Dual booting

lightsilver · 05-22-2009, 12:37 PM

Ok, on my pc, I have 2 hard drives. One is a 500GB drive that has windows XP. The other is a 250GB drive with ubuntu (9.04?)

Everything is working fine, and I can boot into either one. But I want to edit the boot.1st file to make it so on the grub loading screen, it defaults to windows XP.

Right now it has Ubuntu, then like, Ubuntu safe mode or something, then some other option, then it says "other operating system", THEN at the bottom is says windows XP.

I want to be able to edit the file so that first is Windows XP, then is Ubuntu. I have the file open in windows, and I am able to save changes. I just don't know what to change to do it. I'll copy file contents below. Thanks for any help with this, I really appreciate it. (also I have to edit it through windows, because when I try to access the file with sudo on ubuntu, it just shows an empty file, and I have privilages, and if I just click on it, I see it and I don't have privilages. so that's why I'm in this situation. Thanks for any help.

Code:

# 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		10

## 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=852c27ca-20e2-4e5e-a18d-af2c5199937e ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=852c27ca-20e2-4e5e-a18d-af2c5199937e

## 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

## specify if running in Xen domU or have grub detect automatically
## update-grub will ignore non-xen kernels when running in domU and vice versa
## e.g. indomU=detect
##      indomU=true
##      indomU=false
# indomU=detect

## 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 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic
uuid		852c27ca-20e2-4e5e-a18d-af2c5199937e
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=852c27ca-20e2-4e5e-a18d-af2c5199937e ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid		852c27ca-20e2-4e5e-a18d-af2c5199937e
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=852c27ca-20e2-4e5e-a18d-af2c5199937e ro  single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title		Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid		852c27ca-20e2-4e5e-a18d-af2c5199937e
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/sdb1
title		Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
rootnoverify	(hd1,0)
savedefault
makeactive
map		(hd0) (hd1)
map		(hd1) (hd0)
chainloader	+1

repo · 05-22-2009, 12:41 PM

Just put the entry for XP before the entry from ubuntu
Don't forget to backup the file first.

lightsilver · 05-22-2009, 12:45 PM

yea, I know that much, but what I don't know is where in the file I move what around.

is it the

Code:

title		Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic
uuid		852c27ca-20e2-4e5e-a18d-af2c5199937e
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=852c27ca-20e2-4e5e-a18d-af2c5199937e ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid		852c27ca-20e2-4e5e-a18d-af2c5199937e
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=852c27ca-20e2-4e5e-a18d-af2c5199937e ro  single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title		Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid		852c27ca-20e2-4e5e-a18d-af2c5199937e
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/sdb1
title		Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
rootnoverify	(hd1,0)
savedefault
makeactive
map		(hd0) (hd1)
map		(hd1) (hd0)
chainloader	+1

I move around? in which case would it be

Code:

# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sdb1
title		Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
rootnoverify	(hd1,0)
savedefault
makeactive
map		(hd0) (hd1)
map		(hd1) (hd0)
chainloader	+1

title		Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic
uuid		852c27ca-20e2-4e5e-a18d-af2c5199937e
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=852c27ca-20e2-4e5e-a18d-af2c5199937e ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid		852c27ca-20e2-4e5e-a18d-af2c5199937e
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=852c27ca-20e2-4e5e-a18d-af2c5199937e ro  single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title		Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid		852c27ca-20e2-4e5e-a18d-af2c5199937e
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

NeddySeagoon · 05-22-2009, 12:48 PM

lightsilver,

Code:

## 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.
#
[snip]
default		0

Edit the defualt 0 above so that it becomes defualt X where X is the number you arrive at counting the the uncommented title lines. The first title counts as 0, the second as 1 ...

If the file is too cluttered, count the lines on the grub boot menu instead. Remember to count from 0

lightsilver · 05-22-2009, 12:59 PM

ok, so, not that I have this, I'm having the problem where the editor I was using is now deciding to tell me I don't have permissions. (I guess I didn't hit the s key hard enough or something)

but anyway, I can't get root privilages to the file.

I have tried
sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
gksudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

neigher works. it just opens up the text editer, but it's blank. No text, nothing to edit, and I can't imagine why, because I can access the files other ways and I can see it.

Is there a way to actually login as root? Or to temperarly give an account root privilages? because that would be very benificial to no end

ronlau9 · 05-22-2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightsilver

ok, so, not that I have this, I'm having the problem where the editor I was using is now deciding to tell me I don't have permissions. (I guess I didn't hit the s key hard enough or something)

but anyway, I can't get root privilages to the file.

I have tried
sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
gksudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

neigher works. it just opens up the text editer, but it's blank. No text, nothing to edit, and I can't imagine why, because I can access the files other ways and I can see it.

Is there a way to actually login as root? Or to temperarly give an account root privilages? because that would be very benificial to no end

Do you know root password ?
If so in terminal su enter
password enter

lightsilver · 05-22-2009, 02:26 PM

ok, I have it working. Thanks a bunch ^_^