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MSConfig, also known as System Configuration, is a handy tool for configuring your PC’s boot settings and managing system services. Whether you need to troubleshoot startup issues or adjust how Windows boots, here are three quick ways to open MSConfig.
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On Windows 10, the system can detect another installation in the device. When this happens, the boot manager will appear on startup with a list of the available operating systems. If no interaction occurs during the first 30 seconds, the default installation (the one at the top) will start automatically.
While this is a convenient feature to switch between different systems using a single hardware configuration, if you need more time to interact with the boot menu, or you need to start the default setup a little faster on a dual-boot system, Windows 10 allows you to change the timeout to a different value to suit your situation.
In this how-to guide, we will walk you through the steps to increase or decrease the number of seconds the boot menu appears before starting the default operating system.
Can’t boot into the OS you want? Here are some fixes to try if you’re having issues with the dual boot option not showing in Windows.
Have you asked why dual boot menus are not displaying on your system? Windows is still by far the most popular desktop operating system in the world. There are times, however, when you might want to use an earlier version of Windows, or even a different OS altogether, such as Linux. Thankfully, it’s easy to use multiple operating systems on the same computer using dual booting.
Dual booting lets you choose which operating system loads when you start up your computer. You’ll see a list of the available operating systems and can choose which one loads. If you don’t make a choice, the default option will load after a set period of time.
Sometimes, however, you may find that the dual boot menu doesn’t appear, and you boot directly into the default OS. Here are some things you can try if you’re having problems with the dual boot option not showing in Windows.
1. Turn on the Boot Menu Using the Command Prompt
One reason that you don’t see the dual boot option is because the boot menu has been deactivated. You can turn this back on using the Boot Configuration Data utility in the command prompt.
You can also use Windows PowerShell or the newer Windows Terminal apps to complete this step.
To Enable the Boot Menu in the Command Prompt
- Click the Search icon in the taskbar.
- Type cmd then right-click the Command Prompt app and select Run as Administrator.
- Type bcdedit /set {bootmgr} displaybootmenu yes and press Enter.
- If you’ve entered the command correctly, you should see a message informing you that the operation was completed successfully.
- Restart your computer and see if the dual boot option has returned.
2. Use EasyBCD to Configure Boot Settings
If the bcdedit command didn’t work, you can try using an app that allows you to configure the Boot Configuration Data. You can try using this app to ensure that the boot menu is set up to work as you would wish. EasyBCD is free for personal use, although you’ll need to provide a name and email to access the download.
To Configure Boot Settings Using EasyBCD
- Download and install EasyBCD.
- Launch the app.
- Click Edit Boot Menu.
- You should see your dual boot options listed here. You can change the order and select the default option.
- If one is missing, click Add New Entry to add it back in.
- Select the type of operating system, give it a name, select the drive where the operating system is installed, and then click the Add Entry icon.
- Click Edit Boot Menu.
- Check the Use Metro Bootloader checkbox and select how long you want to be given to select the operating system to boot.
- Click Save Settings.
- Restart your computer, and you should see your dual boot options.
3. Configure System Startup Settings
One issue that may lead to the dual boot option not showing in Windows is that the system boots up before you’ve had a chance to make your selection. You can set the amount of time that the dual boot menu shows before the default OS loads in the advanced system startup settings.
To Manage Wystem Startup Settings on Windows 11
- Click the Search icon in the taskbar.
- Start typing Advanced System Settings and click on View Advanced System Settings when it appears.
- Under Startup and Recovery click Settings.
- Ensure that Time To Display List Of Operating Systems is checked and set a reasonable amount of time for this list to display, such as 30 seconds.
- Click OK to save any changes.
- Restart your computer and see if the dual boot option shows.
4. Use the System Configuration Tool to Set Boot Options
Another way to ensure there is adequate time to make your selection in the dual boot menu is to use the System Configuration utility.
To Set Boot Options Using the System Configuration Tool
- Click the Search icon in the taskbar.
- Start typing System Configuration and double-click the System Configuration app when it appears.
- Click the Boot tab.
