Windows and Linux on computer

[gonaownyou]

I have windows XP installed on one partition and on the others I have Ubuntu installed, every time I log on it asks me which operating system I want to use, I hardly ever use Ubuntu, and if i don't switch using my keyboard to Windows, after 9 seconds it automatically starts Ubuntu, how do I make it so that instead of Ubuntu it automatically starts Windows XP.

[freebird73717]

When I first started using ubuntu I changed grub (the boot loader menu you see) to boot windows first way you want it to. I have changed that now and I use ubuntu almost solely now. Anyhow.... to answer your question....

http://www.ehow.com/how_2251661_edit-grub-menu-ubuntu.html

[gonaownyou]

Hey when i get to this part "sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst." it opens up a small window which is completely blank for some reason, now what am I supposed to do???

[freebird73717]

Well now that's weird. You should get a page filled with a bunch of stuff. Not sure where the problem is with that. When I enter sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst into terminal I get

# 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 20

## 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=f3f4cf8d-9bd6-4092-a6d9-2d4d55f11c49 ro

## Setup crashdump menu entries
## e.g. crashdump=1
# crashdump=0

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd1,1)

## 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 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-15-generic
root (hd1,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-15-generic root=UUID=f3f4cf8d-9bd6-4092-a6d9-2d4d55f11c49 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-15-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-15-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd1,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-15-generic root=UUID=f3f4cf8d-9bd6-4092-a6d9-2d4d55f11c49 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-15-generic

title Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic
root (hd1,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=UUID=f3f4cf8d-9bd6-4092-a6d9-2d4d55f11c49 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd1,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=UUID=f3f4cf8d-9bd6-4092-a6d9-2d4d55f11c49 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic

title Ubuntu 7.10, memtest86+
root (hd1,1)
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/hda1
title Windows NT/2000/XP
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

Try copying the text below and pasting it into terminal

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

Change the part I have placed in bold to wherever your windows is on your bootloader (this depends on how many OS you have installed. On your menu screen the top entry (ubuntu) is default 0. Change the default number to whatever needed to get to windows. So if you have to arrow down three times to get to the windows you want then change your default to 3.

[gonaownyou]

Ok im really new to this stuff i go into the "terminal" by turning on my comp and when i go into ubuntu I come across the option in the bottom right corner of my screen, i select change session and select the one which says failsafe terminal and try there. am i doing something wrong or not???

[freebird73717]

Try copying the text below and pasting it into terminal

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

[gonaownyou]

yes I got it to work and I must thank you very much for your help in this.

[freebird73717]

No problem friend.

I would like to encourage you to spend more time in linux though. The more I use linux the more I like it's workflow. But it's not windows and there is a learning cure (just like there was when you first started using windows).

Good luck and enjoy.