| Boot Loader Problems |
This issue crops up if you have installed Microsoft Windows Vista BetaRC1 on your Windows system, in dual-boot mode. When Vista loads Windows, it overwrites the system MBR (Master Boot Record) and asks you to choose from Windows XP, Windows Vista or any other operating system. Once Windows Vista is uninstalled, the dual-boot menu should not appear. But that is where the problem lies.
The Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store holds the boot configuration parameters which control the booting of Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Windows Server Code Name "Longhorn" operating systems. Earlier these parameters used to be in the Boot.ini file (in BIOS-based operating systems) or in the nonvolatile RAM entries (in Extensible Firmware Interface-based operating systems).
Bcdedit.exe, situated in the WindowsSystem32 directory of the Windows Vista partition may be used as the command-line tool to change the Windows code which is run in the pre-operating system environment by adding, deleting, editing, and appending entries in the BCD store.
Improved mechanism for describing boot configuration data was aimed at changing to BCD from Boot.ini. With the development of new firmware models like Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI)), an extensible and interoperable interface was required to abstract the underlying firmware.
This new design provides the underpinning for an array of new features in Windows Vista. VistaBootPRO is an application, which is used to alter the Windows Vista Boot Configuration Data (BCD) registry quickly and easily. VistaBootPRO can be used to make "cosmetic" changes to the Windows Vista boot Menu, such as changing the name of the Operating Systems displayed in the boot menu and also can be used for more advanced "functional" changes like adding an Operating System to the boot menu and repairing the Windows Vista boot configuration data.
Advanced settings include backing up and exporting the boot loader configuration, and modifying various details for the entries. Those who have already used bcdedit.exe will be impressed with the ease of use and functionality that VistaBootPRO provides. Install this software on your Windows XP system and delete the Windows Vista entry. It is recommended to make a backup of existing boot config using VistaBoot Pro incase if you run into some serious problem.