- Set the Timeout to a reasonable amount of time, such as 30 seconds.
- Click Apply and restart your computer to see if the dual boot options appear.
5. Disable Windows Fast Startup
This setting is usually enabled by default, but since Windows doesn’t perform a full shutdown, it may stop the dual boot menu from loading. Disabling Fast Startup may fix this problem.
To Disable Windows Fast Startup Setting
- Click the Search icon in the taskbar.
- Start typing Control Panel and double-click the Control Panel app when it appears.
- Click System and Security.
- Select Power Options.
- In the left-hand menu, click Choose What The Power Buttons Do.
- Click Change Settings That Are Currently Available.
- Under Shutdown Settings make sure that Turn On Fast Startup is unchecked.
- Click Save.
- Restart your computer to see if the dual boot menu returns.
Troubleshooting Windows
Open MSConfig Using Windows Search
The Windows Search menu makes it easy to open the built-in tools and programs on your PC. Here’s how you can use it to open the MSConfig tool.
- Click the magnifying glass on the taskbar or press Win + S to bring up the search menu.
- Type MSConfig in the search box.
- Select the first result that appears, or click the Run as administrator on your right.
Open MSConfig via Run
Using the Run tool is one of the simplest ways to open the MSConfig on your Windows 11 PC. So, let’s start with that.
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type msconfig in the text box.
- Hit the Enter key or click OK to bring up the System Configuration window.
How to change boot menu timeout from System Configuration
To increase or decrease the timeout for the startup menu in a dual-boot system, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for System Configuration and click the top result to open the legacy MSConfig settings.
- Click the Boot tab.
- In the “Timeout” text box, specify the time in seconds before timing out the boot menu and starting the default setup.
- Check the “Make all boot settings permanent” option.
- Click the Apply button.
- Click the OK button.
After you complete the steps, the boot manager will reflect the new list time you specified.
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Use Windows Terminal to Launch MSConfig
Windows Terminal is an app that incorporates both Command Prompt and PowerShell. You can open MSConfig with either of these command-line tools in the same way as the Run dialog. Here’s how you can go about it.
- Right-click the Start icon and select Terminal (Admin) from the context menu.
- Select Yes when the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.
- Type msconfig in the Terminal window and hit Enter.
So, these were some of the easiest and quickest ways to open MSConfig in Windows 11. If you use this tool frequently, you can also add it to your Windows 11 desktop or pin it to the taskbar for quicker access.
How to change boot menu timeout from Settings
To change the boot menu timeout on Windows 10, use these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on System.
- Click on About.
- Under the “Related settings” section, click the “Advanced system settings” option.
- Click the Advanced tab.
- Under the “Startup and Recovery” section, click the Settings button.
- Under the “System startup” section, use the “Default operating system” drop-down menu and select which operating system should be the default pick after the time expires in the boot menu.
- Check the “Time to display list of operating systems” option.
- Specify the time (in seconds) before starting the default setup.
- Click the OK button.
Once you complete the steps, the boot menu on systems with two or more operating systems will time out according to your configuration.
How to change boot menu timeout from Advanced options
To alter the boot menu timeout with the Advanced options on a dual-boot system, use these steps:
- Turn on the computer.
- Click the “Change defaults or choose other options” setting in the boot menu.
- Quick tip: If the menu is set to a low timeout number, you can quickly use the arrow buttons to cancel the countdown and select the option.
- Click the “Change the time” button.
- Select one of the available times — for example, 5 or 30 seconds.
After you complete the steps, the next time the computer boots, the menu will reflect the timeout you selected. If you want to set a more specific time, you should use one of the available options outlined above.
How to change boot menu timeout from Command Prompt
To adjust the countdown timer in the boot menu with commands, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
- Type the following command to change the timeout setting for the boot menu and press Enter: bcdedit /timeout NEW-TIME-SECONDS
In the command, replace the NEW-TIME-SECONDS with the number of seconds you want to use during the boot process. This example decreases the timeout to three seconds: bcdedit /timeout 3
Once you complete the steps, the list time will change to the number of seconds you specified in the command.
