How to Select a Default OS to Boot Into

Sort of a follow up to my previous how to guide on restoring the Windows 7 MBR, I thought it would also be helpful to show a quick guide on making Windows 7 the default operating system to boot into. As you know, when you have a dual boot setup, you will be prompted at startup as to which installation you would like to boot into, but after a short countdown, it will default to one of the operating systems. Here is how to tell the system which one to use by default.

Open the Start Menu and right-click on Computer and click on Properties.

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The System window should open and you will click on Advanced system settings on the right-hand task pane.

 How to Select a Default OS to Boot Into

Under the Advanced tab, click on the Settings button under Startup and Recovery.

 How to Select a Default OS to Boot Into 

Under System Startup, select a operating system from the drop down menu to be the new default operating system, then click on OK.

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Click on OK.

 

Another quick way to do the same thing is to click on the Start menu and type msconfig into the search box and hit Enter.

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Click on the Boot tab.

 How to Select a Default OS to Boot Into

Select the installation you wish to boot into by default and check the Make all boot settings permanent box.

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Click OK.

Hope this is helpful. I’m currenty dual booting Windows 7 and Vista on one machine and Windows 7 and Mac  OSX Leopard on another. What are you dual booting?