Boot Options Identifiers
Many of the bcdedit commands require identifiers. An identifier uniquely identifies entries contained in the boot setting store.
Use bcdedit /enum to display the identifiers.
C:\>bcdedit /enum
Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier {bootmgr}
...
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {current}
Several entries can be identified by well-known identifiers. If an entry has a well-known identifier, bcdedit displays it in output unless the /v command-line switch is used. For more information, run "bcdedit /? /v".
The common well-known identifiers are often used:
Identifier | Description |
---|---|
{default} | Specifies a virtual identifier that corresponds to the boot manager default application entry. |
{current} | Specifies a virtual identifier that corresponds to the operating system boot application entry for the operating system that is currently running. |
{bootmgr} | Specifies the Windows boot manager application entry. |
These common well-known identifiers can be inherited by any boot application entry:
Identifier | Description |
---|---|
{globalsettings} | Contains the collection of global settings that should be inherited by all boot application entries. |
{bootloadersettings} | Contains the collection of global settings that should be inherited by all boot loader application entries. |
These well-known identifiers are also available for use:
Identifier | Description |
---|---|
{dbgsettings} | Contains the global debugger settings that can be inherited by any boot application entry. |
{hypervisorsettings} | Contains the hypervisor settings that can be inherited by any OS loader entry. |
{emssettings} | Contains the global Emergency Management Services settings that can be inherited by any boot application entry. |
{resumeloadersettings} | Contains the collection of global settings that should be inherited by all Windows resume from hibernation application entries. |
{badmemory} | Contains the global RAM defect list that can be inherited by any boot application entry. |
{memdiag} | Specifies the memory diagnostic application entry. |
{ramdiskoptions} | Contains the additional options required by the boot manager for RAM disk devices. |
These well-known identifiers are used with earlier versions of Windows:
Identifier | Description |
---|---|
{ntldr} | Specifies a OS loader (Ntldr) that can be used to start operating systems earlier than Windows Vista. |
{fwbootmgr} | Specifies the firmware boot manager entry, specifically on systems that implement the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) specification. |
Some boot settings can be inherited. This allows for groups of settings to be used in different boot scenarios, for example when resuming from hibernation.
Use the bcdedit command /enum option to display information about any identifier.
In the example below, displaying information on the {current} identifier shows that it inherits the {bootloadersettings}
C:\>bcdedit /enum {current}
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {current}
device partition=C:
path \WINDOWS\system32\winload.exe
description Windows 10
locale en-US
inherit {bootloadersettings}
...
Use the bcdedit /enum command to see which settings are inherited.
In the example below, {globalsettings}, inherits whatever is set in {dbgsettings}, {emssettings} and {badmemory}.
C:\>bcdedit /enum {globalsettings}
Global Settings
---------------
identifier {globalsettings}
inherit {dbgsettings}
{emssettings}
{badmemory}
Use the inherit option with bcdedit /enum to display information about inheritance.
In the example below, the {bootloadersettings} inherits {globalsettings} and the {hypervisorsettings} and the {resumeloadersettings} inherit the {globalsettings}.
C:\>bcdedit /enum inherit
...
Boot Loader Settings
--------------------
identifier {bootloadersettings}
inherit {globalsettings}
{hypervisorsettings}
Resume Loader Settings
----------------------
identifier {resumeloadersettings}
inherit {globalsettings}
...
Use the bcdedit /enum all command to see all of the settings.
C:\>bcdedit /enum all
Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier {bootmgr}
device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume1
description Windows Boot Manager
...
An identifier uses a globally unique identifier, or GUID. A GUID has the following format, where each "x" represents a hexadecimal digit. Because working with GUIDs is error prone, it is recommended to use the english identifier name, such as {current} to work with the current boot information configured for Windows.
{xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx}
For example:
{d2b69192-8f14-11da-a31f-ea816ab185e9}
The position of the dashes (-) and the braces at the beginning and end of the GUID are required.
Use bcdedit /enum /v to display GUIDs associated with identifiers.
C:\>bcdedit /enum /v
Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier {9dea862c-5cdd-4e70-acc1-f32b344d4795}
device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume1
description Windows Boot Manager
locale en-US
inherit {7ea2e1ac-2e61-4728-aaa3-896d9d0a9f0e}