Display advanced boot options or menu in Windows 8

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A video on the MSDN blog shows how Windows 8 starts very fast – less than seven seconds. The computer used was an Ultrabook, an Intel product that offers ultra-fast computing with the latest technologies. The problem with Windows 8 is that it starts very fast. For a moment, we forget Ultrabook and look at a current PC. These PC types are also equipped with the latest technologies and shorten the training period of operating systems.

Hardware interruptions under Windows 8

The question arises, if it starts faster, how can this be a problem under Windows 8? The problem is not the faster start, but the side effects: F2 and F8 periods reduced to almost negligible intervals. This means that you do not have enough time to press F8 to access the start menu. This would be a problem – because you might want to boot Windows in safe mode – for troubleshooting, system recovery or other purposes.

According to the blog published on MSDN, the interval in which Windows waits for the F8 interrupt is reduced to less than 200 milliseconds and the probability that it recognizes the F8 interrupt is therefore extremely low.

Previously, hardware interrupts – LEDs for BIOS, F8 or F2 for boot menu – helped computers take the necessary steps. Now it’s the software that starts so fast – using advanced technologies – that your chances of using hardware interruptions are very slim.

In this context, another question arises. If we can’t use F8 to open the Windows Start menu, or even press LED to access the BIOS, how can we make the necessary changes to the BIOS or boot into safe mode to fix bugs and fulfill other purposes?

Advanced boot options or menu in Windows 8

Instead of using hardware interrupts to prefer the boot menu, Windows 8 offers three software methods that represent the boot menu. The start menu contains options for:

1. Loading another operating system
2. Troubleshooting
3. Turning off the PC
4. Using a network device to boot

Clicking Troubleshooting gives you more options :

1. Use System Restore
2. Use System Imaging
3. Use System Imaging
4. BIOS Access
5. Automatic Repair Option – helps you diagnose and automatically resolve problems
6. Command prompt and
7. Windows boot parameters – helps you change boot parameters (enable/disable debug mode, enable/disable startup recording, enable/disable secure mode, etc. are available under this group)

Display start menu under Windows 8

As already mentioned, there are three ways to display start menu under Windows 8. The first method is to get them from the’PC Settings’ dialog box. The charm of the PC settings is available under Settings. Open the PC settings and click General in the dialog box and select Restart Now under Advanced Start.

The second method is simpler. Press the SHIFT button when you click Restart. This will shut down and restart your computer to display the boot menu.

The third method is somewhat difficult to remember. You must open the command prompt and enter the following :

Shutdown.exe /r /o

You can also activate the F8 key and boot into safe mode under Windows 8.

Also read:

1. 1. 1. Automatic repair under Windows 8
      2. Windows 8 does not start; automatic repair, update, PC reset also fails.

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