Grub 2 boot order

**championboxes** · October 30th, 2009

Ok I have scanned over these two posts Grub 2 Introduction and Grub 2 Basics
and haven't been able to find the answer im looking for...

I need to make windows the default boot... as far as I can understand I have to edit /etc/grub.d/00_header to boot windows first but I do not know exactly what to change anybody know exactly what to do?

**bgeraghty** · October 30th, 2009

The configuration file you are looking for will be one of the following:

Code:

/boot/grub/menu.lst
/boot/grub/grub.conf
/etc/grub.conf

Most likely, it will be the first one.

This will contain a list of the choices you have in the grub menu.

Look for the line:

Code:

default=0

This is the line that dictates which choice to have selected in the grub boot menu.

So scroll down until you see the first instance of the setting called 'title'. (usually this is your normal Ubuntu boot choice) This being option '0', scroll down and add 1 to that every time you hit a new 'title' ID. When you arrive at the OS you want, change the default=0 to default=(whatever number you ended up with). You can also change the countdown time with the 'timeout=10' line to however many seconds you want it to wait for you to change the choice.

**ranch hand** · October 30th, 2009

The boot order is set in /etc/default/grub.

**championboxes** · October 30th, 2009

Originally Posted by ranch hand

The boot order is set in /etc/default/grub.

Thanks that solved my problem

**specialk1st** · November 5th, 2009

Thanks so much! I'm a newbie and this solved my problem too.

**dbell1969** · November 10th, 2009

Hi I am still confused. How do I change the boot order? This is the output of /etc/default/grub:

# If you change this file, run 'update-grub' afterwards to update
# /boot/grub/grub.cfg.

GRUB_DEFAULT=0
#GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true
GRUB_TIMEOUT=10
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""

# Uncomment to disable graphical terminal (grub-pc only)
#GRUB_TERMINAL=console

# The resolution used on graphical terminal
# note that you can use only modes which your graphic card supports via VBE
# you can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo'
#GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480

# Uncomment if you don't want GRUB to pass "root=UUID=xxx" parameter to Linux
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_UUID=true

# Uncomment to disable generation of recovery mode menu entrys
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_RECOVERY="true"

**Tholley** · November 10th, 2009

Originally Posted by dbell1969

Hi I am still confused. How do I change the boot order? This is the output of /etc/default/grub:

# If you change this file, run 'update-grub' afterwards to update
# /boot/grub/grub.cfg.

GRUB_DEFAULT=0
#GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true
GRUB_TIMEOUT=10
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""

# Uncomment to disable graphical terminal (grub-pc only)
#GRUB_TERMINAL=console

# The resolution used on graphical terminal
# note that you can use only modes which your graphic card supports via VBE
# you can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo'
#GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480

# Uncomment if you don't want GRUB to pass "root=UUID=xxx" parameter to Linux
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_UUID=true

# Uncomment to disable generation of recovery mode menu entrys
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_RECOVERY="true"

You can use Startup Manager. that is what I like to use.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/StartUpManager

**philinux** · November 10th, 2009

GRUB_DEFAULT=0 is the entry you need to modify.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Gr...ing%20GRUB%202

Or use startupmanager if this is a bit daunting.

**bogan** · February 10th, 2012

Hi! edw666,
Rather than having to edit system files, as suggested in this old thread, or Startup Manage, which is a bit iffy with 11.10.

To edit and re-arrange the Grub menu, plus add a background image, alter fonts and colours, and much else, you want Grub Customizer. It is an easy to use Graphics tool.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1664134 Go to Post #1 for a full explanation.

You are correct that you may have to alter the default setting after a major update, but with Grub Customizer you can make Windows the top entry in the Grub Menu, and then you will not have to alter it again; at least, not as long as you still want Win as default.

Chao!, bogan.