Bootloader help

[distoaddict]

You would have to carefully edit menu.lst at /boot/grub.

[Aging Technogeek]

In terminal type (or copy and paste )

Code: Select all

 gksu gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

Hit Enter and put in your password when prompted. You should get something like this.

Code: Select all

# 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-legacy-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		0

## Graphical boot menu location
gfxmenu=/boot/gfxmenu/default.message

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout		1

# 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/sda6 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,5)

## 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=(single-user) 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

## 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		Linux Mint 6, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic
root		(hd0,5)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=/dev/sda6 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
quiet

title		Linux Mint 6, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd0,5)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=/dev/sda6 ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic

title		Linux Mint 6, kernel Last successful boot
root		(hd0,5)
kernel		/boot/last-good-boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/sda6 ro quiet splash  last-good-boot
quiet

title		Linux Mint 6, memtest86+
root		(hd0,5)
kernel		/boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

At the top of the menu find the first line not commented out with a # sign. This line should read "default 0".

At the bottom of the menu you will find the grub boot menu entries in the order they appear on your screen. Count the number of titles from the first to the Vista entry. Include the line about "Other Operating systems" and remember that grub starts counting from 0 not 1. In most dual boots the number should be 4 but check it to make sure. ( The first time I tried this,I didn't count "Other Operating Systems. came up with 3, and ended up trying to boot "Other Operating Systems" so be careful.) Replace the 0 in the line "default 0" with the number you came up with. For example, Using 4, the line should read "default 4".

Save changes and exit. This will not change the placement of the listing in the grub menu, but it will change the default boot to whatever was selected ( as indicated by the highlighted menu entry).

Hope I was clear enough in my explanation. If not, ask for more help and surely someone more experienced than I will help you.