您的计算机上是否有多个分区并安装了不同的操作系统(operating system)？如果是这样，您可以更改Windows(Windows)中的活动分区，以便在计算机启动时加载相应的操作系统(operating system)。这称为双引导或多引导系统(dual-boot or multi-boot system)。
更改活动分区是一项相当高级的任务，因此如果您打算这样做，您可能不需要上面的解释！仅当该分区上存在操作系统(operating system)时才更改活动分区，否则您将拥有一台无法工作的计算机。
此外，关于将分区标记为活动的还有一些注意事项：
- 不能将逻辑驱动器或扩展分区标记为活动的，只能将主分区更改为活动的。
- 每个物理硬盘只能有一个活动分区。试图不这样做会导致各种问题。
- 如果您的计算机上有多个物理硬盘，您可以在每个磁盘上将一个分区标记为活动分区，但只有BIOS(BIOS)检测到的第一个硬盘上的活动分区才会启动计算机。您可以进入BIOS 并更改检测硬盘的顺序。
除了上述注意事项外，还必须准备好其他东西才能启动系统。仅(Just)将分区设置为活动分区并不能确保系统正确启动。
- 活动分区必须有一个由操作系统创建的(operating system)引导扇区(boot sector)
- 活动分区应包含操作系统的引导加载程序和引导文件(boot loader and boot files)，并且必须知道操作系统在物理硬盘驱动器上的位置
- 实际操作系统(operating system)必须位于硬盘驱动器上的正确位置
当计算机启动时，它会首先在主分区上寻找活动分区。位于活动分区开头的引导扇区将运行(boot sector)引导加载程序(boot loader)，它知道操作系统引导(operating system boot)文件的位置。此时，操作系统(operating system)将启动并运行。
(Set Active Partition)通过磁盘管理(Disk Management)设置活动分区
转到控制面板(Control Panel)，单击系统和维护(System and Maintenance)，然后单击管理工具( Administrative Tools)，打开计算机管理(Computer Management)。
您也可以单击经典视图(Classic View)，然后选择管理工具( Administrative Tools)。现在单击Storage下的Disk Management。
另一种选择是转到您的桌面，右键单击计算机(Computer)或这台 PC(This PC)，然后选择管理(Manage)。您将 在左侧菜单中看到磁盘管理，如上所示。(Disk Management)右键单击要标记为活动的主分区，然后选择Mark Partition as Active。
(Set Active Partition)通过命令行(Command Line)设置活动分区
如果您在Windows(Windows)中搞砸了某些东西并将错误的分区标记为活动分区，您将无法再启动您的计算机。如果您无法使用Windows将分区标记为活动分区，则必须使用命令行(command line)。
根据您的Windows版本，进入命令行(command line)可能有点棘手。阅读我关于以安全模式重新启动Windows的帖子，以获取适用于Windows XP、Vista、7、8 和 10的系统修复(system repair)选项。如果您运行的是Windows 8，请阅读我关于引导至系统恢复(system recovery)选项的帖子。到达那里后，您必须转到Troubleshoot，然后是Advanced Options，然后单击Command Prompt。
首先使用启动盘(disk and type)进入命令提示符并在提示符下键入(command prompt)diskpart。
在 DiskPart 提示符处，键入list disk。您将看到当前连接到计算机的磁盘列表。现在输入select disk n，其中 n 是磁盘编号(disk number)。在我的示例中，我将键入select disk 0。
现在我们已经选择了正确的磁盘，输入list partition以获取该磁盘上所有分区的列表。要选择我们想要设置为活动的分区，请输入select partition n，其中 n 是分区号。
现在我们已经选择了磁盘和分区(disk and partition)，我们只需键入单词active并按Enter即可将其标记为活动。而已！现在分区设置好了。
大多数人都熟悉使用FDISK将分区标记为活动的，但现在这是一个较旧且过时的命令。您应该使用DISKPART来管理现代Windows 计算机上的(Windows computer)磁盘和分区(disk and partitions)。
通过 MSCONFIG 设置活动分区
除了以上两种方法外，还可以使用MSCONFIG来设置活动分区。请注意，此方法仅适用于同一硬盘驱动器上的主分区，因为MSCONFIG不会检测其他硬盘驱动器上的分区。此外，其他分区只能安装Windows才能将其设置为活动。
如果您不熟悉MSCONFIG 工具(MSCONFIG tool)，请阅读我之前的使用MSCONFIG指南。打开 MSCONFIG 并单击(Open MSCONFIG and click)启动选项(Boot)卡。
您将看到列出的操作系统，活动的操作系统将具有当前操作系统；(Current OS; Default OS)操作系统(operating system)名称后的默认 OS。单击(Click)其他操作系统(operating system)，然后单击Set as default。
还有其他方法可以设置活动分区，例如使用Linux live CD，但这些方法要复杂得多，通常不需要。即使内置系统恢复(built-in system recovery)选项不允许您进入命令提示符(command prompt)，您也可以随时使用辅助计算机来创建可启动的USB 系统(USB system) 恢复驱动器(recovery drive)。如果您有任何问题，请随时发表评论。享受！
How to Set or Mark a Partition as Active in Windows
Do yoυ have multiple partitions on your compυter with different operating systems installed? If sо, you can change the аctive partition in Windows so that whеn the computer starts up, it will load the appropriatе operating system. This is callеd a dual-boot or multi-boot system.
