[SOLVED] How To Stop Automatic Loading of Linux

[Skeeter]

I have Windows XP and Linux Mint installed on my laptop.
I'd like more than a few seconds to choose which OS I want to run.
How do I fix this? Please explain it as if talking to a 6 year old as I'm new to Linux.
Thank you

[yancek]

If you have Mint 8, you should have a file called grub.cfg in the /boot/grub directory. Near the top of that file is a line which says "timeout". The number to the right is the number of seconds before it boots the default. Mint 8, I think, uses Grub2 which I have not used so I am not sure if you need to do anything else besides changing the number.

If you have Mint 7 or earlier, you will have a menu.lst file in the /boot/grub/ directory. Near the top is an entry "timeout" and again, change that to the number of seconds you want it to wait before booting and it will work on the next boot.

[gtphonehome]

Linux Mint comes with Grub2 and nano installed. The file we need to edit is /boot/grub/grub.cfg

first lets backup our grub.cfg
--------------------------------------------

open a terminal window and type...

sudo cp /boot/grub/grub.cfg /boot/grub/grub.cfg.old


now lets edit the config file
-------------------------------------------

sudo nano /boot/grub/grub.cfg

type in your password when asked and hit enter...

hit control+w and type "set timeout=" (without quotes) in the search box and hit enter to find the entry we need to change.

the selection that needs to be changed will be highlighted.

setting the highlighted selection to set timeout=5 should suffice and will cause grub2 to wait 5 seconds before booting the default (or first) kernel entry designated by grub.cfg

hit control+x and hit enter twice to save the file with the new setting.

cheers

[devils casper]

Its not recommended to edit grub.cfg file because its generated automatically on every execution of update-grub command.

Edit /etc/default/grub file.
Execute this

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

Set GRUB_TIMEOUT="" to required value.
Press Ctrl+X, Y and hit Enter key to save file.

GRUB_TIMEOUT="10" will wait for 10 seconds.
You can set GRUB_DEFAULT="" value to set default OS which will boot up if you don't select any OS with in 10 Seconds.

Make sure to execute sudo update-grub command after editing file. It will generate new grub.cfg file and apply changes.

[gtphonehome]

ah I just learned something new

[Skeeter]

ah I just learned something new

Ahhh, and you almost screwed me in the process.

[Skeeter]

Thank you, Casper.