If you are setting up a dual-boot between Vista and an earlier version of Windows, you'll notice that Vista is the default operating system. But what if you are only installing Vista just to check it out and you still want NT/2000/XP to be your main OS? And how about changing "An Earlier Version Of Windows" to "Windows XP Professional" on the boot menu?

       Following the steps below, you can easily configure these options, plus set your default time-out period, at which time your default operating system will be loaded without your required intervention!

NOTE: You will need to boot into Vista before making these changes. IMPORTANT: Log on as Administrator.

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Log on to Vista with the system Administrator account.

Open a Command Prompt. (if using a home version of Vista, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run As Administrator).

[The GUID for NTLDR is "466f5a88-0af2-4f76-9038-095b170dc21c"]

* Changing the Default Boot Entry (which OS loads first by default)

       Type (or copy & paste) bcdedit /default {ntldr} into Command Prompt and press Enter.

* Changing the Friendly Name of a Boot Entry

       Type (or copy & paste) bcdedit /set {466f5a88-0af2-4f76-9038-095b170dc21c} description "Windows XP Pro SP2 (MCE)" into Command Prompt and press Enter.

* Changing the Boot Menu Time-out

       Type (or copy & paste) bcdedit /timeout 13 into Command Prompt and press Enter.

       After each one of these, you will see a message informing you that the command went through successfully. Congratulations! You have configured your boot loader to boot NT/2000/XP first, you've given that pre-Vista OS a name in the BCD boot loader and you've reset the time-out period to one that is comfortable and convenient for you!