16 replies to this topic

[thegormley]

I have Linux Ubuntu and Windows 7 dual booted on my computer. It prompts me to choose one at start-up, but if I don't it automatically boots Ubuntu. Is there anyway I can make it so it automatically boots 7?!? Thank you.

[Alexander]

Edit (as root) /boot/grub/menu.lst file in Ubuntu. There should be an entry named "default 0", change it to "default 1" or whatever your Win 7 menu entry is.

# general configuration:
timeout   5
default   0 <--- here

Within the GRUB menu itself there should be an option to edit entry, and set one to be default too, I'm not sure. Hadn't used it in awhile.

[thegormley]

I'm sorry. I don't mean to sound ignorant and I'm trying my best to learn Linux. Although, understanding what you meant is a little difficult. If you don't feel like breaking it down for me I still appreciate your time. Thanks!

[Alexander]

I assume Ubuntu has gedit, so try entering this into console:

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

It should prompt you for your password, enter it, does a file come up? Try pasting that file here and I can interpret it.

[thegormley]

The file "Menu .1st (/boot/grub)" comes up, but there is nothing written in the file.

[Alexander]

Try menu.(lower case L)st, not 1st.

[thegormley]

Same thing :/ It opens a file with nothing in it.

[Alexander]

Ah. Ubuntu seems to use GRUB 2. Maybe try the file /boot/grub/grub.cfg ?

[thegormley]

bash: /boot/grub/grub.cfg: Permission denied :/

[Alexander]

you need to sudo before gedit. It's owned by root!

sudo is like "pseudo-root", so you can use root's powers in a command.

[thegormley]

Hey! #
# 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 $prefix/grubenv ]; then
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ ${prev_saved_entry} ]; then
set saved_entry=${prev_saved_entry}
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z ${boot_once} ]; then
saved_entry=${chosen}
save_env saved_entry
fi
}

function recordfail {
set recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then if [ -z ${boot_once} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set e395546e-196f-4652-b93b-e4375d07b35e
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
insmod gfxterm
insmod vbe
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
# For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
# understand terminal_output
terminal gfxterm
fi
fi
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set e395546e-196f-4652-b93b-e4375d07b35e
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
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/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-25-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set e395546e-196f-4652-b93b-e4375d07b35e
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-25-generic root=UUID=e395546e-196f-4652-b93b-e4375d07b35e ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-25-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-25-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set e395546e-196f-4652-b93b-e4375d07b35e
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-25-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-25-generic root=UUID=e395546e-196f-4652-b93b-e4375d07b35e ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-25-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-24-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set e395546e-196f-4652-b93b-e4375d07b35e
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=e395546e-196f-4652-b93b-e4375d07b35e ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-24-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set e395546e-196f-4652-b93b-e4375d07b35e
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-24-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=e395546e-196f-4652-b93b-e4375d07b35e ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-21-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set e395546e-196f-4652-b93b-e4375d07b35e
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=e395546e-196f-4652-b93b-e4375d07b35e ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-21-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set e395546e-196f-4652-b93b-e4375d07b35e
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-21-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=e395546e-196f-4652-b93b-e4375d07b35e ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set e395546e-196f-4652-b93b-e4375d07b35e
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set e395546e-196f-4652-b93b-e4375d07b35e
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 92aed86baed8497d
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 ###

[Alexander]

Alright, now you need to edit this file:
sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

There should be a line at the beginning like this:

GRUB_DEFAULT=0

0 = Ubuntu, this means your Windows entry SHOULD be entry 8, so put GRUB_DEFAULT=8 and save that.

Once you saved it, enter the following command:

sudo update-grub

When you restart does it select the Windows entry now by default?