How to change grub bootloader order

[mike]

I hope someone can help -

I installed ubuntu as a dual boot on my backup box, but it insists on
prioritising Ubuntu on boot, and usually I forget, and have to reboot, and
can even forget again, and get really ticked off. If I had a brain I'd be
dangerous.

I'd like to keep the partition, so I can try other distros from time to
time, so can anyone help me to make Windows the prior loaded OS?

I've looked in the manual, and can't work it out. Someone suggested that
gparted is a good tool, but the live CD iso doesn't boot either of my boxes
(yes, I'm burning it as an ISO)

The windows OS is pretty fresh, and got software installed, so I don't
particularly want to scrub the disc and start again, and anyhow I still
want to try linux distros, just in case there's one I can work out there.

So what can I do? get some softeare that will do it?
Make grub prioritise windows?
D/L a distro with a more accommodating loader?

TIA

mike

 

[Duddits]

I hope someone can help -

I installed ubuntu as a dual boot on my backup box, but it insists on
prioritising Ubuntu on boot, and usually I forget, and have to reboot, and
can even forget again, and get really ticked off. If I had a brain I'd be
dangerous.

I'd like to keep the partition, so I can try other distros from time to
time, so can anyone help me to make Windows the prior loaded OS?

I've looked in the manual, and can't work it out. Someone suggested that
gparted is a good tool, but the live CD iso doesn't boot either of my boxes
(yes, I'm burning it as an ISO)

The windows OS is pretty fresh, and got software installed, so I don't
particularly want to scrub the disc and start again, and anyhow I still
want to try linux distros, just in case there's one I can work out there.

So what can I do? get some softeare that will do it?
Make grub prioritise windows?
D/L a distro with a more accommodating loader?

TIA

mike

I like/use GAG
http://gag.sourceforge.net/

regards

Dud

 

[Mark Warner]

I hope someone can help -

Here's your first lesson in editing configuration files with the command
line:


In the Ubuntu terminal, type:

sudo gedit /etc/boot/menu.lst
<enter your password>

You will then be looking at the GrUB menu.lst file in the Gedit text
editor. About fouteen or so lines down you should see a line that reads

default 0

For now, just make note of that.

Next, start scrolling down, and count all the lines that do NOT begin
with a #, but DO begin with:

title <some reference to Ubuntu or Windows>

until you get to one that says:

title Microsoft Windows

***********
Note -- do NOT count this one:
# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the
Debian

# ones.

title Other operating systems:

root

************

Now, take the number of the line that referred to Windows, and SUBTRACT
ONE. (GrUB starts counting at 0, not one. Therefore, GrUB calls the
fifth entry #4, and so on.)

Whatever number you've come up with, scroll back up and find

default 0

and plug in your number in place of the zero. For example, if Windows
was the fifth listing, plug in 4.

Save the file, close Gedit, and reboot. If all went according to plan,
your Windows entry should be highlited in the GrUB boot list, and should
boot to Windows automatically.

Good luck, and welcome to Linux.

 

[Cousin Stanley]

mike wrote:
....

sudo gedit /etc/boot/menu.lst
<enter your password>

You will then be looking at the GrUB menu.lst file
in the Gedit text editor.

About fouteen or so lines down you should see a line that reads

default 0

For now, just make note of that.

Next, start scrolling down, and count all the lines
that do NOT begin with a #, but DO begin with:

title <some reference to Ubuntu or Windows>

until you get to one that says:

title Microsoft Windows

***********
Note -- do NOT count this one:
# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the
Debian

# ones.

title Other operating systems:

root

************

Now, take the number of the line that referred to Windows, and SUBTRACT
ONE. (GrUB starts counting at 0, not one. Therefore, GrUB calls the
fifth entry #4, and so on.)

Whatever number you've come up with, scroll back up and find

default 0

and plug in your number in place of the zero. For example, if Windows
was the fifth listing, plug in 4.

Save the file, close Gedit, and reboot. If all went according to plan,
your Windows entry should be highlited in the GrUB boot list, and should
boot to Windows automatically.

Good luck, and welcome to Linux.

Another way to make a similar count without scrolling
*before* opening the file in the editor ....

$ grep ^title /boot/grub/menu.lst
title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.27-3-686
title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.27-3-686 (recovery mode)
title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.27-3-386
title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.27-3-386 (recovery mode)
title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel memtest86
title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel memtest86+
title Other operating systems:
title Windows 95/98/Me


Counting from 0 at the first title line
and excluding the Other operating systems: divider,
if I wanted to set Windows as the default OS to be booted,
I would set ....

default 6

when editing /boot/grub/menu.lst ....