Changing the active partition is a fairly advanced task, so if you are planning on doing this, you probably didn’t need the explanation above! Only change the active partition if there is an operating system residing on that partition, otherwise you will have a non-working computer.
Also, there are a few things to note about marking a partition as active:
- A logical drive or extended partition cannot be marked as active, only primary partitions can be changed to active.
- You can only have one active partition per physical hard disk. Trying to do otherwise will cause all kinds of problems.
- If you have several physical hard disks on your computer, you can mark a partition as active on each disk, but only the active partition on the first hard disk detected by your BIOS will start up the computer. You can go into the BIOS and change the order to detect hard disks.
In addition to the above notes, there are additional things that have to be in place in order for the system to boot. Just setting a partition to active does not ensure that the system will boot properly.
- The active partition must have a boot sector that was created by the operating system
- The active partition should contain the boot loader and boot files for the OS and must know the location of the OS on the physical hard drive
- The actual operating system has to be located in the correct spot on the hard drive
When the computer boots up, it will look for an active partition on the primary partitions first. The boot sector, located at the beginning of the active partition, will run the boot loader, which knows the location of the operating system boot files. At this point, the operating system will boot up and run.
Set Active Partition via Disk Management
Open Computer Management by going to the Control Panel, clicking on System and Maintenance, and then clicking Administrative Tools.
You can also click Classic View and then choose Administrative Tools. Now click on Disk Management under Storage.
Another option is to go to your desktop, right-click on Computer or This PC and choose Manage. You’ll see Disk Management in the left hand menu like shown above. Right-click on the primary partition that you want to mark as active and choose Mark Partition as Active.
Set Active Partition via Command Line
If you screwed something up in Windows and marked the wrong partition as active, you will no longer be able to boot your computer. In the case where you cannot mark a partition as active using Windows, you’ll have to us the command line.
Depending on your version of Windows, getting to the command line can be a bit tricky. Read my post on restarting Windows in safe mode to get to the system repair options for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 10. If you’re running Windows 8, read my post on booting to system recovery options. Once there, you have to go to Troubleshoot, then Advanced Options, and then click on Command Prompt.
First get into the command prompt using a boot up disk and type diskpart at the prompt.
At the DiskPart prompt, type in list disk. You will see the list of disk currently attached to your computer. Now type in select disk n, where n is the disk number. In my example, I would type select disk 0.
Now that we have selected the correct disk, type in list partition to get a list of all the partitions on that disk. To select the partition we want to set as active, type in select partition n, where n is the partition number.
Now that we have selected the disk and partition, we can mark it as active by just typing the word active and pressing Enter. That’s it! Now the partition is set.
Most people are familiar with using FDISK to mark a partition as active, but that is now an older and outdated command. You should use DISKPART to manage disk and partitions on a modern Windows computer.
Set Active Partition via MSCONFIG
In addition to the above two methods, you can use MSCONFIG to set the active partition. Note that this method only works for primary partitions on the same hard drive as MSCONFIG won’t detect partitions on other hard drives. Also, the other partition can only have Windows installed in order to set it as active.
If you’re not familiar with the MSCONFIG tool, read my previous guide on using MSCONFIG. Open MSCONFIG and click on the Boot tab.
You’ll see the operating systems listed and the active one will have Current OS; Default OS after the name of the operating system. Click on the other operating system and then click on Set as default.
There are other methods to set an active partition like using a Linux live CD, but these are much more complicated and normally not necessary. Even if the built-in system recovery options don’t allow you to get to the command prompt, you can always use a secondary computer to create a bootable USB system recovery drive. If you have any trouble, feel free to post a comment. Enjoy!
