How to fix dual boot option not showing up in Windows

Dual boot lets you choose which operating system loads when you start your computer. You'll see a list of available operating systems and can choose which one to load. If you make no selection, the default options will load after a set period of time.

However, sometimes you may find that the dual boot menu does not appear, but boots directly to the default operating system. If you are facing an issue with dual boot options not showing up in Windows, here are some things you can try.

1. Open the boot menu using Command Prompt

One of the reasons why you don’t see the dual boot option is because the boot menu has been disabled. You can turn it back on using the Boot Configuration Data utility from a command prompt.

You can also use Windows PowerShell or the newer Windows Terminal app to complete this step.

To enable the boot menu in Command Prompt:

1. Click the Search icon in the taskbar.
   
2. Type cmd then right-click the Command Prompt application and select Run as administrator.
   
3. Typebcdedit /set {bootmgr} displaybootmenu yesand press Enter key.
   
4. If you entered the command correctly, you should see a message informing you that the operation completed successfully.
   
5. Restart your computer and see if the dual boot option has returned.

2. Configure startup settings using EasyBCD

If the bcdedit command does not work, you can try using an application that allows you to configure startup configuration data. You can try this app to make sure your boot menu is set up to work the way you want it to. EasyBCD is free for personal use, but you will need to provide your name and email to access the download.

Configure boot settings using EasyBCD:

1. Download and install EasyBCD.
2. Start the application.
3. Click Edit Boot Menu.
   
4. You should see your dual boot options here. You can change the order and choose default options.
   
5. If one is missing, click "Add New Entry" to add it back.
   
6. Select the operating system type, name it, select the drive where the operating system is installed, and click the "Add Entry" icon.
   
7. Click Edit Boot Menu.
   
8. Check the Use Metro Bootloader checkbox and select how long you want to take to select the operating system to boot.
   
9. Click to save settings.
10. Restart your computer and you should see the dual boot option.

3. Configure system startup settings

One issue that may cause the dual-boot option not to appear in Windows is that the system starts before you have a chance to make a selection. You can set the amount of time the dual boot menu displays before the default operating system loads in the advanced system startup settings.

Configure system startup settings:

1. Click the Search icon in the taskbar.
   
2. Start typing "Advanced system settings" and click "View advanced system settings" when it appears.
   
3. Click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
   
4. Make sure Display operating system list time is selected and set a reasonable display time for the list, such as 30 seconds.
   
5. Click OK to save any changes.
6. Restart your computer and see if the dual boot option appears.

4. Use the System Configuration Utility to set boot options

Another way to ensure there is enough time to make selections in the dual boot menu is to use the System Configuration Utility.

To set boot options using the System Configuration Tool:

1. Click the Search icon in the taskbar.
   
2. Start typing System Configuration and then double-click the System Configuration application when it appears.
   
3. Click the Bootstrap tab.
   
4. Set the timeout to a reasonable amount of time, such as 30 seconds.
   
5. Click "Apply" and restart your computer to see if the dual boot option appears.

5. Disable Windows Fast Startup

Another possible reason why you may not see the dual boot menu is that you have Windows Fast Startup turned on. In this mode, when you shut down your computer, it logs out your user account and then saves the state of the operating system to a hibernation file. When you reboot it doesn't load all the drivers and current system state again, it just puts the image from the hibernation file back into RAM, speeding up the boot process.

This setting is usually enabled by default, but since Windows does not perform a clean shutdown, it may prevent the dual-boot menu from loading. Disabling fast startup may resolve this issue.

To disable Windows Fast Startup:

1. Click the Search icon in the taskbar.
   
2. Start typing Control Panel, then double-click the Control Panel application when it appears.
   
3. Click System and Security.
   
4. Select Power Options.
   
5. In the left menu, clickChoose what the power buttons do.
   
6. Click to change the currently available settings.
   
7. Under Shutdown settings, make sure Turn on fast startup is unchecked.
   
8. Click to save.
9. Restart your computer to see if the dual boot menu returns.

Windows Troubleshooting

If you are experiencing an issue where the dual boot option is not showing up in Windows, hopefully one of the above fixes will help. If you find any other useful solutions, please let us know in the comments below.

Dual boot issues are not the only problems that can occur on Windows. If you see ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT error, then there are some fixes you can try. If it's the Code 43 error that's causing you grief, there are a few tweaks you can try to fix the problem.

The above is the detailed content of How to fix dual boot option not showing up in Windows. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!