Vista Tutorial - Dual Boot - Change OS Name in Windows Boot Manager

**Brink** · **METHOD ONE:**

How to Change the OS Name in Windows Boot Manager

Information

When you dual boot, this will show you how to change a listed operating system name in the Windows Boot Manager to what you want from within the operating system that you want to change the name of. For example, in Vista.

Tip

It can be real useful to rename a operating system if you have more than one OS listed with the same name, or you would like to have a better description (ex: 32-bit, 64-bit, build number), etc..)

RELATED LINKS:

EXAMPLE: Windows Boot Manager
NOTE: This is an example of the default Microsoft Windows Vista name (left) renamed to Vista Ultimate (right) instead. You can rename the OS to any name you like though.

.

METHOD ONE:
With bcdedit Command

1. Start the Operating System (ex: Vista) that you want to change the name of in the Windows Boot Manager screen.

2. Open a elevated command prompt.

3. In the elevated command prompt, type bcdedit and press enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This will let you see what the name of the {current} operating system name is. This will be the operating system that you are currently in (ex: Microsoft Windows Vista).

4. In the elevated command prompt, type:
bcdedit /set {current} Description "name you want"
and press enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: For example, if I wanted to change the name to Vista Ultimate, I would type bcdedit /set {current} Description "Vista Ultimate" and press enter.

5. In the elevated command prompt, type bcdedit and press enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This will let you see and verify the new name of the {current} operating system.

6. Close the elevated command prompt.

7. When you restart the computer next, you will see the new name listed for the operating system. (See example screenshots at the top of the tutorial)

METHOD TWO:
With EasyBCD Program

NOTE

Special thanks to SIW2 for providing this.

FIRST: Download and install the EasyBCD program, then run it.

1. Click on the Change Settings button.

2. Select the OS whose name you want to change in the drop down arrow menu.

3. To the left of the Name line, click in the line to put the cursor there and type any name you want for the OS.

4. Click on the Save Settings button.

That's is,
Shawn

**nate42nd** · 03-11-2009

Thanks a lot for the tutorial Brink. I have been working on this for a few days. This is exactly what I needed.

On some systems, the boot manager will say "Earlier versions of windows" and we need to rename the OS.

**Brink** · 03-11-2009

You're welcome Nate. This is the easiest method that I could come up with using the bcdedit command.

**nate42nd** · 03-11-2009

Brink, I am running XP, Vista, and Windows 7. To use this method, one needs to be running the OS they intend to change right? Will this method work in XP?

**Brink** · 03-11-2009

Yes, you need to be running the OS you want to change the name of. I have not tried it in XP, but I believe it should work without any problems.

sl2222 · 04-14-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Yes, you need to be running the OS you want to change the name of. I have not tried it in XP, but I believe it should work without any problems.

Not with method 2. EasyBCD does it all from any OS and it's FREE and very easy to use!

sl2222

03-11-2009
nate42nd Learing every day Join Date: Jan 2009 Windows 7 x64 (7229) 219 posts	Re: Dual Boot - Change OS Name in Windows Boot Manager Thanks a lot for the tutorial Brink. I have been working on this for a few days. This is exactly what I needed. On some systems, the boot manager will say "Earlier versions of windows" and we need to rename the OS. Last edited by nate42nd; 03-11-2009 at 04:34 AM.. Reason: getting it right
My System Specs

03-11-2009
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64 25,812 posts	Re: Dual Boot - Change OS Name in Windows Boot Manager You're welcome Nate. This is the easiest method that I could come up with using the bcdedit command.
My System Specs

03-11-2009
nate42nd Learing every day Join Date: Jan 2009 Windows 7 x64 (7229) 219 posts	Re: Dual Boot - Change OS Name in Windows Boot Manager Brink, I am running XP, Vista, and Windows 7. To use this method, one needs to be running the OS they intend to change right? Will this method work in XP?
My System Specs

03-11-2009
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64 25,812 posts	Re: Dual Boot - Change OS Name in Windows Boot Manager Yes, you need to be running the OS you want to change the name of. I have not tried it in XP, but I believe it should work without any problems.
My System Specs

04-14-2009
sl2222 Newbie Join Date: Apr 2009 Vista Ultimate x64 3 posts	Re: Dual Boot - Change OS Name in Windows Boot Manager Quote: Originally Posted by Brink Yes, you need to be running the OS you want to change the name of. I have not tried it in XP, but I believe it should work without any problems. Not with method 2. EasyBCD does it all from any OS and it's FREE and very easy to use! sl2222
My System Specs

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