How to Remove Old Boot Options on Windows 8

This article explains a simple process to clean up the boot menu on Windows 8 by removing old and redundant boot options.

Understanding the Windows 8 Boot Menu

The Windows 8 Boot Menu is a feature that allows users to choose which operating system they want to use when their computer starts up. It is particularly useful for those who have multiple operating systems installed on their device.

To access the Boot Menu, users can press the F8 key or the Shift + F8 keys during start-up. The menu will display all the available operating systems and recovery options.

However, over time, the Boot Menu can become cluttered with old or unused options. To remove these options, users can access the System Configuration tool by typing “msconfig” in the search bar and selecting the “Boot” tab.

From here, users can select the old or unused options and click “Delete.” This will remove them from the Boot Menu, making start-up faster and more efficient.

Understanding and managing the Windows 8 Boot Menu is an essential skill for those who have multiple operating systems or want to optimize their device’s start-up process.

Why You May Want to Remove Old Boot Options

If you’ve ever installed multiple operating systems or experienced a failed Windows installation, you may have noticed that multiple boot options appear when you start your computer. These old boot options can clutter up your boot menu and make it difficult to select the correct operating system. Additionally, old boot options can take up valuable disk space and slow down your computer’s startup time. Removing old boot options can help streamline your computer’s startup process and improve overall performance. Luckily, with Windows 8, removing old boot options is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few steps. In the following sections, we’ll guide you through the process to keep your computer running smoothly.

Step-by-Step Guide to Removing Old Boot Options

• Access Advanced Startup Options
  1. Press Windows Key + I to access the Settings Charm.
  2. Click “Change PC Settings.”
     
  3. Click “Update and Recovery.”
  4. Click “Recovery.”
  5. Under “Advanced Startup,” click “Restart Now.”
• Open Command Prompt
  1. Click “Troubleshoot.”
  2. Click “Advanced Options.”
  3. Click “Command Prompt.”
• Identify Boot Options
  1. Once in Command Prompt, type “bcdedit” and press Enter.
  2. Take note of the Windows Boot Loader entry that you want to delete.
     
• Delete Old Boot Option
  1. Type “bcdedit /delete {boot loader identifier}” and press Enter.
  2. Replace “{boot loader identifier}” with the identifier of the boot option you want to delete.
     
  3. Type “bcdedit /clean” and press Enter to remove the deleted entry from the boot menu.
• Exit Command Prompt and Restart
  1. Type “exit” and press Enter to close Command Prompt.
  2. Click “Continue” to exit Advanced Startup Options.
     
  3. Restart your computer to make sure the old boot option is no longer visible.

Alternative Methods for Removing Old Boot Options

If the previous methods for removing old boot options did not work for you, there are alternative methods that you can try. One option is to use the System Configuration tool. To do this, press the Windows key + R, type “msconfig” in the Run dialog box, and press Enter. In the System Configuration window, go to the Boot tab and select the old boot option that you want to remove. Then, click the Delete button and click Apply and OK to save the changes.

Another option is to use the Command Prompt. Press the Windows key + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu. In the Command Prompt window, type “bcdedit /v” and press Enter to display the list of boot options. Then, type “bcdedit /delete {boot loader identifier}” and press Enter to remove the old boot option. Replace {boot loader identifier} with the identifier of the old boot option that you want to remove.

With these alternative methods, you can easily remove old boot options on your Windows 8 computer.

Preventing Future Boot Menu Clutter

Step	Description
1	Open the Start menu and search for “msconfig.”
2	Click on “System Configuration” to open the utility.
3	Click on the “Boot” tab.
4	Select the old boot option you want to remove.
5	Click “Delete,” then “Apply,” and “OK.”
6	Restart your computer to ensure the boot option has been removed.