Why BIOS show two boot manager? How can you remove unnecessary boot option without shot down your PC? Check this post, you can quickly and safely solve the problem.
When booting up a computer, the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) plays a crucial role in initializing hardware components and initiating the operating system's loading process. The BIOS is firmware embedded within the computer's motherboard that initializes and manages hardware components during the boot process. It locates the primary boot device, usually the computer's main hard disk, and then hands over control to the Boot Manager.
The Boot Manager is a program responsible for selecting and loading the operating system from the available bootable devices. For Windows-based systems, the Windows Boot Manager comes into play, allowing users to choose between different Windows installations or boot options.
It is not uncommon for users to encounter issues with boot managers, such as finding two Windows Boot Manager entries in the BIOS. This occurrence can be perplexing and may raise questions about the system's stability and functionality. Having two Windows Boot Manager entries in the BIOS can be attributed to various factors. Some common reasons include:
1. Multiple Windows installations One of the most common reasons is the presence of multiple Windows installations on different drives. For instance, if a user has recently upgraded their operating system or reinstalled Windows on a different drive without removing the previous installation, the BIOS may detect two separate boot managers.
2. Cloning or disk imaging Cloning or imaging a disk to create a backup or transfer data to a new drive can also lead to the presence of duplicate boot entries. When the cloned or imaged drive is connected to the system, BIOS recognizes the Boot Manager from the original drive as well as the cloned one.
3. Bootloader errors Sometimes, certain errors during the Windows update process or software conflicts can cause Boot Manager to be duplicated in the BIOS.
Resolving the two Windows Boot Manager issue requires careful steps to ensure the system remains stable and functional. So, first, we suggest you back up all your data in case there is something irreversible.
Step 1. Access the BIOS and identify the duplicate boot manager entries. You can search for how to enter BIOS on your device. Take note of their corresponding drive locations or labels.
Step 2. Boot into one of the Windows installations associated with the duplicate boot manager entries.
Step 3. Press "Windows + X" to open the Quick Access menu, and then select "Command Prompt (Admin)".
Step 4. In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter: bcdedit. This command will display the boot configuration data. Take note of the identifiers for the duplicate boot manager entries.
Step 5. To remove the duplicate boot manager entry, type the following command and press Enter: bcdedit /delete {identifier} (replace {identifier} with the appropriate identifier for the duplicate entry).
Step 6. Verify the changes. You can type the bcdedit command again to ensure that the duplicate entry has been successfully removed.
Step 7. Exit the Command Prompt and restart your computer to verify that the duplicate Windows Boot Manager entry no longer appears in the BIOS.
Step 1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard. This will open the Run dialog box.
Step 2. Type msconfig into the Run dialog box and press Enter or click OK. This will open the System Configuration utility.
Step 3. In the System Configuration window, click on the "Boot" tab located at the top of the window. Here, you'll find a list of all the boot options available on your system.
Step 4. Carefully review the list of boot options and identify the one you want to delete. Typically, the unnecessary options are duplicates or leftovers from previous operating systems or installations.
Step 5. Select the unnecessary boot option by clicking on it to highlight it. Click "Delete"
Once the unnecessary boot option is selected, click on the "Delete" button. A confirmation dialog may appear asking if you want to delete the entry.
Step 6. If a confirmation dialog appears, verify that you have selected the correct boot option, and then click "OK" to proceed with the deletion.
Step 7. After deleting the unnecessary boot option, click on the "Apply" button to save the changes made to the boot configuration.
Step 8. To apply the changes fully, you need to restart your computer. Close any open programs and files, then click on "Restart" in the prompt that appears after clicking "Apply."
Step 9. After your computer restarts, it should now boot directly into the desired operating system or the remaining boot options. Verify that the unnecessary boot option has been successfully removed.
If your PC can’t even boot successfully, but you’re not sure which boot option can be deleted, then you can choose AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional to safely delete unnecessary boot options.
This disk and PC manager allows users to create a bootable problem repair USB to use the tool before entering the system to fix many problems. The“UEFI BIOS Boot Options Manager” function even allows users to manage boot manager while Windows is running.
Once you selected a boot option, the information will be listed in the right column. So, you don’t need to worry about deleting the wrong options.
Step 1. Install AOMEI Partition Assistant, click “Tools” in the top menu, and choose the “UEFI BIOS Boot Options Manager” function.
Step 2. Click a boot option that is not available or unnecessary to delete the boot option.
Note: Please be cautious before you delete a boot option. For system boot and security, it will be unable to delete the current boot option.
If you still worry about deleting the wrong options, you can also back up the current boot settings before you change anything. Then, if you delete the wrong selections, you can quickly restore the backup files.
If BIOS show two Boot Manager, don’t panic, it is a fixable issue. By understanding the reasons behind this duplication and following the step-by-step guide provided in this article, users can successfully remove duplicate entries and ensure a smooth booting process.
AOMEI Partition Assistant is a very practical tool for Windows users, it can also clone disk, migrate OS only, move installed apps and folders, test disk speed, extend drive space, etc. And it has the Server edition for Windows Server systems and other advance editions for different requirements.