Heresy!!!

[ffutures]

Following on from the previous computer threads, I now have a dual-boot Linux / XP computer up and running, with monitor rotation under XP (doesn't currently work under Linux because the graphics driver that allows it doesn't support acceleration, which makes it useless for a lot of programs I want to use. Eventually, once FF XI is finished, I will move the useful stuff over from my existing machine, leaving behind e.g. drivers for about fifteen scanners and cameras I no longer use that don't seem to be easily deleted, and eventually turn that into a dual boot box too.

There's one small problem - I installed Ubuntu after Windows this time, and as a result it defaults to starting Linux if I don't use the menu in the first 15 seconds or so.

Is there any way to change this so that it defaults to booting Windows?

now sorted - there's an optional program called Startup Manager which lets you edit this without having to worry about messing things up.

later Except it turns out it messes up the ubuntu "splash" screen even if you don't deliberately change it. Not sure why, and it doesn't actually matter, but annoying.

Sorting this eventually needed me to manually edit two or three files! See

http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-to-Fix-the-Big-and-Ugly-Plymouth-Logo-in-Ubuntu-10-04-140810.shtml

for the horrific details.

Comments

[sbisson.livejournal.com]

You should be able to change the boot order in GRUB.

[autopope.livejournal.com]

Specifically, there's a file under /boot called something like menu.cfg or grub.cfg which specifies the various bootstrings (which partition to load a kernel image from, what parameters to pass it, and so on). Near the top of the file is a line like "default=0" or some other number; this indicates the bootstring to execute by default. (grub counts from zero, not 1; beware!) You just need to locate the Windows boot option -- which looks nothing like a Linux one, and is highlighted with an auto-generated comment -- and stick it in place of the Linux boot image as the default to use.

As the files under /boot are owned by root, you'll need to edit it by opening a terminal window and launching a text editor as root -- e.g. by typing "sudo gedit /boot/grub.cfg" then entering your password.

Note: I haven't poked around at this for a while and Ubuntu changed the format of the grub config file in the past release or three (due to switching from grub 1.x to grub 2), so you may want to google on grub configuration.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Many thanks to you both!

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

I tried that sudo and it didn't work, so I went on line to look up how it works in the current release, and about the first thing I found was a mention of a program called "startup manager" which you can download, which automates things completely - you just select which one you want as the default (and various other optional parameters) and it does the job for you.

I know that this is cheating, but I shall try to live with my shame...

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

I assume you're already watching this but if you don't, you really need to watch The First Men In the Moon on BBC4 right now. (or catch up on iplayer)

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Thanks - hadn't spotted it.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Why is it making swooshing noises in space?

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That was great fun.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!