Regards to everyone!
I am a Linux begginer, and just installed Ubuntu 7.10 on my machine (I have
two hard disks, on first there is Windows XP installed, and on otherUbuntu),
every went down ok.

If someone could help me I would like to know following:

- is it possible to edit boot record so during boot choice the Windows Xp
are on top, and Ubuntu options bellow
- additionally I would like to set timer of 30 seconds, so if no choice is
confirm Windows XP starts automatically (because it is marked)

Thank you in advance!

kature wrote:

> I am a Linux begginer, and just installed Ubuntu 7.10 on my machine
> (I have two hard disks, on first there is Windows XP installed, and
> on otherUbuntu), every went down ok.
>
> If someone could help me I would like to know following:
>
> - is it possible to edit boot record so during boot choice the
> Windows Xp are on top, and Ubuntu options bellow

That information is not stored on the 'boot record'. In the grub
installed by ub710, it is found in /boot/grub/menu.lst

That menu.lst is a file, whereas the bootrecord refers to such places as
the 'mbr' or masterbootrecord, or sector 0 or volume boot record, since
each of your two hdd/s are not partitioned.

Your question is a good example to demonstrate the beauty and simplicity
of using commands to edit the menu.lst, or alternatively to 'load up' a
handy dandy graphical gizmo to accomplish the same task in a more
complicated but graphical fashion. As a win person, you might be
accustomed to handling things graphically.

You could go get a graphical tool named 'qgrubeditor' available as a
..deb package here
http://www.qt-apps.org/content/show....?content=60391

.... which editor is now being developed as a kde4 app for those who are
headed in the kde4 direction.

> - additionally I would like to set timer of 30 seconds, so if no
> choice is confirm Windows XP starts automatically (because it is
> marked)

That timeout is also editable in the grub editor, along with the splash
screen, password, and other features, just as it is configurable by file
editing. The link above shows 3 screenshots of qgrubeditor, the 3rd
showing the graphical changing of the timeout.

--
Mike Easter

Mike Easter wrote:
> kature wrote:

>> during boot choice the
>> Windows Xp are on top, and Ubuntu options bellow

> You could go get a graphical tool named 'qgrubeditor'

There is also a startup manager in my ub710 -- System/ Admin/ StartUp
Manager - which affords you access to a graphic configuration of the
default boot configuration and timeouts. This is apparently a
reflection of the menu.lst of that particular ub install. Since my
ub710 is not the last distro I installed, its menu.lst is not the one
which is being read by my current grub boot manager, so changing the
configuration in the startup manager for that ub partition boot would
not have the desired effect.

I don't know if the qgrubeditor suffers from the same problem or not,
probably so, but it would not be a problem in your case where the ub
grub is reading the ub menu.lst

--
Mike Easter

> - is it possible to edit boot record so during boot choice the Windows Xp
> are on top, and Ubuntu options bellow
> - additionally I would like to set timer of 30 seconds, so if no choice is
> confirm Windows XP starts automatically (because it is marked)

Goto /boot/grub. Modify menu.lst.

Default = 0 (defaulting booting the first entry, which is Ubuntu, 1
should be widnows)
Timeout = 30 (timeout waiting for action)

--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Xubuntu 7.10) Linux 2.6.24.4
^ ^ 19:43:01 up 5 days 54 min 1 user load average: 1.07 1.06 1.01
ºî ´© (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_...ub_addressesa/

I did it, thank you very much you have of great help!

"Mike Easter" <MikeE@ster.invalid> wrote in message
news:-tmdnRhy7_ogK2XanZ2dnUVZ_vamnZ2d@earthlink.com...
> Mike Easter wrote:
>> kature wrote:
>
>>> during boot choice the
>>> Windows Xp are on top, and Ubuntu options bellow
>
>> You could go get a graphical tool named 'qgrubeditor'
>
> There is also a startup manager in my ub710 -- System/ Admin/ StartUp
> Manager - which affords you access to a graphic configuration of the
> default boot configuration and timeouts. This is apparently a
> reflection of the menu.lst of that particular ub install. Since my
> ub710 is not the last distro I installed, its menu.lst is not the one
> which is being read by my current grub boot manager, so changing the
> configuration in the startup manager for that ub partition boot would
> not have the desired effect.
>
> I don't know if the qgrubeditor suffers from the same problem or not,
> probably so, but it would not be a problem in your case where the ub
> grub is reading the ub menu.lst
>
> --
> Mike Easter
>

On Sun, 06 Apr 2008 11:32:22 +0200, kature wrote:

> Regards to everyone!
> I am a Linux begginer, and just installed Ubuntu 7.10 on my machine (I
> have two hard disks, on first there is Windows XP installed, and on
> otherUbuntu), every went down ok.
>
> If someone could help me I would like to know following:
>
> - is it possible to edit boot record so during boot choice the Windows
> Xp are on top, and Ubuntu options bellow - additionally I would like to
> set timer of 30 seconds, so if no choice is confirm Windows XP starts
> automatically (because it is marked)
>
> Thank you in advance!

