Bootcfg command
Updated: 11/12/2023 by Computer Hope
The bootcfg command is part of the Recovery Console. It enables users to rebuild, view, and otherwise make changes to the boot.ini file.
Warning
BOOT.INI is used for boot options on Windows XP and earlier operating systems. Use the BCDEDIT command line tool to modify Windows Vista and later.
Availability
The bootcfg command is available in the following Microsoft operating systems.
Note
The bootcfg command is not available in Windows 11.
Syntax
Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 10 syntax
BOOTCFG /parameter [arguments]
Parameters
| /copy | Makes a copy of an existing boot entry. Bootcfg /copy syntax. |
| /delete | Deletes an existing boot entry from the BOOT.INI file. Bootcfg /delete syntax. |
| /query | Displays the current boot entries and their settings. Bootcfg /query syntax. |
| /raw | Allows the user to specify any switch to be added. Bootcfg /raw syntax. |
| /timeout | Allows the user to change the Timeout value. Bootcfg /timeout syntax. |
| /default | Allows the user to change the Default boot entry. Bootcfg /default syntax. |
| /EMS | Allows the user to configure the /redirect switch for headless support. Bootcfg /EMS syntax. |
| /debug | Allows the user to specify the port and baudrate for remote debugging. Bootcfg /debug syntax. |
| /addsw | Allows the user to add predefined switches. Bootcfg /addsw syntax. |
| /rmsw | Allows the user to remove predefined switches. Bootcfg /rmsw syntax. |
| /dbg1394 | Allows the user to configure 1394 port for debugging. Bootcfg /dbg1394 syntax. |
| /? | Display a summary of parameters. |
bootcfg /copy
bootcfg /copy [/S system [/U user [/P [password]]]] [/D description] /ID bootid
Description:
Makes a copy of an existing boot entry.
Parameter list:
| /S system | Specifies the remote system to connect to. |
| /U [domain\]user | Specifies the user context under which the command should execute. |
| /P [password] | Specifies the password for the given user context. Prompts for input if omitted. |
| /D description | The description of the OS entry being made. |
| /ID bootid | Specifies the boot entry id to be copied in the [operating systems] section of the BOOT.INI file. |
Examples:
BOOTCFG /Copy /D "Windows with Debug" /ID 1
BOOTCFG /Copy /S system /U user /D "Windows" /ID 3
BOOTCFG /Copy /D "Windows /Crashdebug" /ID 2
Bootcfg /delete
BOOTCFG /Delete [/S system [/U user [/P [password]]]] /ID bootid
Description:
Deletes an existing boot entry in the [operating systems] section of the BOOT.INI file.
Parameter list:
| /S system | Specifies the remote system to connect to. |
| /U [domain\]user | Specifies the user context under which the command should execute. |
| /P [password] | Specifies the password for the given user context. Prompts for input if omitted. |
| /D description | The description of the OS entry being made. |
| /ID bootid | Specifies the boot entry id to be copied in the [operating systems] section of the BOOT.INI file. |
Examples:
BOOTCFG /Delete /ID 2
BOOTCFG /Delete /S system /U user /P password /ID 2
Bootcfg /query
BOOTCFG /Query [/S system [/U user [/P [password]]]]
Description:
Displays the boot information.
Parameter list:
| /S system | Specifies the remote system to connect to. |
| /U [domain\]user | Specifies the user context under which the command should execute. |
| /P [password] | Specifies the password for the given user context. Prompts for input if omitted. |
Examples:
BOOTCFG /Query
BOOTCFG /Query /S system /U user /P password
BOOTCFG /Query /S ipaddress /U user /P password
Bootcfg /raw syntax
BOOTCFG /Raw osoptions [/S system [/U user [/P [password]]]] /ID bootid [/A]
Description:
Allows the user to specify the OS load options for a boot entry.