 

[Mark Warner]

Another way to make a similar count without scrolling
*before* opening the file in the editor ....

$ grep ^title /boot/grub/menu.lst
title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.27-3-686
title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.27-3-686 (recovery
mode) title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.27-3-386
title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.27-3-386 (recovery
mode) title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel memtest86
title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel memtest86+
title Other operating systems:
title Windows 95/98/Me


Counting from 0 at the first title line
and excluding the Other operating systems: divider,
if I wanted to set Windows as the default OS to be booted,
I would set ....

default 6

when editing /boot/grub/menu.lst ....

Yup. Lotta ways to skin a cat.

Me, I just use cut & paste and set up the menu.lst the way I want it to
look -- order-wise -- on the bootup screen, with my default preference
at the top.

Thought it might be good for the OP to have to look through the file and
maybe get a feel for what was in it. That's how I was taught, and in
short order I was a GrUB editing fool.

Which was good, 'cause I kept having to go back and redo it every time I
blew up an install.

 

[Craig]

Yup. Lotta ways to skin a cat.
....
Thought it might be good for the OP to have to look through the file and
maybe get a feel for what was in it. That's how I was taught, and in
short order I was a GrUB editing fool.

Which was good, 'cause I kept having to go back and redo it every time I
blew up an install.

Yup, count me in on that group too. Fwiw, I use vi to edit the file
(old-school habits) /and/ comment out those boot options I don't care to
see.

living on the edge in CLI-land,

-Craig

 

[POKO]

Here's your first lesson in editing configuration files with the command
line:


In the Ubuntu terminal, type:

sudo gedit /etc/boot/menu.lst
<enter your password>

You will then be looking at the GrUB menu.lst file in the Gedit text
editor. About fouteen or so lines down you should see a line that reads

default 0

For now, just make note of that.

Next, start scrolling down, and count all the lines that do NOT begin
with a #, but DO begin with:

title <some reference to Ubuntu or Windows>

until you get to one that says:

title Microsoft Windows

***********
Note -- do NOT count this one:
# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the
Debian

# ones.

title Other operating systems:

root

************

Now, take the number of the line that referred to Windows, and SUBTRACT
ONE. (GrUB starts counting at 0, not one. Therefore, GrUB calls the
fifth entry #4, and so on.)

Whatever number you've come up with, scroll back up and find

default 0

and plug in your number in place of the zero. For example, if Windows

Mark,
I think I can safely say after reading the above that it looks like I'll
be sticking with Windows. Maybe someday soon the grubs will be a little
easier to handle like the ones in my wife's garden.
By the by - does it help when doing the above if you hold your breathe,
cross your fingers and sit up straight in your chair?
Gimme GUI or give me..........,

 

[mike]

Here's your first lesson in editing configuration files with the command
line:

Save the file, close Gedit, and reboot. If all went according to plan,
your Windows entry should be highlited in the GrUB boot list, and should
boot to Windows automatically.

Good luck, and welcome to Linux.

Thanks very much, Mark; I can see there's a bit of a curve, for the time
being I'm happy to follow dictation.

I thought I was doing well when I got to the configfile command, but there
was nothing to tell me which file I needed to configfile, or even if that
was what I really wnated to do.

I won't get to Lilo (which in my case I have not got - I theeeenk)

mike

 

[Steven Burn]

Mark,
I think I can safely say after reading the above that it looks like I'll
be sticking with Windows. Maybe someday soon the grubs will be a little
easier to handle like the ones in my wife's garden.

Rofl, glad I'm not the only one!.

Been looking at Linux distro's for a while now and the only one's I find
don't require a degree in idiocracy are Austrumi and Knoppix. Ubuntu, whilst
pushed as an alternative for Windows users, is a royal PITA to work with for
most things (wireless being an excellent example!). I've had to take a step
back from it before I threw it out the window! <g>, and Slax, whilst
certainly attractive, wouldn't even load on any of my systems ( (just
err - "froze", would be the best description)

By the by - does it help when doing the above if you hold your breathe,
cross your fingers and sit up straight in your chair?

hehe nope, I tried ;o)

Gimme GUI or give me..........,

CLI! (aslong as the CLI actually makes sense, I really don't mind using it -
it's when it's a royal PITA that it annoys the heck out of me ....)

