Modify the Duration that the Startup List is Displayed (Windows NT/2000/XP) Popular
This setting allows you to change the default 30 second timeout for the Startup List which normally allows you time to choose and boot an alternative operating system.
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Using Windows explorer find the file called BOOT.INI on your system drive. Change the attributes of the file from read-only, by right clicking on it and choosing Properties, and then under Attributes, uncheck 'Read-only'. Then double-click on BOOT.INI and it should open in Notepad.
Under the [boot loader] section is a value called "timeout=". The number after the "=" sign is the time in seconds Windows will wait for a selection. Change the value according to the options below.
- Set the value to the number of seconds between 1 and 999.
- To make Windows boot instantly change this value to "0" (i.e.
timeout=0). - To make Windows wait indefinitely change this value to "-1" (i.e.
timeout=-1).
Note: The default operating system is defined with the "default=" parameter in BOOT.INI.
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Last modified: May 12, 2002

