Parameter list:
| /RAW osoptions | Specifies the OS options for a boot entry. The previous OS options will be replaced. |
| /S system | Specifies the remote system to connect to. |
| /U [domain\]user | Specifies the user context under which the command should execute. |
| /P [password] | Specifies the password for the given user context. Prompts for input if omitted. |
| /ID bootid | Specifies the boot entry id in the [operating systems] section of the BOOT.INI file to add the OS options to. |
| /A | Specifies that the OS options entered with /RAW switch will be appended to the existing OS options. |
Examples:
BOOTCFG /Raw "/DEBUG /SOS" /A /ID 2 BOOTCFG /Raw "/3GB" /A /ID 2 BOOTCFG /Raw "/CRASHDEBUG" /S system /U user /P password /ID 2
Bootcfg /timeout syntax
BOOTCFG /Timeout value [/S system [/U user [/P [password]]]]
Description:
Allows the user to change the OS timeout value. The valid range is 0 to 999.
Parameter list:
| /S system | Specifies the remote system to connect to. |
| /U [domain\]user | Specifies the user context under which the command should execute. |
| /P [password] | Specifies the password for the given user context. Prompts for input if omitted. |
| /TIMEOUT value | Specifies the time in seconds before the default OS is loaded. |
Examples:
BOOTCFG /Timeout 30
BOOTCFG /Timeout 50 /S system /U domain\user /P password
Bootcfg /default syntax
BOOTCFG /Default [/S system [/U user [/P [password]]]] /ID bootid
Description:
Allows the user to change the Default OS entry.
Parameter list:
| /S system | Specifies the remote system to connect to. |
| /U [domain\]user | Specifies the user context under which the command should execute. |
| /P [password] | Specifies the password for the given user context. Prompts for input if omitted. |
| /D description | The description of the OS entry being made. |
| /ID bootid | Specifies the boot entry id to be copied in the [operating systems] section of the BOOT.INI file. |
Examples:
BOOTCFG /Default /ID 2
BOOTCFG /Default /S system /U domain\user /P password /ID 2
Bootcfg /ems syntax
BOOTCFG /EMS value [/S system [/U user [/P [password]]]] [/PORT port] [/BAUD baudrate] [/ID bootid]
Description:
Allows the user to add or change the EMS headless redirection settings.
Parameter list:
| /EMS value | The valid set of EMS redirection values are ON, OFF, EDIT. NOTE: EDIT is used to change the current settings, and /ID cannot be used with EDIT. |
| /S system | Specifies the remote system to connect to. |
| /U [domain\]user | Specifies the user context under which the command should execute. |
| /P [password] | Specifies the password for the given user context. Prompts for input if omitted. |
| /PORT port | Specifies the COM port to be used for redirection. Valid ports are COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4, BIOSSET (EMS uses BIOS settings). |
| /BAUD baudrate | Specifies the Baudrate to be used for redirection. Valid Baudrates are 9600, 19200, 57600, 115200. |
| /ID bootid | Specifies the boot entry id to be copied in the [operating systems] section of the BOOT.INI file. |
Examples:
BOOTCFG /EMS ON /PORT COM1 /BAUD 19200 /ID 2
BOOTCFG /EMS ON /PORT BIOSSET /ID 3
BOOTCFG /EMS OFF /S system /ID 2
BOOTCFG /EMS EDIT /PORT com2 /BAUD 115200
BOOTCFG /EMS OFF /S system /U domain\user /P password /ID 2
Bootcfg /debug syntax
BOOTCFG /Debug value [/S system [/U user [/P [password]]]] [/PORT port] [/BAUD baudrate] /ID bootid
Description:
Allows the user to add or change the debug settings.
Parameter list:
| /DEBUG value | The valid set of debugging values are ON, OFF, EDIT. |
| /S system | Specifies the remote system to connect to. |
| /U [domain\]user | Specifies the user context under which the command should execute. |
| /P [password] | Specifies the password for the given user context. Prompts for input if omitted. |
| /PORT port | Specifies the COM port to be used for redirection. Valid ports are COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4, BIOSSET(EMS uses BIOS settings). |
| /BAUD baudrate | Specifies the Baudrate to be used for redirection. Valid Baudrates are 9600, 19200, 57600, 115200. |
| /ID bootid | Specifies the boot entry id to be copied in the [operating systems] section of the BOOT.INI file. |
Examples:
BOOTCFG /Debug ON /PORT COM1 /ID 2
BOOTCFG /Debug OFF /S system /U user /ID 2
BOOTCFG /Debug EDIT /PORT com2 /BAUD 19200 /ID 2
BOOTCFG /Debug OFF /S system /U domain\user /P password /ID 2
Bootcfg /addsw syntax
BOOTCFG /Addsw [/S system [/U user [/P [password]]]] { [/MM val] [/BV] [/SO] [/NG] } /ID bootid
Description:
Allows the user to add the switches for a specified OS entry.
