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HI everyone, I'm a Linux n00b, and I'm having a bit of an issue tweaking LILO so that Windows can be the default Operating System, not Linux.

The problem isn't with the file, which is: /etc/lilo.conf

I can edit everything, but then when I go to save, I get an error saying that I can't save, it's write protected...

Please forgive me if this is something so stupid, but I really am a newbie, just trying to learn.

Thanks for the help!

Since you´re posting in the Mandrake pages I´m assuming you are using one of the Mandrake versions. You can either open a terminal window and type drakconf (you will be prompted for your root password) or try clicking system/configuration/configure your computer (again, you´ll be prompted for root password). Depending on the version of Mandrake you´re using there will be a menu on the left or the options will be displayed in the center screen. You want to find the Boot option and then the Boot Loader under there. Once you are in the Boot Loader options there will be an asterisk next to the current default boot option, just click on the Windows option you want to be default and click Edit in the menu. There will be a radio button to check off to designate that as the default. When you first click on the Boot Loader you will be in the Bootloader main options page, you can set the delay before booting and select the bootloader to use if you wish. Once you click next you will see the different otptions (Linux, Windows, Failsafe, Floppy, etc).

Correct, I'm using Mandrake 9.2

Ok, were you able to find it? I can´t remember the menu structure of 9.2 but if you click on the KDE menu button there should be a settings entry with Configure Your Computer, or you can launch drakconf from a terminal window (or Alt + F2)

To answer your question, you need to be logged in as root (or use su ) to edit any file in the /etc directory.

If you're a newbie, you probably like to edit files by right-clicking on them in Konqueror and editing them with Kwrite. So do I. To run Konqueror as root, create a new "link to application" on the desktop containing the command "konqueror --profile filemanagement" Select advanced options and check "Run as a different user".

Beware. A root instance of Konqueror is dangerous because it can freely alter any root owned file. Shut it down as soon as you've finished the task, and go back to using the regular user-mode Konqueror.