--
Regards

Steven Burn
Ur I.T. Mate Group
www.it-mate.co.uk

Keeping it FREE!

 

[El Gee]

POKO wrote:

Mark,
I think I can safely say after reading the above that it looks like I'll
be sticking with Windows. Maybe someday soon the grubs will be a little
easier to handle like the ones in my wife's garden.
By the by - does it help when doing the above if you hold your breathe,
cross your fingers and sit up straight in your chair?
Gimme GUI or give me..........,

Poko:

All you need is a spare box and some time. I was very worried initially
when I started playing with *nix, but now I even support it to a degree
at work! I have come to realize that Linux is much easier to support
than Solaris and I have had better results in many areas with Linux that
Windows. I will admit it takes some "stick-to-it-iveness" because it
doesn't always (ok, *rarely*) "just work", HOWEVER Ubuntu (with the
forums) has been a dream. Much easier than most other distro's I have
tried, There are things that area PiTA, but nothing worse than I have
with Windows, just different things.

You have my real e-mail (Always a Dull Moment) and we can chat if you
care. Lemme know and we can IM regarding some things,,,

--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
El Gee // www.mistergeek.com <><
Know Christ, Know Peace - No Christ, No Peace
Remove .yourhat to reply
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

[Mark Warner]

CLI! (aslong as the CLI actually makes sense, I really don't mind
using it - it's when it's a royal PITA that it annoys the heck out of
me ....)

I wasn't quite truthful in my post to mike; I really didn't have him
edit the menu.lst file with the command line. What I did do was have him
use the command line to go root (sudo), open a program (gedit), and open
a file with that program (/etc/boot/grub/menu.lst). Those three actions
took one short command. From that point on, he was using a GUI program
(gedit is a text editing program similar to notepad).

This action is analogous to editing the registry in Windows. It's not a
simple program setting. In Windows, you have to have admin rights,
choose the program (regedit), and know what key/setting in what
branch/tree/hive to edit.

I'm a proficient Windows user, but no geek by any means. You two guys
are much more sophisticated than me. Linux is different, but with
today's distros it is no more or less difficult to learn and use than
Windows.

JMO. YMMV.

http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm

 

[mike]

I wasn't quite truthful in my post to mike; I really didn't have him
edit the menu.lst file with the command line. What I did do was have him
use the command line to go root (sudo), open a program (gedit), and open
a file with that program (/etc/boot/grub/menu.lst). Those three actions
took one short command. From that point on, he was using a GUI program
(gedit is a text editing program similar to notepad).

Thanks for your instructions, Mark, gedit is indeed a nice app.

However my first mistake was to type menu.first, instead of menu.list.

Gedit helpfully created it, but there was nowt there.

But searcung on menu found menu.lst, but in
/boot/grub, not /etc/boot, but after that all was as you said and I got
windows priority as I wanted.

Now the bad news - I just can't leave well enough alone :-((

I tried gag as suggested by duddits, and it looked nice, but wouldn't boot
linux - in the faq it said lilo was needed. So I thought sod this for a
game of soldiers and uninstalled it, which was supposed to leave everything
as before....
but it didn't, and now I boot straight into windows, I guess it's messed up
my MBR, or summat.

The disc I used to install ubuntu is long gone, so I can't reinstall that.

I'm not too bothered, ubuntu was just a trial, so I don't think I'll reload
it, it was painfully slow, but steady.

I don't know if you have any suggestions for a linux distro, I can't burn
DVDs, so I'd like a CD size D/L, but the big names seem to suggest about 5
CDs. (HTF can _anything_ take that much space?)

Anyhow, ther we are, thanks for your instructions, which I've saved for the
next linux attempt

mike

 

[mike]

I like/use GAG
http://gag.sourceforge.net/

I tried it, Dud, and it looked nice, but runs with lilo, not grub.

And now I can't boot into ubuntu at all.

No enormous loss

mike

 

[Mark Warner]

I don't know if you have any suggestions for a linux distro, I can't burn
DVDs, so I'd like a CD size D/L, but the big names seem to suggest about 5
CDs. (HTF can _anything_ take that much space?)

My personal favorite is SimplyMEPIS. The current version is 3.4-3. There
is a new version due out on July 10th that is based on the Ubuntu
packages. It will be Ubuntu under the hood, but with a much different
deployment of KDE than the official Kubuntu distribution.

 

[Al Klein]

And now I can't boot into ubuntu at all.

Have you tried changing the active partition?

