Boot menu does not allow me to choose a OS

[m5ernel]

Welcome to the forum!
You must add some lines into your Grub loader. Actually it is not very hard for I could do it and I am not very good with Linux. Try this:
1. open the Terminal and enter

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sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

this will open the loader list file.
2. scroll down towards the end. You must have sth. like this:

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title		Linux Mint, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=/dev/sda1 ro quiet splash
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
boot

title		Linux Mint, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=/dev/sda1 ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
boot

title		Linux Mint, kernel memtest86+
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/memtest86+.bin 
boot

3. add windows menu, whereever within the upper section so it will look sth like:

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title		Linux Mint, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=/dev/sda1 ro quiet splash
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
boot

title		Windows
root		(hd0,0)
makeactive
chainloader	+1

title		Linux Mint, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=/dev/sda1 ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
boot

title		Linux Mint, kernel memtest86+
root		(hd0,0)
kernel		/boot/memtest86+.bin 
boot

4. save and reboot to try it.

That should do the trick.

[merlwiz79]

Unfortunately this does not solve my problem as when i tried your instructions all that happen was that another "windows" option appeared on my boot menu as well as the options before but i cannot choose it and only Linux mint is highlighted and nothing i do seems to let me choose the option despite it being there. Is there something i am not doing?

Try editing to say this.

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title		Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root		(hd1,0)
savedefault
map		(hd0) (hd1)
map		(hd1) (hd0)
chainloader	+1

[McLovin]

Are you using a wireless, or usb keyboard by any chance? It sounds like your keyboard is not being recognized. Try plugging in a PS/2 (standard) keyboard, and see if it works.