Edit /boot/grub/menu.lst. If you really want the MS entries 'on top'
you'll have to shuffle the stanzas and be ready to reshuffle every time a
new kernel is added (I would guess; I've never done that). If you simply
want MS to be the default, then change the default entry near the top of
the file (rememering that grub is 'zero based'. Timer setting is in the
file, as well.

On Sun, 06 Apr 2008 19:46:18 +0800, Man-wai Chang ToDie (33.6k) wrote:

>> - is it possible to edit boot record so during boot choice the Windows
>> Xp are on top, and Ubuntu options bellow - additionally I would like to
>> set timer of 30 seconds, so if no choice is confirm Windows XP starts
>> automatically (because it is marked)
>
> Goto /boot/grub. Modify menu.lst.
>
> Default = 0 (defaulting booting the first entry, which is Ubuntu, 1
> should be widnows)

Number 1 is usually also a Ubuntu entry. Normally MS is down the line
somewhere.


> Timeout = 30 (timeout waiting for action)

kature wrote:
> I did it, thank you very much you have of great help!

YW you're welcome.

Check out this advice about how to attribute, trim the cite/quote, and
context your words in newsgroup replies.


http://www.anta.net/misc/nnq/nquote.shtml Q1: What is "quoting" in
newsgroup postings? - Q2: How should I use the quoted text and arrange
it with my own text?

http://www.netmeister.org/news/learn2quote.html How do I quote
correctly in Usenet? -- 2.1 How much should I quote? - 2.2 What should
not be quoted? - 2.3 Why should I place my response below the quoted
text?



--
Mike Easter

>> Default = 0 (defaulting booting the first entry, which is Ubuntu, 1
>> should be widnows)
>
> Number 1 is usually also a Ubuntu entry. Normally MS is down the line
> somewhere.

yes... forgot.

0 - normal Ubuntu
1 - Ubuntu recovery mode
2 - Window$ (usually)

--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Xubuntu 7.10) Linux 2.6.24.4
^ ^ 11:14:01 up 5 days 16:25 1 user load average: 0.07 0.09 0.04
ºî ´© (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_...ub_addressesa/

kature wrote:
> Regards to everyone!
> I am a Linux begginer, and just installed Ubuntu 7.10 on my machine (I have
> two hard disks, on first there is Windows XP installed, and on otherUbuntu),
> every went down ok.
>
> If someone could help me I would like to know following:
>
> - is it possible to edit boot record so during boot choice the Windows Xp
> are on top, and Ubuntu options bellow
> - additionally I would like to set timer of 30 seconds, so if no choice is
> confirm Windows XP starts automatically (because it is marked)
>
> Thank you in advance!

The most important and useful linux commands are

- grub
- fdisk
- mount
- tar
- dd

NOTHING will pay off like learning these right off the bat.

There's no such thing as a master boot record, MBR, or a boot
sector, but there is a PLACE on every disk that is THE root
sector (every partition has one too). A disk sector is 512
bytes and is not part of a partition but a partition root
sector is a part of its partition. You'll see what this means
when you first try fdisk to create a second primary partition
of the same size as the first or a first logical partition
the same size as the second primary :-)

The DISK root sector hosts both the partition table and boot
code. If grub is installed it can be run to write boot code
to the part of the disk root sector reserved for it. Here is
another bit of confusing terminology when people tell you to
install grub to make things bootable. Installing software means
copying it to disk and integrating it into the OS to the extent
that it needs to me integrated. In the case of grub it does
nothing for booting, but once grub is installed it can be run
to write or deploy boot code to the disk root sector (sometimes
to other places instead of or in addition to).

I always name my own boot menu file something other than the
default menu.lst and place it somewhere other than the default
/boot/grub folder. This way it will never be stepped on nor will
I step on system written stuff which will always remain where
it had been written to as it had been written. Everybody happy.
I use a /boot/user folder and my grub menu or config file is
usually something like menu.usr

Sometimes I place a copy of the entire /boot folder on every
single partition and that way I don't even have to worry about
where I point grub to. This menu file is a simple text file
and is easy enough to edit at will ..after a while.

