Linux Mint Forums

I'm using Windows 7, Linux Mint 14 and COSV 32 bit and would like to change the boot order. How do I go about doing so? Thank you

Open file manager at root by pressing alt+F2 and running the command
For mate: "gksu caja
For cinnamon: gksu nautilus
For KDE: kdesu dolphin

Navigate to /etc/grub/
See the files that look like this:
10_Linux
40_other
50_whatever
(I'm going from memory so forgive me if the names aren't exactly right)

The update-grub command lists the operating systems in the order of these files, so by renaming them you can change the order.
It is not recommended to mess with the actual grub menu file, because any changes you make will be lost in an update. This method makes it permanent.

Anyways, the "40_other" one is the script that finds windows and writes a grub entry for it.

Just rename that file with a number lower than the 10_Linux file.
Example: from 40_other to 09_other

Now open a terminal and run the following command: sudo update-grub

Once it's done, windows will now be on the list before Linux mint.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

The folder shows:
00 header
05 debian theme
06 mint theme
10 linux
10 _lupin
20 linux_xen
20 memtest
30 osprober
30 _urfi firmware
40 custom
41 custom

I waant the boot order to be:
1 linux mint
2 w7
3 cos

So:?
10 linix
11 w7
12 cos

Ok, I'm in front of a computer now.
I'm not sure what cosv. A quick google says its comodore?

The 3 important files here are
10_linux
30_os-prober
40_custom

So, the update-grub command uses 10_linux to list any linux distros.
then, it uses 30_os-prober to find anything else (windows, bsd, other)
last, it copies anything in 40_custom (which is blank by default)
--------------------------------------------------

The easiest thing to do in a dual boot (linux/win) system is to rename 30_os-prober to 09_os-prober
then windows will be first on the list.
-----------------------------------------------------
since you have a triple boot and want specific ordering, I would make a custom grub entry like this:

(do all this with a root file manager)
1. open the file /boot/grub/grub.cfg (this is the file that has your menu entries generated by update-grub)

2. go to the bottom of the file and find the menu entry for windows. It should look something like this
menuentry "Windows 7" {
insmod ntfs
search --set=root --label WINDOWS_7 --hint hd0,msdos2
ntldr /bootmgr
}
copy all 5 lines from "menuentry" all the way down to the "}"

3. now open /etc/grub.d/40_custom
paste the five lines for windows in here.
also find the five lines for the COS operating system and copy them in here
It should look something like this

4. Here is a good importunity to give your other os's a custom name.
find the line :
menuentry "Windows 7 loader on sdaXXXX" {
and change anything within the quotes to whatever you want
save the file

5. in the folder /etc/grub.d right click on the file 30_os-prober and select properties
go to the permissions tab and un-check the box "allow executing file as program"
this will stop update-grub from looking for other os's, but that's ok since you have them in 40_custom

6. now open a terminal and run the command "sudo update-grub"

done

7. **IMPORTANT** before you reboot, check the file /boot/grub/grub.cfg
you should see all your os's listed in the right order (down at the bottom)
linux, then windows, then COS
If you don't see the os's listed, check your work and don't reboot until this file looks right
kind of like this https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YdO ... QXGcw/edit

After doing all this, your linux entry will still update when you get new kernels, whilst the other os's will just get added on.

I hope this all makes sense,

On step 1 I get a permssion denied?

all steps must be done as root

open file manager with one of the following
For mate: "gksu caja
For cinnamon: gksu nautilus
For KDE: kdesu dolphin

Hi , still working on this and plan to implement your very valuable posts. Thank you

Hi Elchucko,

I've found the best way to change the boot order is to use Daniel Richter's Grub Customizer: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=10340183
You can not only change the boot order and default OS but you can also remove entries such as Memory Test etc. to tidy up the Grub 2 menu. I've used this many times and never encountered any problems. Hope this helps.