A boot editor manages boot file registry entries to fix malfunctioning operating systems. Boot screens are based on boot.ini, which can be edited with a basic text editor, but errors can prevent proper booting. Boot Editor 1.0.1 and DualBootPRO are two programs used to edit boot files, with DualBootPRO providing additional security features for advanced users.
A boot editor is a free editor in Windows® operating systems used to manage a user’s boot file registry entries. Registry entries are text files for storing parts of the registry, a database that stores user configuration settings. A boot file is a file used to start the operating system. Managing boot file registry entries can allow users to fix operating systems that malfunction or fail to boot at all.
Boot screens are based on a file called boot.ini. This text file is one of the first files a computer running Windows® uses when it starts up. The information in this file is protected by settings that make the information hidden, system, or read-only. The only way to access these files is to change the default Windows settings to show hidden files. This can be done in the Control Panel under the “Appearance and Personalization” link.
Since boot.ini is a text file, it can be edited with any basic text editor on a computer, such as Notepad. Users should be careful to preserve the correct extensions and make sure they understand the repercussions of any changes made to the file as any errors in editing could prevent the machine from booting properly. The view control on the program contains subfolders where new startup screens are kept. A base folder is used to store all startup screens created by users with the program.
Two programs used to edit boot files are Boot Editor 1.0.1 for Windows XP and Dual BootPRO for Windows 7 and Windows Vista. Boot Editor 1.0.1 creates boot systems in zip format. These zip files contain images and an ini file with all the information needed for the operating system to run the user designed boot screen. With Boot Editor 1.0.1, the user can change the default palette, the range of colors used in the boot screen, and the vertical position of the progress bar to make it more aesthetically pleasing to one’s personal tastes, as well as easier to use.
DualBootPRO was created for Windows® Vista and Windows® 7. This boot editor is useful if a user wants to use multiple operating systems on one PC or if the boot system does not boot properly. DualBootPro allows the user to install multiple Windows® operating systems, change the order of the boot menu when the PC starts up, back up and restore boot configuration data, rename entries in the Windows operating system list, and manage startup configurations. It also saves users from ever having to directly edit the Boot Configuration Data using the DOS Command Prompt.
More advanced users can also benefit from the additional security features provided by this launch editor. The program can limit the number of processors that the operating system has access to and the amount of memory that the operating system has. Additional advanced features of DualBootPRO include the ability to disable the graphical boot environment and the data execution prevention system.
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