Backup and Restore Backup and Restore Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store in Windows 11


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This tutorial will show you how to backup and restore the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) system store file in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Windows boot options are stored in the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store. This is used to describe boot applications and boot application settings.

Creating a backup of the BCD store to a file before making any changes to the BCD is highly recommended in case you may need to restore the original BCD if something goes wrong.

References:
learn.microsoft.com

Overview of Boot Options in Windows - Windows drivers

Describes Windows boot loader architecture, firmware-independent boot configuration, and boot option editing tool.
learn.microsoft.com
learn.microsoft.com

bcdedit

Reference article for the bcdedit command, which creates new stores, modify existing stores, and add boot menu parameters.
learn.microsoft.com


Contents

  • Option One: Backup Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store to BCD file
  • Option Two: Restore Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store from BCD file


EXAMPLE: BCD from running bcdedit command

bcdedit.png





Option One

Backup Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store to BCD file


1 Open an Elevated Command Prompt.

2 Copy and paste the command below into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

bcdedit /export "%UserProfile%\Desktop\MyBCDEdit.bcd"

bcdedit_export.png

3 A MyBCDEdit.bcd file will now be created on your desktop. This .reg file is your BCD backup to restore in Option Two when wanted or needed. You can move the MyBCDEdit.bcd file to where you want to keep it saved at.

You can rename this MyBCDEdit.bcd file with any name you want.


4 You can now close the elevated command prompt if you like.




Option Two

Restore Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store from BCD file


1 Open an Elevated Command Prompt or command prompt at boot.

2 Type the command below into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

bcdedit /import "<full path of BCD file>"

Substitute <full path of BCD file> in the command above with the actual full path (ex: "%UserProfile%\Desktop\MyBCDEdit.bcd") of the exported BCD file with file extension from Option One you want to restore.

For example: bcdedit /import "%UserProfile%\Desktop\MyBCDEdit.bcd"


bcdedit_import.png



That's it,
Shawn Brink


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Last edited:
Click to expand...
Very useful tutorial. ^^
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦22631.3527 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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    Built by Ghot® [May 2020]
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    AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
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    Asus Pro WS X570-ACE (BIOS 4702)
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    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
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    Built by Ghot® (not in use)
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    AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)
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    ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
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    TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)
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    EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SSC
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    ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" Professional (CRT)
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    up to 2048 x 1536
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    WD 36GB 10,000rpm Raptor SATA
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    Lite-On LTR-52246S CD/RW
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    ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
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    Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
    Internet Speed
    300/300
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    Firefox 3.x ??
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    Symantec (Norton)
    Other Info
    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 13 years?
When you use Option 1 - Backup Boot Configuration Data , can you change the target directory - Desktop - to another? OR must it always be Desktop ?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro v 23H2 (Build 22631.3527)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Precision 3660 Tower Workstation
    CPU
    12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-12900 5.10 GHz
    Motherboard
    64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
    Memory
    32.00 GB
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    Intel UHD Graphics 770
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
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    Dell P2714H Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
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    1 x 512GB NVME PC801 NVMe SK hynix Boot
    1 x 1TB Seagate ST1000LM049-2GH172 Internal HDD
    1 x 1TB Seagate STGX4000400 External HDD
    1 x 2TB Seagate STGX4000400 External HDD
    1 x 4TB Seagate STGX4000400 External HDD
    PSU
    300 Watts
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wired Keyboard 600
    Mouse
    Microsoft USB Basic Optical Mouse v2.0
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender + Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    BaseBoard Manufacturer Dell Inc.
    BaseBoard Product 0J1CP3
    BaseBoard Version A01
IanMosley said:
When you use Option 1 - Backup Boot Configuration Data , can you change the target directory - Desktop - to another? OR must it always be Desktop ?
Click to expand...

Hello Ian, :alien:

Yes, you can change the export path to any location you want.

I just use the Desktop as a universal path that everyone has.
 

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System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
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