How to Run a BootIt NG Image Set Using BootNow

One feature of the free BootNow utility is the ability to invoke BooIt NG image sets from within Windows. This article will explain how to use this feature.

Before using the image set feature of BootNow, you must first have at least one image set defined in BootIt NG. You must also know the exact name of any image set you wish to invoke with BootNow. If you meet these requirements, proceed to the section below titled Setting Up BootNow to Run an Image Set. For information on how to create an image set, please refer to the article How to Create an Image Set in BootIt NG.

Please note the following:

• Before BootNow can be used with BootIt NG, the BootNow Support option in BootIt NG must first be enabled.
  
  
• Under Windows NT/2000/XP/2003, BootNow must be run by a user account that is a member of the Administrators group. If needed, the Run As command may be used. Please refer to the Windows documentation or the Microsoft article How to enable and use the "Run As" command when running programs in Windows for more information.
  
  
• Under Windows Vista and Windows 7/8.x/10, BootNow must be run as an administrator. If UAC is enabled, this will trigger the UAC prompt. If BootNow is not run as an administrator, it will not be able to access the drive and perform the reboot.
  

Setting Up BootNow to Run an Image Set

1. Download the latest version of the BootNow utility, if you have not already done so.
   
   
2. Extract the contents of the BootNow archive to the desired folder on your hard drive.
   
   
   • If you are using the "Compressed Folders" feature available under certain versions of Windows, please refer to the Special Note for Opening ZIP Files Using Compressed Folders.
   
   
3. Create a shortcut to BOOTNOW.EXE (for example, on the Windows Desktop).
   
   
4. Open the properties of the shortcut by right-clicking it and selecting Properties from the context menu that appears.
   
   
5. You must now modify the string that appears in the Target box of the Shortcut tab. You have several options, depending on what action, if any, you want taken after BootIt NG executes the image set.
   
   Several examples are shown below:
   
   BOOTNOW.EXE /Shutdown/ims=filename
   The system will reboot, BootIt NG will execute the image set specified by filename, and the system will then be shut down. (The power state of the system after using this option will depend on the system configuration.)
   
   BOOTNOW.EXE 1/ims=filename
   The system will reboot, BootIt NG will execute the image set specified by filename, and the first boot menu item will be selected for booting.
   
   BOOTNOW.EXE Windows 2000/ims=filename
   The system will reboot, BootIt NG will execute the image set specified by filename, and boot menu item named Windows 2000 will be selected for booting.
   
   Note: There should not be a space between the /ims option and the preceding option.
   
   
6. If you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7/8.x/10 and have UAC enabled (the default), you will need to setup the shortcut to run as an administrator. To do this, click on the Compatibility tab and check the Run this program as an administrator option.
   
   
7. Click OK to save the changes to the BootNow shortcut.