Bootcfg

  • Article

Configures, queries, or changes Boot.ini file settings.

To view the command syntax, click a command:

bootcfg addsw

Adds operating system load options for a specified operating system entry.

Syntax

bootcfg /addsw [/s Computer [/u Domain\User /p Password]] [/mm MaximumRAM] [/bv] [/so] [/ng] /id OSEntryLineNum

Parameters

/s   Computer   : Specifies the name or IP address of a remote computer (do not use backslashes). The default is the local computer.

/u   Domain \ User   : Runs the command with the account permissions of the user specified by User or Domain\User. The default is the permissions of the current logged on user on the computer issuing the command.

/p   Password   : Specifies the password of the user account that is specified in the /u parameter.

/mm   MaximumRAM   : Adds the /maxmem switch to the specified OSEntryLineNum and sets the maximum amount of RAM that the operating system can use.

/bv   : Adds the /basevideo switch to the specified OSEntryLineNum, directing the operating system to use standard VGA mode for the installed video driver.

/so   : Adds the /sos switch to the specified OSEntryLineNum, directing the operating system to display device driver names while they are being loaded.

/ng   : Adds the /noguiboot switch to the specified OSEntryLineNum, disabling the Windows XP Professional progress bar that appears before the CTRL+ALT+DEL logon prompt.

/id   OSEntryLineNum   : Specifies the operating system entry line number in the [operating systems] section of the Boot.ini file to which the operating system load options are added. The first line after the [operating systems] section header is 1.

/? : Displays help at the command prompt.

Examples

The following examples show how you can use the bootcfg /addsw command:

bootcfg /addsw /mm 64 /id 2
bootcfg /addsw /so /id 3
bootcfg /addsw /so /ng /s srvmain /u hiropln /id 2
bootcfg /addsw /ng /id 2
bootcfg /addsw /mm 96 /ng /s srvmain /u maindom\hiropln /p p@ssW23 /id 2

bootcfg copy

Makes another operating system instance copy, for which switches can be added.

Syntax

bootcfg /copy [/s Computer [/u Domain\User /p Password]] [/d Description] [/id OSEntryLineNum]

Parameters

/s   Computer   : Specifies the name or IP address of a remote computer (do not use backslashes). The default is the local computer.

/u   Domain \ User   : Runs the command with the account permissions of the user specified by User or Domain\User. The default is the permissions of the current logged on user on the computer issuing the command.

/p   Password   : Specifies the password of the user account that is specified in the /u parameter.

/d   Description   : Specifies the description for the new operating system entry.

/id   OSEntryLineNum   : Specifies the operating system entry line number in the [operating systems] section of the Boot.ini file to copy. The first line after the [operating systems] section header is 1.

/? : Displays help at the command prompt.

Examples

The following examples show how you can use the bootcfg /copy command:

bootcfg /copy /d "\ABC Server\" /id 1
bootcfg /copy /s srvmain /u maindom\hiropln /p p@ssW23 /d "Windows XP" /id 2
bootcfg /copy /u hiropln /p p@ssW23 /d "AB Ver 1.001" /id 2

bootcfg dbg1394

Configures 1394 port debugging for a specified operating system entry.

Syntax

bootcfg /dbg1394 {ON|OFF|EDIT} [/s Computer [/u Domain\User /p Password]] [/ch channel] /id OSEntryLineNum

Parameters

ON | OFF | EDIT   : Specifies the value for 1394 port debugging.

Value

Description

ON

Enables remote debugging support by adding the /dbg1394 switch to the specified OSEntryLineNum.

OFF

Disables remote debugging support by removing the /dbg1394 switch from the specified OSEntryLineNum.

EDIT

Allows changes to port and baud rate settings by changing the channel values associated with the /dbg1394 switch for the specified OSEntryLineNum.

/s   Computer   : Specifies the name or IP address of a remote computer (do not use backslashes). The default is the local computer.

/u   Domain \ User   : Runs the command with the account permissions of the user specified by User or Domain\User. The default is the permissions of the current logged on user on the computer issuing the command.

/p   Password   : Specifies the password of the user account that is specified in the /u parameter.

/ch   channel   : Specifies the channel to use for debugging. Valid values are integers between 1 and 64. Do not use the /ch channel parameter if 1394 port debugging is being disabled.

/id   OSEntryLineNum   : Specifies the operating system entry line number in the [operating systems] section of the Boot.ini file to which the 1394 port debugging options are added. The first line after the [operating systems] section header is 1.