 

[dszady]

I hope someone can help -

Here's your first lesson in editing configuration files with the command
line: [...]

and plug in your number in place of the zero. For example, if Windows

Mark,
I think I can safely say after reading the above that it looks like I'll
be sticking with Windows. Maybe someday soon the grubs will be a little
easier to handle like the ones in my wife's garden. By the by - does it
help when doing the above if you hold your breathe, cross your fingers and
sit up straight in your chair? Gimme GUI or give me..........,

Linux.

 

[POKO]

POKO wrote:


Poko:

All you need is a spare box and some time. I was very worried initially
when I started playing with *nix, but now I even support it to a degree
at work! I have come to realize that Linux is much easier to support
than Solaris and I have had better results in many areas with Linux that
Windows. I will admit it takes some "stick-to-it-iveness" because it
doesn't always (ok, *rarely*) "just work", HOWEVER Ubuntu (with the
forums) has been a dream. Much easier than most other distro's I have
tried, There are things that area PiTA, but nothing worse than I have
with Windows, just different things.

You have my real e-mail (Always a Dull Moment) and we can chat if you
care. Lemme know and we can IM regarding some things,,,

Got a couple of spare boxes here but I'm thinking I'd need you and Daryl
(Texas and Maine) moving in for a month or two before any of that makes
any kind of sense to me. We could spread the word of God by day and
after supper Daryl can take us out to some clubs and show us how a good
brawl is started. heh! The drunk tanks up here on Manitoulin are the
local OPP stations and I can arrange some nice meals and a cake with a
hacksaw inside brought in for us. If we manage to get back home
unscathed, we could tweak my boxes and you and Daryl can toss around
some dos commands - I won't have a clue what you're saying. Blog
MyyyyyAsssss has taken a back seat until fall or winter - I'm making a
concerted effort to actually get outside, breathe fresh air and become
less of a hermit,

 

[dszady]

POKO wrote:
<SNIPPAGE> [...]

fingers and sit up straight in your chair? Gimme GUI or give
me..........,

Poko:

All you need is a spare box and some time. I was very worried initially
when I started playing with *nix, but now I even support it to a degree
at work! I have come to realize that Linux is much easier to support
than Solaris and I have had better results in many areas with Linux that
Windows. I will admit it takes some "stick-to-it-iveness" because it
doesn't always (ok, *rarely*) "just work", HOWEVER Ubuntu (with the

I use Mandriva 2006 FREE. IMO the easiest thing to use if I log back in
out of root.

Particularly dial-up or just plain getting on line the first time

Got a couple of spare boxes here but I'm thinking I'd need you and Daryl
(Texas and Maine) moving in for a month or two before any of that makes
any kind of sense to me. We could spread the word of God by day and
after supper Daryl can take us out to some clubs and show us how a good
brawl is started. heh! The drunk tanks up here on Manitoulin are the
local OPP

I'll start 'em if you guys finish 'em.

stations and I can arrange some nice meals and a cake with a hacksaw
inside brought in for us. If we manage to get back home unscathed, we
could tweak my boxes and you and Daryl can toss around some dos commands

Usually when I'm drunk I flame people. Just keep me off Usenet.

I won't have a clue what you're saying. Blog MyyyyyAsssss has taken a
back seat until fall or winter - I'm making a concerted effort to
actually get outside, breathe fresh air and become less of a hermit,

If it would stop raining up hea', I could outside and scrape the fungus
out from under my armpits. Is this OT?

 

[mike]

My personal favorite is SimplyMEPIS. The current version is 3.4-3. There
is a new version due out on July 10th that is based on the Ubuntu
packages. It will be Ubuntu under the hood, but with a much different
deployment of KDE than the official Kubuntu distribution.

Thanks, Mark.

I was so eagerI tried to d/l the current mepislite, but my broadband is
flaky - it set off at a fine 450 kB/s, but stuttered and crashed.

It often does, out here in the boonies 20 miles from central London

So I'll wait for the new version and try that out in July, and get back to
the joys od dual-booting

mike

 

[Haggard]

Mark,
I think I can safely say after reading the above that it looks like I'll
be sticking with Windows. Maybe someday soon the grubs will be a little
easier to handle like the ones in my wife's garden.
By the by - does it help when doing the above if you hold your breathe,
cross your fingers and sit up straight in your chair?
Gimme GUI or give me..........,

Why not try one (or more) of the live CD's? Basically they run off the
CD's without installing on your computer.

http://frozentech.com/content/livecd.php

Of the popular ones only one won't fit onto a CD. (Suse).