how to change default os

serious_sanjay · 08-20-2008, 01:38 AM

hi , I have 2 operating systems in my pc
1 win xp(sp2)
2 linux ver 5
i want to make my default os window, at present it is linux , please help

**sobeit** · 08-20-2008, 01:41 AM

what linux distro?

serious_sanjay · 08-20-2008, 02:39 AM

red hat enterprise linux version 5

shuuhen · 08-20-2008, 08:56 PM

What bootloader are you using? I'd bet it's GRUB, but there's a chance Red Hat's installer put something else like LILO on.

If you use GRUB, edit your GRUB configuration file (should be /boot/grub/grub.conf). There should be a line that says default n where n is an integer. You can either change that to point to the Windows entry or you can reorder the entries yourself so Windows is the first one. If Linux is the first entry, Windows is the second entry, you would change default 0 to default 1.

serious_sanjay · 08-21-2008, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shuuhen

What bootloader are you using? I'd bet it's GRUB, but there's a chance Red Hat's installer put something else like LILO on.

If you use GRUB, edit your GRUB configuration file (should be /boot/grub/grub.conf). There should be a line that says default n where n is an integer. You can either change that to point to the Windows entry or you can reorder the entries yourself so Windows is the first one. If Linux is the first entry, Windows is the second entry, you would change default 0 to default 1.

thnx , for your reply

mqtboca · 08-21-2008, 02:35 PM

Thank you.

Also, in /boot/grub/grub.conf , if 5 sec. is not long enough for you to press any key for the menu, you may want to set the timeout=<something greater than 5>.

lensman3 · 08-21-2008, 09:11 PM

Edit the file /boot/grub/menu.lst as root. Add the line default with the number, starting at zero, of the entry you want as the default OS.

Run "info grub" and look at the configuration part of it. The following is from it. If you screw up be prepared to boot by editing it from the grub boot screens. My (Fedora Core 9) menu.lst already has a default=0.

# By default, boot the first entry.
default=0

The first entry (here, counting starts with number zero, not one!)
will be the default choice.

Good luck.

08-20-2008, 01:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
serious_sanjay Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3 OS: window(sp2) & linux version 5	how to change default os hi , I have 2 operating systems in my pc 1 win xp(sp2) 2 linux ver 5 i want to make my default os window, at present it is linux , please help

08-20-2008, 01:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,433 OS: windows/linux	Re: how to change default os what linux distro? __________________ there's been global warming since the ice age

08-20-2008, 02:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
serious_sanjay Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3 OS: window(sp2) & linux version 5	Re: how to change default os red hat enterprise linux version 5

08-20-2008, 08:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
shuuhen Manager Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 987 OS: Mac OS 9.1, Mac OS X 10.5.8, WinXP Pro, FreeBSD 6.0, Gentoo Linux My System	Re: how to change default os What bootloader are you using? I'd bet it's GRUB, but there's a chance Red Hat's installer put something else like LILO on. If you use GRUB, edit your GRUB configuration file (should be /boot/grub/grub.conf). There should be a line that says default n where n is an integer. You can either change that to point to the Windows entry or you can reorder the entries yourself so Windows is the first one. If Linux is the first entry, Windows is the second entry, you would change default 0 to default 1. __________________ Has it been a few days since I replied to your thread? Don't panic! I'm a busy college student and may forget a post if I'm extra busy (or it might just take me a while to be able to do a decent reply). If you still need help and are awaiting my reply after a few days, PM me about it. When posting what errors you get, please give the full message. It makes helping you much easier.

08-21-2008, 02:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
mqtboca Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2 OS: XP Pro	Re: how to change default os Thank you. Also, in /boot/grub/grub.conf , if 5 sec. is not long enough for you to press any key for the menu, you may want to set the timeout=<something greater than 5>.

08-21-2008, 09:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
lensman3 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Littleton, Colorado USA Posts: 470 OS: xp 64 sp2 Fedora Core 8 (vmware xp core 8 x32) Minix	Re: how to change default os Edit the file /boot/grub/menu.lst as root. Add the line default with the number, starting at zero, of the entry you want as the default OS. Run "info grub" and look at the configuration part of it. The following is from it. If you screw up be prepared to boot by editing it from the grub boot screens. My (Fedora Core 9) menu.lst already has a default=0. # By default, boot the first entry. default=0 The first entry (here, counting starts with number zero, not one!) will be the default choice. Good luck. Last edited by lensman3; 08-21-2008 at 09:12 PM.