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View Full Version : [ubuntu] Ubuntu/windows dual boot running priority



Dyffo
May 27th, 2009, 01:48 PM
I have Windows XP and Ubuntu 9.04 running in Dual Boot mode. What I want to arrange is for Windows to be the default ( First System ) to load. At the moment Ubuntu is the default, loading first. Is there a simple way of changing the priority ??

ronparent
May 27th, 2009, 02:43 PM
Use the terminal session command sudo gedit to involke the editor as administrator. Open file /boot/grub/menu.lst. Navigat to near bottom of file. There you will find the menu items along with loading instruction following each item for booting that item. Simply move the windows selection anlong with the associated lines following as a block to precede the 1st ubuntu entry. Save and on next boot windows will boot 1st by default.

Shazaam
May 27th, 2009, 02:52 PM
StartupManager allows you to change boot priority using a gui. It can be installed with Synaptic. You can also edit this section...

default 0
in boot/grub/menu.lst to change which os loads first (count from 0).

pricetech
May 27th, 2009, 02:55 PM
OR:
Edit menu.lst and change the entry "default" to "3" (or whatever your winders entry is). Remember: the count starts at 0 not 1.

ALWAYS make a backup copy of the file before editing: sudo cp /boot/grub/menu.lst /boot/grub/menu.lst.orig for example.

zubin71
May 27th, 2009, 03:41 PM
hope you`r problem`s been solved!

wkulecz
May 27th, 2009, 03:45 PM
I'm not sure about startup manager as this is the first I'd head of it, but the other solutions mentioned in my experience break the next time the kernel updates.

If you are not booting from RAID array, adding savedefault to the boot stanzas (usually there automatically in the "OTHER" stanza, and making default "saved" instead of a number will make the last system used the default for next time.

Problem is the numbers change when the kernel updates as by defult the old kernels remain and are listed as boot options in case the update breaks your system.

Before you mess with /boot/grub/menu first, search for "re-installing grub", print out the instructions and keep them handy with your Live CD installer disk. You'll thank me later :)

--wally.


--wally.

ronparent
May 27th, 2009, 08:55 PM
The following by example is my own grub booting options:

## ## End Default Options ##
## Manually inserted options

title Windows 7 rc - on hd2,1
rootnoverify (hd0,1)
chainloader +1

title Windows XP - on sda
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
map (hd1) (hd0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
chainloader +1

## END Manually inserted options

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic
uuid e6b7739b-7050-4621-a1fb-6099d2608dcc
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=e6b7739b-7050-4621-a1fb-6099d2608dcc ro noapic nolapic quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid e6b7739b-7050-4621-a1fb-6099d2608dcc
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=e6b7739b-7050-4621-a1fb-6099d2608dcc ro noapic nolapic single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid e6b7739b-7050-4621-a1fb-6099d2608dcc
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

I doubt that it will 'break' the next time the kernnel is updated. Correction anyone?

raymondh
May 27th, 2009, 10:14 PM
I have Windows XP and Ubuntu 9.04 running in Dual Boot mode. What I want to arrange is for Windows to be the default ( First System ) to load. At the moment Ubuntu is the default, loading first. Is there a simple way of changing the priority ??

Hello Dyffo,

Attached is screenshot of my startup manager showing Vista as the default boot. Is this what you were looking for?

If so, synaptic can be your friend :) Search for startup manager and have a go.

Regards,

Dyffo
May 28th, 2009, 01:53 PM
Hello Dyffo,

Attached is screenshot of my startup manager showing Vista as the default boot. Is this what you were looking for?

If so, synaptic can be your friend :) Search for startup manager and have a go.

Regards,

):P)THIS IS THE ONE !!!!!!!! Brilliant and thanks - problem SOLVED.