Viewing and Managing Boot Configuration Data Using BCD Editor

BCD Editor (Bcdedit.exe) is a command-line utility that lets you view and manage the BCD store. To use BCD Editor:

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, and then click Accessories.
2. Right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run As Administrator.
3. Type bcdedit at the command prompt.

Armed with the right set of commands, you can use bcdedit to:

• Create, import, export, and identify the entire BCD store.
• Create, delete, and copy individual entries in the BCD store.
• Set or delete entry option values in the BCD store.
• Control the boot sequence and the boot manager.
• Configure and control Emergency Management Services (EMS).
• Configure and control boot debugging as well as hypervisor debugging. summarizes commands you can use when you are working with the BCD store.

Note that BCD Editor is an advanced command-line tool and you should attempt to modify the BCD store only if you are an experienced IT pro. As a safeguard, you should make a full backup of the computer prior to making any changes to the BCD store. Why? If you make a mistake, your computer might end up in a non-bootable state, and then you would need to initiate a recovery.

Here’s a list of commands you can use with BCD Editor and a description of what each does:

1. /bootdebug Enables or disables boot debugging for a boot application.
2. /bootems Enables or disables Emergency Management Services for a boot application.
3. /bootsequence Sets the one-time boot sequence for the boot manager.
4. /copy Makes copies of entries in the store.
5. /create Creates new entries in the store.
6. /createstore Creates a new (empty) boot configuration data store.
7. /dbgsettings Sets the global debugger parameters.
8. /debug Enables or disables kernel debugging for an operating system entry.
9. /default Sets the default entry that the boot manager will use.
10. /delete Deletes entries from the store.
11. /deletevalue Deletes entry options from the store.
12. /displayorder Sets the order in which the boot manager displays the multiboot menu.
13. /ems Enables or disables Emergency Management Services for an operating system entry.
14. /emssettings Sets the global Emergency Management Services parameters.
15. /enum Lists entries in the store.
16. /export Exports the contents of the system store to a file. This file can be used later to restore the state of the system store.
17. /hypervisorsettings Sets the hypervisor parameters.
18. /import Restores the state of the system store by using a backup file created with the /export command.
19. /mirror Creates a mirror of entries in the store.
20. /set Sets entry option values in the store.
21. /sysstore Sets the system store device. This only affects EFI systems.
22. /timeout Sets the boot manager timeout value.
23. /toolsdisplayorder Sets the order in which the boot manager displays the tools menu.
24. /v Sets output to verbose mode.

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Tags: bcd, bcd editor, bcdedit, bcdedit.exe, bcdeditor, boot manager, boot sequence, command line tool, configuration data, default entry, emergency management services, ems, entry option, entry options, import export, kernel, mistake, new entries, operating system, option values, parameters, safeguard

This entry was posted on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 10:26 and is filed under Windows, Windows 7. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.