Bootcfg

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

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

• bootcfg addsw

• bootcfg clone

• bootcfg copy

• bootcfg dbg1394

• bootcfg debug

• bootcfg default

• bootcfg delete

• bootcfg ems

• bootcfg list

• bootcfg mirror

• bootcfg query

• bootcfg raw

• bootcfg rmsw

• bootcfg timeout

• bootcfg update

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

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

• /mm MaximumRAM
  Specifies the maximum amount of RAM that the operating system can use. The value must be equal to or greater than 32 Megabytes.

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

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

• /ng
  Adds the /noguiboot option 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.

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

On Itanium-based computers, creates a copy of an Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) boot entry for use in a mirrored boot volume.

bootcfg /clone /tg GUID [/sg GUID | /id bootid [/d description | /d+ description]] [/upddrv]

• /clone
  Creates an EFI boot entry for a mirrored partition containing a Windows operating system.

• /sg GUID
  Specifies the globally unique identifier (GUID) of the partition containing the operating system from which the boot entry is being copied.

• /tg GUID
  Specifies the globally unique identifier (GUID) of the partition containing the operating system for which you are creating the cloned boot entry.

• /id bootid
  Specifies the boot entry to be copied.

• /d description
  Applies the specified friendly name to the cloned boot entry.

• /d+ description
  Appends the specified text to the existing friendly name for the boot entry specified with the /id parameter. When /d+ is used with the /sg parameter, the specified text is appended to the string, (clone).

• /upddrv
  Updates the device path to the EFI drivers.

• /?
  Displays help at the command prompt.

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

bootcfg /clone /tg GUID /d+ test

Recommended when you have one EFI partition to clone from. It is best to use explicit arguments when you have multiple EFI partitions with multiple EFI partition boot entries to avoid confusion.

bootcfg /clone /sg GUID /tg GUID /d+ description

Recommended when you have multiple EFI partitions with multiple boot entries for each partition.

bootcfg /clone /tg GUID /id bootid /d description

Only clones the entry from the /id argument. This switch is useful if you have an EFI partition with multiple entries and you only want to clone one entry (not all entries). If you want to clone all entries from an EFI partition, use example 1 or 2.

bootcfg /clone /upddrv GUID

Only updates the floating point driver. No new boot entries will be added as a result of /upddrv. This switch is used if you add a new floating point driver to one EFI partition and you want to update the floating point driver on the other EFI partition.

Makes a copy of an existing boot entry, to which you can add command-line options.

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

• /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.

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

Configures 1394 port debugging for a specified operating system entry.

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

• {ON | OFF}
  Specifies the value for 1394 port debugging.

  Expand table

  Value	Description
  ON	Enables remote debugging support by adding the /dbg1394 option to the specified OSEntryLineNum.
  OFF	Disables remote debugging support by removing the /dbg1394 option from 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.

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

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

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]

• {ON | OFF| EDIT}
  Specifies the value for debugging.

  Expand table

  Value	Description
  ON	Enables remote debugging support by adding the /debug option to the specified OSEntryLineNum.
  OFF	Disables remote debugging support by removing the /debug option from the specified OSEntryLineNum.
  EDIT	Allows changes to port and baud rate settings by changing the values associated with the /debug option 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.

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

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

Specifies the operating system entry to designate as the default.

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

• /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.

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

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

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

• /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.

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

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

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]

• {ON | OFF| EDIT}
  Specifies the value for Emergency Management Services redirection.

  Expand table

  Value	Description
  ON	Enables remote output for the specified OSEntryLineNum. Adds a /redirect option 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 option 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 Emergency Management Services 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 Emergency Management Services 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 Emergency Management Services value is set to ON or OFF.

• /?
  Displays help at the command prompt.

• For more information on the Emergency Management Services, see Related Topics.

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

On Itanium-based computers, lists partition information for the specified disk.

bootcfg /list [disknumber]

• /list disknumber
  Lists the partition information for the specified disk. Defaults to Disk 0.

• /?
  Displays help at the command prompt.

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

bootcfg /list

bootcfg /list 1

On Itanium-based computers, adds a boot entry for a mirrored drive.

bootcfg /mirror /add GUID [/d] [/id]

• /add GUID
  Adds a new boot entry for the mirrored partition with the specified GUID.

• /d description
  Specifies the description of the boot entry being added.

• /id bootid
  Specifies the loader path of the boot entry. Defaults to current boot entry id.

• /?
  Displays help at the command prompt.

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

bootcfg /mirror /add GUID /d "Mirrored OS Entry" /id 3

bootcfg /mirror /add GUID /id 2

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

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

• /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.

• 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:   ""
  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.

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

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

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

• /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.

• /a
  Specifies that the operating system options being added should be appended to any existing operating system options.

• /?
  Displays help at the command prompt.

• 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 Q170756, "Available Switch Options for Windows NT Boot.ini File," in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.

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

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

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

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

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

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

• /ng
  Removes the /noguiboot option from the specified OSEntryLineNum. The /noguiboot option 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.

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

Changes the operating system time-out value.

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

• /timeout TimeOutValue
  Specifies the timeout value in the [boot loader] section. The TimeOutValue is the number of seconds the user has to select an operating system from the boot loader screen before NTLDR loads the default. Valid range for TimeOutValue is 0-999. 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.

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

On Itanium-based computers, updates boot entry information.

bootcfg /update GUID

• /update GUID
  Modifies the boot entry with the specified globally unique identifier (GUID), and updates the partition number in the boot entry if needed.

• /?
  Displays help at the command prompt.

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

bootcfg /update GUID

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