Scenario 1:
When you install Windows 8.1 on Windows 7 based computer, the default boot option is Windows 8.1 boot options menu which is shown as Figure 1:
If you want to use the old Windows 7 boot menu, follow these steps:
- Start the computer and then go into
Windows 8.1 boot options menu which is shown as Figure 1.
- Click
Change defaults or choose other options, and Options menu appears which is shown as Figure 2.
- Click Choose a default operation system option.
- Click
Windows 7 Enterprise option to set Windows 7 as the default operating system in the Choose a default operating system menu which is shown as Figure 3.
- Restart, and it will be changed to
Windows 7 boot options menu which is as shown as Figure
Scenario 2:
If you have Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 dual-boot configuration, and the default boot menu is Windows 7 boot options menu which is shown as Figure 4.
If you want to get the GUI as Windows 8.1 style, follow these steps:
- Boot into Windows 8.1 computer, open the command Prompt (Admin).
- Type the following command
bcdboot c:\Windows and press Enter.
- Restart, and you'll see the Windows 8.1 boot options menu which is as shown Figure 1.
Scenario 3:
When you have dual-boot system, one of the system disappear from the boot menu. We could follow these steps to get it back:
- Boot the computer from the installation media (Here my example is Windows 7) that works fine system.
- Go into
System Recovery Options menu, which is as shown as Figure 6.
- Click Command Prompt link to open the command prompt window
- Use the diskpart and list volume commands to confirm the OS boot drive, the commands are shown as Figure 7.
- Backup the bcd file, rename it.
- Rebuild a new bcd file. It will scan all disk to confirm all Windows installation on your computer and ask if you want to add them to boot list.
- Type
Y to agree with adding to boot list. In next boot, you will get all boot options back in the boot menu.
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