How to Use the BCD Edit Feature of BootIt BM

BootIt BM includes a feature that enables you to view and edit the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) file for Windows Vista and Windows 7/8.x/10. 

Accessing BCD Edit

To view or edit a partition's BCD file:

1. Click the Partition Work icon on the BootIt BM desktop (or press W).  The Work with Partitions window appears.
   
   
2. Select the appropriate drive using the Drives drop-down box.
   
   
3. Select the appropriate partition. For Windows Vista, it will usually be the Vista partition. For Windows 7/8.x/10 installed on an MBR (or EMBR) type disk, it will be the System Reserved partition (100MB or larger) if it exists, otherwise it will usually be the Windows partition; on GPT disks it will be the EFI system partition.
   
   
4. Click the BCD Edit button.  The BCD Edit window appears.  Note: If you click the BCD Edit button and get a No BCD Store error message, you have probably selected the wrong partition.

Important BCD Settings

To boot Windows Vista or Windows 7/8.x/10, ensure that your BCD is configured as follows:

Menu Entries

1. Select the Menu radio button on the left side of the BCD Edit window.  An entry titled Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows 7/8.x/10 should appear in the Items list.
   
   
2. Select the desired Windows item and then click the Edit button (or double-click the desired item).  The properties of the selected item will appear in a new window.
   
   
3. Select the Device entry from the list of Properties and then click the Edit button (or double-click the Device entry).  The Edit window appears.
   
   
4. In the Device drop-down list, select the hard drive number on which the selected Windows is installed.
   
   
5. In the Partition drop-down list, select the partition on which the selected Windows is installed.
   
   
6. Click OK in the Edit window.  You will be returned to the window showing the properties of the selected Windows item.

Note: Repeat Steps 3 - 6 for the OS Device entry (i.e. in Step 3, select the OS Device entry).  When done, click Close to return to the BCD Edit window.

Boot Entry

1. Select the Boot radio button on the left side of the BCD Edit window.  An entry titled Windows Boot Manager should appear in the Items list.
   
   
2. Select the Windows Boot Manager item and then click the Edit button (or double-click the Windows Boot Manager item).  The properties of the Windows Boot Manager item will appear in a new window.
   
   
3. Select the Device entry from the list of Properties and then click the Edit button (or double-click the Device entry).  The Edit window appears.
   
   
4. For MBR (or EMBR) type disks, you should generally have {boot} selected in the Device drop-down list.  In this case, the Partition drop-down list will be unused and inaccessible.  However, if necessary, you may use the Device drop-down list to select the hard drive number on which the BCD file resides (i.e. the hard drive where the files bootmgr and \boot\bcd can be found).
   
   For GPT type disks, use the Device drop-down list to select the hard drive number on which the BCD file resides.
   
   
5. If you have a specific hard drive selected in the Device drop-down list, you must also select the partition on which the BCD file resides for the Partition drop-down list. For GPT disks you would select the EFI system partition.
   
   Note: Repeat Steps 2 - 5 for the Windows Memory Diagnostic entry (i.e. in Step 2, select the Windows Memory Diagnostic entry).
   
   
6. Click OK in the Edit window.  You will be returned to the window showing the properties of the Windows Boot Manager item.

When done, click Close in the Windows Boot Manager properties window and then click Close on the BCD Edit window.