How to Setup the Windows XP
Startup Menu

This document describes the steps needed to force a Windows Startup Menu to always display when ever your PC is booted. This is handy if you often want to boot to Safe mode without having to hit a Ctrl or Function key.

The default options are set for a standard Windows boot, so if you do nothing when this menu is displayed, Windows will boot normally after a short delay.

This tip will work for both versions of Windows XP, Home and Professional, and Windows 2000. It has not been tested with Windows XP Media Edition.

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Use these tips at your own risk! They are not guaranteed to work for you.

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Sample Startup Menu

Please select the operating system to start:

    Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
    Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Safeboot

Use the up and down arrow keys to move the highlight to your choice.
Press ENTER to choose.
Seconds until highlighted choice will be started automatically: 6



For troubleshooting and advanced startup options for Windows, press F8.

Set the Folder Options

This step will allow you to see the Hidden BOOT.INI file:

  • Open up 'My Computer'.
  • Select 'Tools' and then 'Folder Options...'.
  • Go to the [View] tab.
  • Click the radio button for 'Show hidden files and folders'.
  • Click 'Apply' and 'Close'.

Edit the BOOT.INI File

The file named BOOT.INI file in the root directory of C: is a text file that contains an [operating systems] section that you can use to personalize the boot process:

  • In the C:\ drive (root folder) look for the file named: BOOT.INI, right-click it and select 'Properties'. Turn off the Read-Only attribute, then 'Apply' and 'Close'
  • Make a backup copy of the file by selecting the file, then Copy, then Paste. This will give you a backup file named 'Copy of boot.ini'.
  • Right-click the BOOT.INI file again and select 'Open with...' and then 'NOTEPAD'.
  • In the [operating systems] section there should be one line that starts with: 'multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)...'
  • Select this line then Copy and Paste it below the first line
  • Edit the second line and insert the text

     Safeboot

    after the word 'Edition' before the closing quote ("):
    "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Safeboot"
  • Add the following text to the end of the second line:

     /safeboot:minimal /noguiboot /sos

    Be sure to include the leading space!
[boot loader]
timeout=6
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home 
Edition" /fastdetect /noexecute=optin
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home 
Edition Safeboot" /fastdetect /noexecute=optin 
/safeboot:minimal /noguiboot /sos
  • Change the first line after the [boot loader] section for the default timeout. We suggest 6 seconds:
    'timeout=6'

This menu will automatically default to a normal Windows boot in 6 seconds. If you press the ENTER key, the computer will continue booting immediately.

Save Your Changes!

Save the file.

(Optional) Go back to the Folder View Options and select 'Do not show hidden or system files'.
The Startup Menu will be displayed the next time you re-boot.

Additional References

Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 314081
The purpose of the Boot.ini file in Windows XP