Change boot options

[ggparts]

How do I change the boot menu? The one you first see when you power on the computer. It currently shows XP first the Ubuntu. I have tried using Starup Manager I have tried editing the gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst it changes the default after the timer starts but to get there I still must scroll down to Ubuntu to avaoid XP.

Suggestions?

[ggparts]

Sorry guys, my bad. The changes must be made in Windoes all is well now thanks anyway.

[taurus]

So currently you have windows as default and you want to set Ubuntu as the default then.

Post your /boot/grub/menu.lst then.


cat /boot/grub/menu.lst

[ggparts]

So currently you have windows as default and you want to set Ubuntu as the default then.

Post your /boot/grub/menu.lst then.


cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
I'm not sure how much you wanted but here goes

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 10

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
#hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=52DC3B16DC3AF3B7 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro ROOTFLAGS=syncio

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=()/ubuntu/disks

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic
root ()/ubuntu/disks
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=52DC3B16DC3AF3B7 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro ROOTFLAGS=syncio quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic (recovery mode)
root ()/ubuntu/disks
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=52DC3B16DC3AF3B7 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro ROOTFLAGS=syncio single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic
root ()/ubuntu/disks
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=52DC3B16DC3AF3B7 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro ROOTFLAGS=syncio quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode)
root ()/ubuntu/disks
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=52DC3B16DC3AF3B7 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro ROOTFLAGS=syncio single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic

title Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+
root ()/ubuntu/disks
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
chainloader +1


PS I have changed values here and they do not effect the initial screen but I was able to change it from within ******* initial boot

[taurus]

You are using the bootloader from windows so changing /boot/grub/menu.lst in Ubuntu won't have an affect at all.

[ggparts]

Yeah, I couldn't get Ubuntu to load without ******* so I installed it with an ivalid license (hope this doesn't come back to bite me)
I have made the changes I needed from within *******.

Any suggestions on getting to Ubuntu to install on a fresshly formatted hdd?

[taurus]

Boot from Ubuntu LiveCD. When you get to the partition part, Step 4 of 7, you can tell the installer where to install Ubuntu. If you won't want windows on your harddrive anymore, then tell the installer to use the whole harddrive, wiping out windows. But if you want to install it on another harddrive, then make sure you click the right one or your windows could be history.

[ggparts]

Awesome! Trying that now.