to an error that prevents you from even getting into Windows Normally.

11. Did not work for me. I got a fail to load screen and I couldn’t access any os at all. just stuck there on the black and whitish gray text screen. i manged to fix it by following the instructions which told me to insert my install disc. after, i went in cmd and typed in bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy standard. i then got into windows 8.1. i wont be trying this again. how about you put up a LESS complicated process without modifying any part of the system. that would prevent problems. or if there was something i did wrong, tell me.

    Bye,
    dragonhe36

12. I think the boot menu logos are hidden in the mui’s, still searching… If they are and I find them ill try to resign the mui after I edit, and post a tutorial.

13. Yeah…works on windows 7 too…I checked that..Thanks 🙂

14. This classic Boot Loader saves a lot time for those who want to work windows 7.
    I have Installed Windows 10(32bit) with Windows 7(64bit). Windows 10 TP automatically changed itself to default OS, and its boot loader was a headache for me, as I use Windows 7 more frequently, it was not easy for me to boot in Windows 7, I waited (25 seconds) to Windows 10 to boot, then selected Windows 7, laptop restarted, Windows 7 booted (18+4 =22 s) and then got back into work. Total time wasted = 22+25= 47 seconds (~=1 minute). On the other hand, Windows 7 boot loader (edited by EasyBCD) loads more faster(after BIOS screen in 1 sec), and then select which OS you wanna start, starting windows 7 takes only 23 sec, whereas 10 TP takes 25 seconds, really fast 😀 (Y) Thanks a lot.

15. Hi,
    Of course I’m running a dual boot system, I’m running windows 8.1 (32-bit) as my primary o.s., I created a new partition on my hard drive and installed windows 10 technical preview there. Yesterday, I ran the command as shown here:
    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”.
    I did receive the confirmation message as stated, after I finished using my laptop last night, I shut down my computer. This morning when I powered on my laptop, I expected to see the ‘legacy’ bootloader appear, but much to my surprise..the metro/modern style one appeared. Has that happened to anyone else ?
    David

16. ^^ Try to execute the command in the other OS as well.

17. Anyone has problem with identifier, just change {default} to {current}.
    Assuming you done this step from windows 8.
    bcdedit /set {current} bootmenupolicy legacy

18. So awesome! Thank you so much for this article!

19. Hi leomate,

    For multi OS you can use the very simple “GAG Boot Manager” (Freeware) which use some special sectors of the HD and handle up to 9 OS’s. Its very small and easy to install. I can boot Win 8.1 and Linux . I use this tool since years and I did not find in the meantime a better one.

    Anyway, I find these hinds very helpful !
    Thank you very much !

20. For those experiencing issues with the W8/8.1/10 Boot Options Menu returning after shut down/start up, this may be related to the Fast Startup feature, which only simulates a shut down by putting the system into an advanced state of hibernation, retaining the current session configuration.
    Fast Startup does not apply to restarts.
    You may have to disable Fast Startup to make the modification stick. (?)
    Maybe VG can confirm whether or not that is the issue.

21. the windows 8 boot selector looks nice, but sadly couldn’t go without problems, making it useless. if it worked more like grub, with this graphical interface, it would be pretty awesome. but it is kind of stupid to make a bootloader that runs after the operating system loads all with the boot screen. it has potencial but in this state looks useless from what i see. sad that one needs to revert to the classic one.

22. i seem to have this odd problem where if i shutdown from win 10 pro (1511) it gives me the metro bootloader no matterwhat
    yet if i restart in 10 or 7 or shutdown in 7 it gives me the legacy bootmenu

    i tried win 10 enterprise before this and it seemed to respect the bootloader options after i set 7 as the default os when i booted 7 up… did the same with win 10 pro but it gave me the metro loader

    disabling fast startup seems to have fixed it maybe by default fast start is off in 10 enterprise but on in standard editions

23. That’s right, Omnescient’s solution worked a charm! -> The bootloader would default, so I had to disable the “fast startup” nonsense on my machine.

24. I have a problem. I’ve been using easyBCD to manage my boot menu for Windows 10. I’ve set it to the classic screen repeatedly and every couple days it’s back to the metro screen. My problem with the metro boot screen is simple. One OS is booting first to master all the other ones. If that OS boot record gets messed up, my whole system is a brick. I had this happen recently and it took me more than a day to get it working again because none of the recovery options were working. Does anybody know how to set it back to the old boot screen PERMANENTLY without Windows 10 going behind my back and resetting it? I just tried this method, but I have a feeling this is exactly what easyBCD is doing, except hidden by a fancy button. I want a permanent solution. If I can’t find one, I’ll jury rig it by writing a C++ programme that executes the command and dropping it into my startup folder. If anyone can help me avoid jury rigging it, I would a appreciate it.

    Thanks.

25. ^^ The command mentioned above is permanent. I’m using it in many machines.

26. ^^^ It isn’t anymore. Windows 10 periodically resets my boot screen to metro. I don’t know when, but it seems scheduled. I have a programme that runs the command whenever Windows starts, and that usually fixes it, but if I wait long enough to restart, M$ goes and sets it back to their desired settings. I haven’t figured out how to schedule a programme to run before shutting down, which is next on my agenda. I guess that’s the only way to fix it, because searching the web has turned up no alternatives.

    (As an aside, I could rant about all the things wrong with Windows 10, many of which I have spent countless hours hacking fixes. I just wish M$ would go bankrupt and out of business.)

27. ^ blame all the idiots providing all the bs feedback.

    w7 was the last proper desktop os, everything after is dumbed down and aimed at tablet users.

28. Awesome. Does this actually use the older bootloader or is it merely cosmetic?

    Also, which bootloader is faster – Win 10 or Win 7?
    I have a dual-boot setup with Win 10 and Win 7. Win 10 did some updates which included, apparently, the boot stuff. Now it’s switched from the Win 7 bootloader to Win 10 (both OS’s still boot though). It feels like the Win 10 one is a bit slower, but I’m not sure. Can anyone else comment on that?

29. ^^ Yes. It actually enables the old bootloader. IMO Windows 7 boot loader is faster than Windows 10 boot loader.

30. But how to ENABLE the metro style bootloader in Windows Server 2012 or newer? I tried typing bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy standard, and command completed successfully, but the bootloader ignores this value and the legacy bootloader still appears