/? : Displays help at the command prompt.

Examples

The following examples show how you can use the bootcfg /dbg1394 command:

bootcfg /dbg1394 /id 2
bootcfg /dbg1394 on /ch 1 /id 3
bootcfg /dbg1394 edit /ch 8 /id 2
bootcfg /s srvmain /u maindom\hiropln /p p@ssW23 /dbg1394 off /id 2

bootcfg debug

Adds or changes the debug settings for a specified operating system entry.

Syntax

bootcfg /debug {ON|OFF|EDIT} [/s Computer [/u Domain\User /p Password]] [/port {COM1|COM2|COM3|COM4}] [/baud {9600|19200|38400|57600|115200}] [/id OSEntryLineNum]

Parameters

ON | OFF | EDIT   : Specifies the value for debugging.

Value

Description

ON

Enables remote debugging support by adding the /debug switch to the specified OSEntryLineNum.

OFF

Disables remote debugging support by removing the /debug switch from the specified OSEntryLineNum.

EDIT

Allows changes to port and baud rate settings by changing the values associated with the /debug switch for the specified OSEntryLineNum.

/s   Computer   : Specifies the name or IP address of a remote computer (do not use backslashes). The default is the local computer.

/u   Domain \ User   : Runs the command with the account permissions of the user specified by User or Domain\User. The default is the permissions of the current logged on user on the computer issuing the command.

/p   Password   : Specifies the password of the user account that is specified in the /u parameter.

/port { COM1 | COM2 | COM3 | COM4 }   : Specifies the COM port to be used for debugging. Do not use the /port parameter if debugging is being disabled.

/baud { 9600 | 19200 | 38400 | 57600 | 115200 }   : Specifies the baud rate to be used for debugging. Do not use the /baud parameter if debugging is being disabled.

/id   OSEntryLineNum   : Specifies the operating system entry line number in the [operating systems] section of the Boot.ini file to which the debugging options are added. The first line after the [operating systems] section header is 1.

/? : Displays help at the command prompt.

Remarks

  • If 1394 port debugging is required, use bootcfg /dbg1394.

Examples

The following examples show how you can use the bootcfg /debug command:

bootcfg /debug on /port com1 /id 2
bootcfg /debug edit /port com2 /baud 19200 /id 2
bootcfg /s srvmain /u maindom\hiropln /p p@ssW23 /debug off /id 2

bootcfg default

Specifies the operating system entry to designate as the default.

Syntax

bootcfg /default [/s Computer [/u Domain\User /p Password]] [/id OSEntryLineNum]

Parameters

/s   Computer   : Specifies the name or IP address of a remote computer (do not use backslashes). The default is the local computer.

/u   Domain \ User   : Runs the command with the account permissions of the user specified by User or Domain\User. The default is the permissions of the current logged on user on the computer issuing the command.

/p   Password   : Specifies the password of the user account that is specified in the /u parameter.

/id   OSEntryLineNum   : Specifies the operating system entry line number in the [operating systems] section of the Boot.ini file to designate as default. The first line after the [operating systems] section header is 1.

/? : Displays help at the command prompt.

Examples

The following examples show how you can use the bootcfg /default command:

bootcfg /default /id 2
bootcfg /default /s srvmain /u maindom\hiropln /p p@ssW23 /id 2

bootcfg delete

Deletes an operating system entry in the [operating systems] section of the Boot.ini file.

Syntax

bootcfg /delete [/s Computer [/u Domain\User /p Password]] [/id OSEntryLineNum]

Parameters

/s   Computer   : Specifies the name or IP address of a remote computer (do not use backslashes). The default is the local computer.

/u   Domain \ User   : Runs the command with the account permissions of the user specified by User or Domain\User. The default is the permissions of the current logged on user on the computer issuing the command.

/p   Password   : Specifies the password of the user account that is specified in the /u parameter.

/id   OSEntryLineNum   : Specifies the operating system entry line number in the [operating systems] section of the Boot.ini file to delete. The first line after the [operating systems] section header is 1.

/? : Displays help at the command prompt.

Examples

The following examples show how you can use the bootcfg /delete command:

bootcfg /delete /id 1
bootcfg /delete /s srvmain /u maindom\hiropln /p p@ssW23 /id 3

bootcfg ems

Enables the user to add or change the settings for redirection of the EMS console to a remote computer. By enabling EMS, you add a "redirect=Port#" line to the [boot loader] section of the Boot.ini file and a /redirect switch to the specified operating system entry line. The EMS feature is enabled only on servers.

