Selecting the Operating System to Start

The boot loader displays the screen from which you select the operating system to start. The information on the screen is different for x86-based computers and RISC-based computers.

Boot Loader Screen (x86-based Computer)

NTLDR displays a menu from which you select the operating system to start. This screen is based upon the information in the Boot.ini file. The screen looks like this:

OS Loader V4.0

Please select the operating system to start:

     Windows NT Workstation Version 4.0
     Windows NT Workstation Version 4.0 (VGA mode)
     MS-DOS

Use ­ and ¯ to move the highlight to your choice.
Press Enter to choose.

Seconds until highlighted choice will be started automatically: 29

If you do not select an entry before the counter reaches zero, NTLDR loads the operating system specified by the default parameter in the Boot.ini file. Windows NT Setup sets the default entry to the most recent copy of Windows NT that you installed. You can edit the Boot.ini file to change the default entry if you want to default to an operating system other than the most recently installed version of Windows NT.

For information about changing the Boot.ini file, see "Contents and Purpose of Boot.ini," presented later in this chapter.

Boot Menu (RISC-based Computers)

The Boot menu contains the boot options. The first selection is always the default operating system, which is the most recently installed version of Windows NT unless you change the order of the boot selections.

To change the default operating system, or add or change boot selections , see the section titled "Manage Boot Selection Menu," presented later in this chapter.

This is a sample Boot menu from an Alpha-based computer:

ARC Multiboot Alpha AXP Version 3.5-11 
Copyright (c) 1993 Microsoft Corporation
Copyright (c) 1993 Digital Equipment Corporation

Boot Menu:

    Boot Windows NT Workstation Version 4.0
    Boot an alternate operating system
    Run a program
    Supplementary menu. . .

Use the arrow keys to select, then press Enter.
Seconds until auto-boot. Select another option to override: 9

The first line on the Boot menu is highlighted. Pressing ENTER begins startup of the default operating system.

If you have included alternate boot selections in your NVRAM, you can select Boot an alternate operating system, which results in a screen like the following.

ARC Multiboot Alpha AXP Version 3.5-11 
Copyright (c) 1993 Microsoft Corporation
Copyright (c) 1993 Digital Equipment Corporation

Boot Menu:

    Boot Windows NT Workstation 4.0 (Default)
    Boot Windows NT Workstation 3.51 
    Boot SCO Unix v7.2

Use the arrow keys to select, then press Enter.