[SOLVED] GRUB boot order

[Whiterazer]

Hello im a linux noob and thats the reason I want to boot my windows xp by default.

Now kubuntu boots first.

I've googled how to do this but the topics of other people with the same 'problem' were old or maybe incorrrect. Because the official GRUB Ubuntu wiki says you should not change the /boot/grub/grub.cfg file manually. The first line on the .cfg file is also a warning: DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE.

So it continued looking for a proper way to change the boot order. Then I found something about etc/grub.d and also etc/default/grub

The problem is I don't understand how to change the boot order using this.

Can anyone explain me ? (and remember im a linux noob )

Thanks!

[hazel]

You are using grub 2, which is more complicated in its operations than the legacy grub that I use. But I found the following on Google. It's an extract from the Grub2 manual.:

"The following variables can be defined in /etc/default/grub to customize generated file :

GRUB_DEFAULT=NUM

The menu entry NUM will automatically be be booted after GRUB_TIMEOUT seconds if the user haven't chosen a menu entry.

NUM must be specified as the row number to boot, first line is row 0. Set GRUB_DEFAULT=, then run update-grub.

GRUB_TIMEOUT=SECONDS

* Grub will boot the default entry after SECONDS, if the user remained inactive. "

I don't know what editor you are using; let's assume kate. So you start by opening a terminal and typing "kdesu cp /etc/default/grub /etc/default/grub.orig". kdesu gives you root access (i.e. makes you the system administrator temporarily) and the rest of the command makes a safety copy of the file you are going to edit. You should always do this before modifying an important system file.

Next type "kdesu kate /etc/default/grub" to put the configfuration file into the kate editor. Then find (or if need be insert) the line with GRUB_DEFAULT as shown above and edit it so that NUM is the menu number of the default you want (remembering that the count starts at zero, not one). Save and exit the editor.

Finally type "kdesu grub-update" to make your new grub.cfg.

[Whiterazer]

thanks this is really helpful

-- edit

now i know i have to set it as '8' but i cant modify the file. i need root permisson.

kdesu does not work.

i tried sudo edit /etc/default/grub
and su root
and sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

i feel such a noob its frustrating

[peteh]

What does happen when you input

kdesu kate /etc/default/grub

Do you get a blank document?
If you don't have kate try kwrite instead of kate in the line.

[Whiterazer]

it says: kdesu: command not found

[MikeTbob]

You did issue this command in Kubuntu, correct?

Can you login as root in terminal window, like this?
su -
(password) Press enter

[devils casper]

Have you tried nano editor?

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

Press Ctrl+X, Y and hit Enter key to save file.

Its not recommended to edit grub.cfg file but if its necessary then you have to set write of grub.cfg file first.
Execute this

sudo chmod +w /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Edit file using nano editor.

sudo nano /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Reset write bit again.

sudo chmod -w /boot/grub/grub.cfg

If you have any question, post the contents of grub.cfg file here.

[MikeTbob]

I guess this is part of grub2? Man, I need to learn up on this stuff....i'm getting behind the times.

[Whiterazer]

sorry i havent had any time lately, I will soon let you guys know more, i will try the nano thing.

thanks for helping me so far !

[Whiterazer]

Have you tried nano editor?

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

Press Ctrl+X, Y and hit Enter key to save file.

Its not recommended to edit grub.cfg file but if its necessary then you have to set write of grub.cfg file first.
Execute this

sudo chmod +w /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Edit file using nano editor.

sudo nano /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Reset write bit again.

sudo chmod -w /boot/grub/grub.cfg

If you have any question, post the contents of grub.cfg file here.

ok this is my grub.cfg:

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by /usr/sbin/grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s /boot/grub/grubenv ]; then
have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ ${prev_saved_entry} ]; then
saved_entry=${prev_saved_entry}
save_env saved_entry
prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
insmod gfxterm
insmod vbe
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
# For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
# understand terminal_output
terminal gfxterm
fi
fi
if [ ${recordfail} = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/white
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-19-generic" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
set quiet=1
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-19-generic root=UUID=98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-19-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-19-generic (recovery mode)" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-19-generic root=UUID=98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-19-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-17-generic" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
set quiet=1
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic root=UUID=98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-17-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-17-generic (recovery mode)" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic root=UUID=98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-17-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-14-generic" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
set quiet=1
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-14-generic (recovery mode)" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professional (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ntfs
set root=(hd0,1)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set c230e8ff30e8fb75
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###


however I prefer editing it in Kate, because I don't want to make any mistakes. Here I don't get any permissions for saving the file. However I think I know how to put it. Is it correct in this way? :


#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by /usr/sbin/grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s /boot/grub/grubenv ]; then
have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ ${prev_saved_entry} ]; then
saved_entry=${prev_saved_entry}
save_env saved_entry
prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
insmod gfxterm
insmod vbe
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
# For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
# understand terminal_output
terminal gfxterm
fi
fi
if [ ${recordfail} = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/white
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professional (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ntfs
set root=(hd0,1)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set c230e8ff30e8fb75
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-19-generic" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
set quiet=1
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-19-generic root=UUID=98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-19-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-19-generic (recovery mode)" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-19-generic root=UUID=98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-19-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-17-generic" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
set quiet=1
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic root=UUID=98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-17-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-17-generic (recovery mode)" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic root=UUID=98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-17-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-14-generic" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
set quiet=1
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-14-generic (recovery mode)" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,5)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=98745e1e-cd00-4325-a2db-046da2001871 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###



### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###




I think that should do ? But how do I change it in kate ?? Nano editor seems to work but it's a bit risky for me as a noob :P