Syntax

bootcfg /ems {ON|OFF|EDIT} [/s Computer [/u Domain\User /p Password]] [/port {COM1|COM2|COM3|COM4|BIOSSET}] [/baud {9600|19200|38400|57600|115200}] [/id OSEntryLineNum] 

Parameters

ON | OFF | EDIT   : Specifies the value for EMS redirection.

Value

Description

ON

Enables remote output for the specified OSEntryLineNum. Adds a /redirect switch to the specified OSEntryLineNum and a redirect=comX setting to the [boot loader] section. The value of comX is set by the /port parameter.

OFF

Disables output to a remote computer. Removes the /redirect switch from the specified OSEntryLineNum and the redirect=comX setting from the [boot loader] section.

EDIT

Allows changes to port settings by changing the redirect=comX setting in the [boot loader] section. The value of comX is reset to the value specified by the /port parameter.

/s   Computer   : Specifies the name or IP address of a remote computer (do not use backslashes). The default is the local computer.

/u   Domain \ User   : Runs the command with the account permissions of the user specified by User or Domain\User. The default is the permissions of the current logged on user on the computer issuing the command.

/p   Password   : Specifies the password of the user account that is specified in the /u parameter.

/port { COM1 | COM2 | COM3 | COM4 | BIOSSET }   : Specifies the COM port to be used for redirection. BIOSSET directs EMS to get the BIOS settings to determine which port should be used for redirection. Do not use the /port parameter if remotely administered output is being disabled.

/baud { 9600 | 19200 | 38400 | 57600 | 115200 }   : Specifies the baud rate to be used for redirection. Do not use the /baud parameter if remotely administered output is being disabled.

/id   OSEntryLineNum   : Specifies the operating system entry line number to which the EMS option is added in the [operating systems] section of the Boot.ini file. The first line after the [operating systems] section header is 1. This parameter is required when the EMS value is set to ON or OFF.

/? : Displays help at the command prompt.

Remarks

  • For more information on the Emergency Management Services (EMS), see Help and Support Center.

Examples

The following examples show how you can use the bootcfg /ems command:

bootcfg /ems on /port com1 /baud 19200 /id 2
bootcfg /ems on /port biosset /id 3
bootcfg /s srvmain /ems off /id 2
bootcfg /ems edit /port com2 /baud 115200
bootcfg /s srvmain /u maindom\hiropln /p p@ssW23 /ems off /id 2

bootcfg query

Queries and displays the [boot loader] and [operating systems] section entries from Boot.ini.

Syntax

bootcfg /query [/s Computer [/u Domain\User /p Password]]

Parameters

/s   Computer   : Specifies the name or IP address of a remote computer (do not use backslashes). The default is the local computer.

/u   Domain \ User   : Runs the command with the account permissions of the user specified by User or Domain\User. The default is the permissions of the current logged on user on the computer issuing the command.

/p   Password   : Specifies the password of the user account that is specified in the /u parameter.

/? : Displays help at the command prompt.

Remarks

  • The following is a sample of bootcfg /query output:

    Boot Loader Settings

timeout: 30 default: multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS Boot Entries

Boot entry ID: 1 Friendly Name: "Microsoft Windows XP Professional" Path: multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS OS Load Options: /fastdetect /debug /debugport=com1:

  • The Boot Loader Settings portion of the bootcfg query output displays each entry in the [boot loader] section of Boot.ini.

  • The Boot Entries portion of the bootcfg query output displays the following detail for each operating system entry in the [operating systems] section of Boot.ini: Boot entry ID, Friendly Name, Path, and OS Load Options.

Examples

The following examples show how you can use the bootcfg /query command:

bootcfg /query
bootcfg /query /s srvmain /u maindom\hiropln /p p@ssW23
bootcfg /query /u hiropln /p p@ssW23

bootcfg raw

Adds operating system load options specified as a string to an operating system entry in the [operating systems] section of the Boot.ini file.

Syntax

bootcfg [/s Computer [/u Domain\User /p Password]] /raw OSLoadOptionsString [/id OSEntryLineNum]

Parameters

/s   Computer   : Specifies the name or IP address of a remote computer (do not use backslashes). The default is the local computer.

/u   Domain \ User   : Runs the command with the account permissions of the user specified by User or Domain\User. The default is the permissions of the current logged on user on the computer issuing the command.

/p   Password   : Specifies the password of the user account that is specified in the /u parameter.

