If your computer has more than one OS installed natively on the system and Windows 7 is one of them, the chances are, you will see the options to boot into other “Earlier Version Of Windows” option during the system startup.
So what if the previous Windows OS (doesn’t matter if it’s Windows Vista, XP, 2000 or even older edition) is already removed from the system but for some reason the boot loader didn’t get updated? You basically are seeing this option showing up every time when you turn on the machine.
Here’s how you can delete the unnecessary boot loader entries and straight boot into your Windows 7
Firstly, you need to boot into Windows 7.
Open up the command prompt and type “bcdedit”. Make sure you are running the command line as Administrator.
Here is an example, everybody might have different results when you type the command. Basically, it lists out all the OS that has registered to the Windows Boot Manager. For instance, as you can see, there is an entry called “Windows Legacy OS Loader”, the identifier of which contains the value “{ntldr}”. From this, I can tell the Windows Legacy OS Loader used to load Windows XP on this system, since the value of ntldr is default for winxp bootloader.
Now type bcdedit /delete {ntldr} /f
After you see the message “The operation completed successfully”, and restart your computer, you will not see this boot option any more during the next startup.
“bcdedit” is a powerful command line utility that manages your Windows boot loader. You can not only clean out unnecessary boot entries, but also can create new boot entries manually as well. For more information about how to use the tool, simply type bcdedit /?
for help. But be more careful about what you will be doing there, as any entry deleted through this command will be extremely difficult to recover.
Will this work on Windows XP as well? I tried some time ago to dual boot XP with Ubuntu Jaunty Jackalope and it did NOT work whatsoever. And to this day, Linux Ubuntu appears on my boot loader. Will this work to remove that on the XP machine?
in short no, This will not work. If you try to type the command “bcdedit” in your Windows XP you will find its not a recognized command.
“bcdedit” is a utility that comes with Windows Vista and up
However that said, there is other ways you can edit the bootloader in Windows XP
Cheers
Thx man u solved my problem 🙂 THX A LOT!
same here this is exactly what i needed thank you!
Great information. Followed the steps and it got rid of “Earlier Version of Windows”. Still boots to the same screen, but it appears there was a third alternative. Now the boot manager screen has two choices: “Windows 7” and “Microsoft Windows Recovery Console”. Can you please tell me how to rid Boot Manager from the last entry so it boots straight into Windows 7? You are so appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Works Great! Thank you!
ohhh u r my hero >>> but 🙁 before i read it i did Right clik my computer-> properties-> advance seting-> advanced-> startup and recovery-> settings-> choose default operating system: windows 7 –> then change time to display list of operating system to zero >>> then i cant logon into windows 7 or xp(Earlier Version Of Windows) so what i have 2 do now>> plz give me the solution
Thanks for the info. Its people like you the make my day go well.
Thank you. It works for me. OK. 🙂
I noticed that is on the same partition (D:) as . If I removed the entry and format drve D: will this screw up the boot of windows seven?
i did this too, what can i do to fix it?
when i type “bcdedit” , it says that it cannot be opened and “Access denied” is written below.
what will i do???
Thanx a lot, it helped!
Thanks a lot… very helpful…
Great, works fine, and fast, and effective.
thankz it help me alot,,
the detail given that how to delete previous version of window is not helpful
me follow all the steps but at the end when i restart my computer it again shows two version ,,
plz tell me any another way to remove the previous version…
Thanks BRo . it worked …
thnx a lot…. it really works… god speed.
it says that it cannot be opened and “Access denied” is written below.
Thankq soooooo much
Thank you so very much. It removed the other boot option. One thing i want to know is that weather the old windows is completely removed from my computer?
Im having issues removing boot up xp that i had on a previous hdd. I have windows 7 installed and on automatic boot it still looking for windows xp.I got into bcdedit and its not showing in there either.Where would it be comming from?
thanks alot. it worked for me. didnt expect it!!!
Thank you Soooo Much. This really Works
Hi, mine is showing the device as:
“partition=DeviceHarddiskVolume1”
Is it still safe to use this method?
thanku so much
thanks a lotttttttttt it worked. was bugging me for months thanksssssssssssss
When iam tried the “bcdedit” command .The command prompt showed “The boot configuration data could not be opened. Access is denied” this line. what is the error?
plz give replay
thankyou
i typed bcdedit and the command prompt window pops up and immidiately disappears…
anything i can do???
type cmd first and run as administrator, so the window is open. Then type bcdedit.
Thanks man 😀 worked for me!!
It worked perfectly, thank you very much
it works!!! thanks
Thanks dude it works with my netbook win 7 ulmate os
Valeu meu irmãozinho… funfou legal aqui
after typing “bcdedit”….,
it says that the boot configuration data store coul not be opened.
What to do next…???
Plz Help…..
thanks…!!!
run cmd as admin
many many thanks
Thanks a Lot
It worked perfectly. Thanks.
hey it still shows “earlier version of windows”
i istalled win xp in a partition of h, but now i have deleted that partition, but it still shows it
You should run bcdedit in the command prompt windows, find the name of extra “identifier”, and delete it instead of {ntldr}.
You are the greatest thanks alot
Всем большое спасибо – очень помогли)))
Thanks man. finally i get to boot up straight into windows! 🙂
Thanks a lot. You’re awesome. Cheers. 🙂
excellent work my friend
its works thank a lot.:)
Thanks it worked 🙂
nice posting thank u
thanks mate for this usefull tut 🙂
it says the system could not find the file specified…. what to do?
Mine says bcdedit is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.
Anyone?
start the CMD (run as administrator)
This method is easier
You can go to the my computer.properties then
Advanced System Settings (in the left pane), then Startup and Recovery. You
can select the default OS and UNcheck the Time to display list of
operating systems. That will automatically startup the default with no
delay..
your current OS was windows xp??this command work in windows 7 or higher version OS,u may copy “bcdedit.exe” to XP “windowssystem32” from win7 “windowssystem32bcdedit.exe”,then try again
nice posts
Thanks, good tut.
This method is easier
You can go to the Control Panel, System, Advanced System Settings (in the left pane), Startup and Recovery. You can select the default OS and UNcheck the Time to display list of operating systems. That will automatically startup the default with no delay.
works as easy as you described – thanks!
nope it doesn’t. still shows boot loader
thank you. . . this is very useful.. 😀
Amazing job man,very useful to me! Saved me from a lot of “virtual pain” :))
Thank you very much, it worked! ^^
i have same problem….this solution look gorgeous …thank u sooo much
Great simple run through that worked perfectly! Tried to use EasyBCD but that didn’t work. Wish i found this page first!
Thank U man. It’s worked ..
Thanks works like a charm….
Thank you very much Jonathan Hu, you solution works flawlessly. Best regards
thanks bro
thanks
Thankyou so much
thank you
Thank you very much Jonathan Hu. finaly i solve it with your solution
NEARLY a decade later and this article proves to be useful. wish i read this sooner.
Thanks for your guidance.
It was very helpful.