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I need a way to enter the Advanced Boot Options menu of Windows 7. The computer is dualbooting with Linux, so GRUB2 has taken the place of Windows bootloader. So pressing F8 on boot won't do anything.

I know there are several methods to do this on Windows 8 and 8.1 and 8.1.1.

Method 1

  1. Bring up the Charm Bar on the right.
  2. Click on Settings.
  3. Click Change PC Settings.
  4. Update and recovery (Windows 8.1).
  5. Click Recovery.
  6. Click Restart now under Advanced startup.

Method 2

  1. Bring up the Charm Bar on the right.
  2. Click on Settings.
  3. Click on Power.
  4. Hold Shift and click Restart.

Method 3

shutdown /r /o

But that option is not available on Windows 7.

So as a Windows 7 user, what options do I have?

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3
  • Can't say for sure, but I'm pretty sure those Windows 8 options are for UEFI only. Depending on what you're trying to do, you might be able to pull it off by booting from the Windows 7 DVD though.
    – Mario
    Commented May 13, 2014 at 9:21
  • It looks like msconfig.exe could be the solution. I'm not sure though that all the options from the Advanced Boot Options menu are available there as well.
    – Samir
    Commented May 13, 2014 at 9:29
  • Does superuser.com/a/1847805/904401 work? It's confirmed to work on 8+, so you might have some luck.
    – RokeJulianLockhart
    Commented Jul 2 at 16:28

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

I don't use GRUB, but with other bootloaders, you just press F8 just immediately after selecting the operating system.

Do this: press "Windows 7" in the bootloader and at the same time start pressing F8 very rapidly

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5
  • OK, will try pressing F8 frantically. But just for the record, if not GRUB, then what other bootloader are you using?
    – Samir
    Commented May 13, 2014 at 9:34
  • This changed. You can try holding down Ctrl instead, but not sure this will work without Windows' own bootloader.
    – Mario
    Commented May 13, 2014 at 9:38
  • @Mario On Windows 8 there is also Shift+F8 but it has never worked for me, I think Windows 8 boots too quickly. That could be part of the reason why they revamped this mechanism in Windows 8 and included the /o option for the shutdown command.
    – Samir
    Commented May 13, 2014 at 9:47
  • @sammyg I'm using chameleon bootloader (not sure it can work with ext partitions)
    – Magnetic_dud
    Commented May 14, 2014 at 8:23
  • Thank you! Worked like a charm
    – umnikos
    Commented Jan 13, 2021 at 16:26

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