Parameter list:
| /S system | Specifies the remote system to connect to. |
| /U [domain\]user | Specifies the user context under which the command should execute. |
| /P [password] | Specifies the password for the given user context. Prompts for input if omitted. |
| /MM value | Specifies to add the /maxmem switch which limits the amount of RAM (in MB) the OS can use. This value must be greater than or equal to 32. |
| /BV | Specifies to add the /basevideo switch which directs the OS to use standard VGA mode for the installed video driver. |
| /SO | Specifies to add the /sos switch to display the name of each device driver while loading. |
| /NG | Specifies to add the /noguiboot switch which disables the Windows progress bar that appears before the logon prompt. |
| /ID bootid | Specifies the boot entry id to be copied in the [operating systems] section of the BOOT.INI file. |
Examples:
BOOTCFG /Addsw /MM 64 /ID 2
BOOTCFG /Addsw /SO /ID 3
BOOTCFG /Addsw /SO /NG /S system /U domain\user /ID 2
BOOTCFG /Addsw /NG /ID 2
BOOTCFG /Addsw /MM 96 /NG /S system /U user /P password /ID 2
Bootcfg /rmsw syntax
BOOTCFG /Rmsw [/S system [/U user [/P [password]]]] { [/MM] [/BV] [/SO] [/NG] } /ID bootid
Description:
Allows the user to remove the switches from an OS entry.
Parameter list:
| /S system | Specifies the remote system to connect to. |
| /U [domain\]user | Specifies the user context under which the command should execute. |
| /P [password] | Specifies the password for the given user context. Prompts for input if omitted. |
| /MM value | Removes the /maxmem switch. |
| /BV | Removes the /basevideo switch. |
| /SO | Removes the /sos switch. |
| /NG | Removes the /noguiboot switch. |
| /ID bootid | Specifies the boot entry id to be copied in the [operating systems] section of the BOOT.INI file. |
Examples:
BOOTCFG /Rmsw /MM /ID 2
BOOTCFG /Rmsw /SO /ID 3
BOOTCFG /Rmsw /SO /NG /S system /U user /ID 2
BOOTCFG /Rmsw /NG /ID 2
BOOTCFG /Rmsw /MM /NG /S system /U domain\user /P password /ID 2
Bootcfg /dbg1394 syntax
BOOTCFG /Dbg1394 value [/S system [/U user [/P [password]]]] [/CH channel] /ID bootid
Description:
Allows the user to configure the 1394 port for debugging.
Parameter list:
| /DBG1394 value | The valid set of Dbg1394 switch values are ON, OFF. |
| /S system | Specifies the remote system to connect to. |
| /U [domain\]user | Specifies the user context under which the command should execute. |
| /P [password] | Specifies the password for the given user context. Prompts for input if omitted. |
| /CH channel | Specifies the channel. Valid values: 1 to 64. |
| /ID bootid | Specifies the boot entry id to be copied in the [operating systems] section of the BOOT.INI file. |
Examples:
BOOTCFG /DBG1394 ON /CH 30 /ID 3
BOOTCFG /DBG1394 ON /CH 20 /S system /U user /ID 2
BOOTCFG /DBG1394 OFF /ID 2
BOOTCFG /DBG1394 OFF /S system /U domain\user /P password /ID 2
Windows XP syntax
BOOTCFG [/ADD] [/REBUILD] [/SCAN] [/LIST] [/DISABLE] [/REDIRECT [port baudrate] | [useBiosSettings]
| /SCAN | Scan all disks for Windows installations and display the results. |
| /ADD | Add a Windows installation to the boot list. |
| /REBUILD | Iterate through all Windows installations and allow the user to choose which to add. |
| /DEFAULT | Set the default boot entry. |
| /LIST | List the entries already in the boot list. |
| /DISABLEREDIRECT | Disable redirection in the boot loader. |
| /REDIRECT | Enable redirection in the boot loader with the specified configuration.
Example: |
Bootcfg examples
bootcfg /rebuild
Initiate rebuild process for creation of boot.ini on the computer.