Setting Windows As Default Boot On Linux/Windows Dual Boot

[iainh23]

Ok I have VERY limited experience with Linux and only actualy use it as a back up browser for the internet, I like Linux but I work on a job that demands I use Windows by the software my employer runs and so Linux as a main OS is not a question unfortunatly.

However I want to get to grips with Linux at home and so I have a dual boot thats working fine with Ubuntu Ultimate and Windows Vista. My problem is that Linux is the default boot and I want to make Windows the default boot and only boot Linux by me selecting it in the menu.

Can anyone tell me how to do this step by step and I must warn you that thus far all I have done in Linux is browse with Firefox and so I am a total newbie and need idiot proof instructions for this

I am competant with Windows though and not afraid to try things and so any help with this would be appreciated.

[rokytnji]

Post contents of /boot/grub/menu.lst so members can see what ya got

[Hal343]

The command you need to list it is something like this,

sudo cat /boot/grub/menu.lst

Then copy/paste into your reply and highlight, then use CODE tag above (#)

[iainh23]

Post contents of /boot/grub/menu.lst so members can see what ya got

I am not even sure how I do this?

Like I say, apart from browsing the internet on a Linux system I am clueless on how anything on there works, thats why I really need a total step by step from the start.

How do I go about posting the contents of /boot/grub/menu.lst or where would I find this info.

I have been using Windows systems for over 10 years and so anything on there I am fine with but Linux I am totally lost but I want to learn the system a little now.

[iainh23]

Actually would this be what I need???

# 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=dedab16f-2187-46f5-917a-8bcfe61ef016 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=dedab16f-2187-46f5-917a-8bcfe61ef016

## 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 2.6.27-7-generic
uuid		dedab16f-2187-46f5-917a-8bcfe61ef016
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=dedab16f-2187-46f5-917a-8bcfe61ef016 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode)
uuid		dedab16f-2187-46f5-917a-8bcfe61ef016
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=dedab16f-2187-46f5-917a-8bcfe61ef016 ro  single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+
uuid		dedab16f-2187-46f5-917a-8bcfe61ef016
kernel		/boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### 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		Windows Vista/Longhorn (loader)
root		(hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader	+1

[yancek]

Actually would this be what I need???

Yes. At the top of the file you will see this line:

default 0

Change the zero to a 3.

You get this number by counting the title entries, Grub counts from zero (0) and the windows entry is the fourth so you need a three.

[rokytnji]

Yes. At the top of the file you will see this line:

Change the zero to a 3.

You get this number by counting the title entries, Grub counts from zero (0) and the windows entry is the fourth so you need a three.

To do what Yanek says here is your Step By step Instructions

Go to Applications>Accessories>Terminal and open terminal

Type in

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

Hit Enter
Type in password when asked. You will not see any ***** or any thing else but your typing in of password will be registered. It is a safety feature.
Hit Enter

Edit /boot/grub/menu.lst as Yanek suggested. Close it and agree to save changes . Reboot to default Windows. If you wish a longer grub screen in case you want more time to make a selection from grub menu.

You can change time out Line

timeout 10

From 10 seconds to like 20, 30 whatever you wish.

The Line Yanek wants you to change from 0 to 3 is this line

default 0

See. Linux aint that hard once you know how to move around in it a bit. Good Luck with it.

[iainh23]

Many thanks, fixed and all working.

All the help is much appreciated