One of the small details introduced in Windows Vista in comparison to Windows XP is the access method to the boot options associated with the operating system. In XP the users had to press F8 during startup in order to come across the boot options at their disposal. When it comes down to Windows Vista, this continues to be valid, however, now users can also hit the Space Bar. Moreover, Windows 7, Vista's successor, has inherited the same behavior, and pressing the Space Bar after the BIOS stops loading will deliver the Windows Boot Manager.

“In Windows Vista or Server 2008 you now have an alternative and more options than just pressing F8 while booting. Next time you restart your system, right after the BIOS POST screen and just before you see the Windows boot screen, try pressing the space bar. If you timed it right or hit the space bar enough, you'll now be at the Windows Boot Manager. You can select which OS you'd like to boot, or you can hit F8 for the normal recovery options you'd expect to see,” revealed a member of the Microsoft Global Escalation Services.

Of course that in Windows 7, hitting F8 during startup will take the users straight to the recovery options. Pressing startup, instead, will deliver the Windows Boot Manager, with the same options as for Windows Vista. Naturally, there is also the F10 key, which is designed to take the user to the Edit Boot Parameters. A simple solution for managing boot settings, the Edit Boot Parameters are also just a temporary configuration. In this regard, msconfig offers a more permanent solution.

“This can also be used when booting to a Vista or Server 2008 setup disc. Right after the system prompts you to 'Press any key to boot from CD or DVD.' Hit the space bar two or three times. You should get the Windows Boot Manager again, and the list should show Windows Setup [EMS Enabled]. You can now hit F8 or F10 in the same way,” the Microsoft Global Escalation Services representative added.