Hi All,
I searched for instructions for changing grub boot order, and all say the same thing; change the default=0 to default=1. Trouble is, that is not what I see in my grub/menu.lst.
Here is what I have:

## ## End Default Options ##

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.18-6-686
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18-6-686 root=/dev/hda3 ro
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.18-6-686
savedefault

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.18-6-686 (single-user mode)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18-6-686 root=/dev/hda3 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.18-6-686
savedefault

### 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 Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

So I am confused as to what I need to change. All the instructions I find say the same thing.

BTW, I have two boxes, I will leave one to default to Linux, and want the other to default to XP.

Thanks

At the top of /boot/grub/menu.lst insert (if it's not there already):

default 0

(use whatever instead of 0).

Right after "## ## End Default Options ##"?

Here is what I changed me /boot/grub/menu.lst to:

# 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 change this entry to 'saved' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 1

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 5

# 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=/dev/hda3 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,2)

## 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=

## 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=(single-user) single
# altoptions=(single-user 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

## ## End Default Options ##

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.18-6-686
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18-6-686 root=/dev/hda3 ro
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.18-6-686
savedefault

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.18-6-686 (single-user mode)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18-6-686 root=/dev/hda3 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.18-6-686
savedefault

### 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 Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


Still boots to Debian.

Thanks for the help.

As stated entries start at 0. It is just a matter of counting. Now just change the default to boot what you want.

This is 0
title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.18-6-686
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18-6-686 root=/dev/hda3 ro
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.18-6-686
savedefault

This is 1
title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.18-6-686 (single-user mode)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18-6-686 root=/dev/hda3 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.18-6-686
savedefault

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

This is 2
# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root

This is 3
# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/hda1
title Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

FYI menu 2 will not do anything. I would delete it and then your windows will be the 2nd menu.

Thank You!

That was the information I needed.

Thanks for the patience.