OSLoadOptionsString   : Specifies the operating system load options to add to the operating system entry. These load options will replace any existing load options associated with the operating system entry. No validation of OSLoadOptions is done.

/id   OSEntryLineNum   : Specifies the operating system entry line number in the [operating systems] section of the Boot.ini file to update. The first line after the [operating systems] section header is 1.

/? : Displays help at the command prompt.

Remarks

  • Bootcfg raw is used to add text to the end of an operating system entry, overwriting any existing operating system entry options. This text should contain valid OS Load Options such as /debug, /fastdetect, /nodebug, /baudrate, /crashdebug, and /sos. For example, the following command adds "/debug /fastdetect" to the end of the first operating system entry, replacing any previous operating system entry options:

    bootcfg /raw "/debug /fastdetect" /id 1

  • For more information about optional OS Load Options and how Windows uses the Boot.ini file during startup, see article 170756, "Available Switch Options for Windows NT Boot.ini File," in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.

Examples

The following examples show how you can use the bootcfg /raw command:

bootcfg /raw "/debug /sos" /id 2
bootcfg /raw /s srvmain /u maindom\hiropln /p p@ssW23 "/crashdebug " /id 2

bootcfg rmsw

Removes operating system load options for a specified operating system entry.

Syntax

bootcfg /rmsw [/s Computer [/u Domain\User /p Password]] [/mm] [/bv] [/so] [/ng] /id OSEntryLineNum

Parameters

/s   Computer   : Specifies the name or IP address of a remote computer (do not use backslashes). The default is the local computer.

/u   Domain \ User   : Runs the command with the account permissions of the user specified by User or Domain\User. The default is the permissions of the current logged on user on the computer issuing the command.

/p   Password   : Specifies the password of the user account that is specified in the /u parameter.

/mm   : Removes the /maxmem switch and its associated maximum memory value from the specified OSEntryLineNum. The /maxmem switch specifies the maximum amount of RAM that the operating system can use.

/bv   : Removes the /basevideo switch from the specified OSEntryLineNum. The /basevideo switch directs the operating system to use standard VGA mode for the installed video driver.

/so   : Removes the /sos switch from the specified OSEntryLineNum. The /sos switch directs the operating system to display device driver names while they are being loaded.

/ng   : Removes the /noguiboot switch from the specified OSEntryLineNum. The /noguiboot switch disables the Windows XP Professional progress bar that appears before the CTRL+ALT+DEL logon prompt.

/id   OSEntryLineNum   : Specifies the operating system entry line number in the [operating systems] section of the Boot.ini file from which the OS Load Options are removed. The first line after the [operating systems] section header is 1.

/? : Displays help at the command prompt.

Examples

The following examples show how you can use the bootcfg /rmsw command:

bootcfg /rmsw /mm 64 /id 2
bootcfg /rmsw /so /id 3
bootcfg /rmsw /so /ng /s srvmain /u hiropln /id 2
bootcfg /rmsw /ng /id 2
bootcfg /rmsw /mm 96 /ng /s srvmain /u maindom\hiropln /p p@ssW23 /id 2

bootcfg timeout

Changes the operating system time-out value.

Syntax

bootcfg /timeout TimeOutValue [/s Computer [/u Domain\User /p Password]] 

Parameters

TimeOutValue   : Specifies the timeout value in the [boot loader] section. The value is the number of seconds the user has to select an operating system from the boot loader screen before NTLDR loads the default. If the value is 0, then NTLDR immediately starts the default operating system without displaying the boot loader screen.

/s   Computer   : Specifies the name or IP address of a remote computer (do not use backslashes). The default is the local computer.

/u   Domain \ User   : Runs the command with the account permissions of the user specified by User or Domain\User. The default is the permissions of the current logged on user on the computer issuing the command.

/p   Password   : Specifies the password of the user account that is specified in the /u parameter.

/? : Displays help at the command prompt.

Examples

The following examples show how you can use the bootcfg /timeout command:

bootcfg /timeout 30
bootcfg /s srvmain /u maindom\hiropln /p p@ssW23 /timeout 50

Formatting legend

Format

Meaning

Italic

Information that the user must supply

Bold

Elements that the user must type exactly as shown

Ellipsis (...)

Parameter that can be repeated several times in a command line

Between brackets ([])

Optional items

Between braces ({}); choices separated by pipe (|). Example: {even|odd}

Set of choices from which the user must choose only one

Courier font

Code or program output