Linus mint 6 boot order

[emorrp1]

grub, the boot-up manager, uses the /boot/grub/menu.lst file for the boot menu, and loads the configurations in order so just find the block with a title of Windows in it, and move it to the top of the list, just after the "end default options" line. I recommend taking a back-up of this file, as a typo could conceivably prevent your computer from booting.

Alternatively, if you're after a GUI, I believe "bum" (boot-up manager) allows you to configure all sorts of interesting stuff, but I haven't used it myself.

[emorrp1]

I second the gnucash option, fine once you get the double-entry concept, I've used if for a while now, for both home and university society usage. Sorry, didn't notice that sentence in your original post. LXF recently did a roundup of personal finance software, with the following results (score out of 10):
Moneydance 9 (roundup winner - "A proprietary solution that's well worth the small [$40] charge")
GnuCash 9 ("A stunning piece of software. May be too complicated for basic home use" very good for intermediate+ home/business use, forces good accounting practices (double-entry) but has a steeper learning curve (double-entry))
Grisbi 8 ("Perhaps the best free choice for home users, but lacking security features")
KMyMoney 7 ("Easy to use, but loses out in the import stakes with its limited format support")
JGnash 6 ("Import problems mar an otherwise simple but effective application")
Buddi 6 ("Good if your needs are modest, but you may soon outgrow it")

I hope LXF don't mind me posting this, it's an excellent Linux magazine

[Aging Technogeek]

You don't need to change the order of the items in the grub menu, just change the boot default.

open terminal and enter:

Code: Select all

 gksu gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

After you enter your password. you should get a listing of the grub menu like this:

Code: Select all

#            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		5

## 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		4

# 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/sda9 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,8)

## 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		(hd0,8)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=/dev/sda9 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		(hd0,8)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=/dev/sda9 ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic

title		Linux Mint 6, kernel Last successful boot
root		(hd0,8)
kernel		/boot/last-good-boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/sda9 ro quiet splash  last-good-boot
quiet

title		Linux Mint 6, memtest86+
root		(hd0,8)
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 an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda6.
title		Linux Mint 6 XFCE CE, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (on /dev/sda6)
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
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda6.
title		Linux Mint 6 XFCE CE, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda6)
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
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda6.
title		Linux Mint 6 XFCE CE, memtest86+ (on /dev/sda6)
root		(hd0,5)
kernel		/boot/memtest86+.bin  
savedefault
boot

Look at line 14. It says "default 5" because I'm dual booting Mint 6 main and Mint 6 Xfce and I've edited grub to change the default boot. In your menu it should read "default 0".
This is the line you need to change.

Near the end of the list you will see a line that reads"###End Default Options##" The next line is the first title in the grub menu. Start with the first title and count each title until you reach your Windows entry (remember that grub starts counting at Zero not one; and you must include the line "other operating systems" because it is labeled as a title in the list.)
In my menu I wanted to boot Mint 6 Xfce first. Starting at the first entry " linux Mint 6 kernel 2.6.27.7 generic" as 0, count down to " Linux Mint 6 XFCE CE". the count of titles is 5 so I edited line 14 from "default 0" to "default 5" and I get Mint XFCE as my default boot.

Save the changed file and exit the terminal. The next time you boot, your grub menu will be in the same order but Your Windows entry will be highlighted. this is now your default operating system.

PS, At line 24 or thereabout you will see an entry "timeout **" (mine says 4 yours probably says 10). this is the time the system waits at the grub menu before booting the default OS. If 10 seconds seems too long to you just replace the 10 with a number of seconds you feel is adequate to strike a key to stop the timer and choose the OS you want to boot.

[rmockler]

Kudos to Aging Technogeek for a thorough and superbly written solution to this question.