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Thread ID: 73885 2006-11-04 17:11:00 Change Default Boot In Grub? SurferJoe46 (51) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
496394 2006-11-04 17:11:00 Is there any way to change the default boot OPSYS in grub (Linux program)?

I have Mepis and XP-Pro in my Dell with dual boot and grub insists upon defaulting to Mepis if I forget to signify that I want to go to the second choice.

Any ideas?
SurferJoe46 (51)
496395 2006-11-04 18:54:00 You just need to edit the configuration file for GRUB. Open up a konsole (terminal window) and enter in:

kdesu kedit /etc/grub.conf

Put in your root password at the prompt.

Look for the line that says default=0

The 0 indicates the first section starting with the line title is the default OS (or kernel) you wish to boot. The second section starting with the line title is selected by using a 1, the third section starting with title is selected by using a 2.

So if WinXP is listed in the second section you need to change default=0 to default=1. Save your changes and close the window. When you next reboot you will see the default has changed to XP.

Let us know how you get on. :)
Jen (38)
496396 2006-11-04 19:57:00 Do I need to toggle or exchange the values for the two OPSYS's?

I mean, if I reassign one as default=0 and change it to default=1, do I have to reverse the defaults on the other too?
SurferJoe46 (51)
496397 2006-11-04 20:01:00 All you need to do is change the default= part from 0 to 1. This is assuming your grub.conf lists XP under the second "title" heading which makes it a '1'. You do not need to change anything else.

If you like post up the contents of your grub.conf and I can check what you need to change the default to. :)

As an example:

# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE: You have a /boot partition. This means that
# all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
# root (hd0,0)
# kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/hda5
# initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/hda
default=0
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title Fedora Core (2.6.16-1.2122_FC5) Having default=0 selects this to be the default
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.16-1.2122_FC5 ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.16-1.2122_FC5.img
title Fedora Core (2.6.15-1.2054_FC5) Having default=1 selects this to be the default
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.15-1.2054_FC5 ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.15-1.2054_FC5.img
Note, this is only my grub.conf so yours will be different but you should get the general idea.
Jen (38)
496398 2006-11-04 20:13:00 Forget that last question...

After I type in kdesu kedit /etc/grub.conf I get the request for the root password OK..I type it in and the card disappears and I get a line (repeated 4 times) that says:

xauth: creating new authority file /home/joe/.Xauthority
kdesu: WARNING: No X authentication info set for display :0.0

What does that mean? It goes no further except it opens another blank screen with the header:

/etc/grub.conf - KEdit but it is blank.
SurferJoe46 (51)
496399 2006-11-04 20:15:00 Hmmm

Right well do this instead in the konsole window:

su - [note the hypen after the su, and hit enter and then put in your root password]
kedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
Jen (38)
496400 2006-11-04 20:24:00 I get this:

kedit: cannot connect to x server

and then below it:

root@1[-]#

Did I goof up? :groan:
SurferJoe46 (51)
496401 2006-11-04 20:29:00 Should I be trying to do this as the user instead of root? SurferJoe46 (51)
496402 2006-11-04 20:35:00 No, it has to be done as root .

You are doing nothing wrong and I think your Mepis has a few issues with opening a GUI application started from the konsole as root . You will need to hang-10 a bit as I am checking out the Mepis support to see what has been recommended as a solution to this . :)
Jen (38)
496403 2006-11-04 20:51:00 Righto!

Think part of the problem was the default editor appears to be kwrite and not kedit in Mepis.

So, lets try this again with the comand:

kdesu kwrite /boot/grub/menu.lst

Fingers crossed!
Jen (38)
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