So, in a case of using the /boot folder on partition-5 (grub
counts from 0 until the next release) with the menu file being
/boot/user/menu.usr you would first invoke grub by its name
and then use its interactive CLI (command shell) to make it
write boot code referencing your menu file.

grub
> root (hd0,4)
> install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) /boot/grub/stage2 p /boot/user/menu.usr

If you want to make a boot floppy, copy just the grub and user
folders into the /boot folder of a dos (or ext2) floppy and do

grub
> root (fd0)
> install /boot/grub/stage1 (fd0) /boot/grub/stage2 p /boot/user/menu.usr

Once you have edited your menu file a few times you will remember
where it is by heart, and will also repeat the above by heart.

BTW, the logical method of listing those bootable partitions that
you want listed is, well, the logical partition sequence.

HTH

On Sun, 6 Apr 2008 11:32:22 +0200,
kature <katurelabin******.com> wrote:
> Regards to everyone!
> I am a Linux begginer, and just installed Ubuntu 7.10 on my machine (I have
> two hard disks, on first there is Windows XP installed, and on otherUbuntu),
> every went down ok.
>
> If someone could help me I would like to know following:
>
> - is it possible to edit boot record so during boot choice the Windows Xp
> are on top, and Ubuntu options bellow

Well, I've never heard grub bellow, but yes, you can move Windows XP
to the top of the list.

Open /boot/grub/menu.lst in your favorite editor as root. If you're
not comfortable with vi/vim/emacs, you can use gedit or kate.

gksu gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

Look for the line starting with title for windows, and copy that stanza.
In my case, I would copy the four lines:

title Windows NT/2000/XP (loader)
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
chainloader +1

And move them to right above:

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

> - additionally I would like to set timer of 30 seconds, so if no choice is
> confirm Windows XP starts automatically (because it is marked)

Look for a line that starts with "default"

and either comment the line or change to "default 0".

Next look for the line that starts with "timeout"

and change the number following it to "30".

I'm not certain, but I believe that there is a GUI way to change the
default, and possibly the timeout, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't
allow you to reorder the list.

The change takes more time to describe than to actually do it once you
have a firm handle on your text editor. Please note that this is
somewhat Debian/Ubuntu specific, and your windows stanza may differ
from mine.

HTH,

Michael C.
--
mjchappell@verizon.net http://mcsuper5.freeshell.org/

They grumble the most who see the show on free passes.

kature wrote:
> Regards to everyone!
> I am a Linux begginer, and just installed Ubuntu 7.10 on my machine (I have
> two hard disks, on first there is Windows XP installed, and on otherUbuntu),
> every went down ok.
>
> If someone could help me I would like to know following:
>
> - is it possible to edit boot record so during boot choice the Windows Xp
> are on top, and Ubuntu options bellow
> - additionally I would like to set timer of 30 seconds, so if no choice is
> confirm Windows XP starts automatically (because it is marked)
>
> Thank you in advance!

The most important and useful linux commands are

- grub
- fdisk
- mount
- tar
- dd

NOTHING will pay off like learning these right off the bat.

There's no such thing as a master boot record, MBR, or a boot
sector, but there is a PLACE on every disk that is THE root
sector (every partition has one too). A disk sector is 512
bytes and is not part of a partition but a partition root
sector is a part of its partition. You'll see what this means
when you first try fdisk to create a second primary partition
of the same size as the first or a first logical partition
the same size as the second primary :-)

The DISK root sector hosts both the partition table and boot
code. If grub is installed it can be run to write boot code
to the part of the disk root sector reserved for it. Here is
another bit of confusing terminology when people tell you to
install grub to make things bootable. Installing software means
copying it to disk and integrating it into the OS to the extent
that it needs to me integrated. In the case of grub it does
nothing for booting, but once grub is installed it can be run
to write or deploy boot code to the disk root sector (sometimes
to other places instead of or in addition to).

I always name my own boot menu file something other than the
default menu.lst and place it somewhere other than the default
/boot/grub folder. This way it will never be stepped on nor will
I step on system written stuff which will always remain where
it had been written to as it had been written. Everybody happy.
I use a /boot/user folder and my grub menu or config file is
usually something like menu.usr

Sometimes I place a copy of the entire /boot folder on every
single partition and that way I don't even have to worry about
where I point grub to. This menu file is a simple text file
and is easy enough to edit at will ..after a while.

So, in a case of using the /boot folder on partition-5 (grub
counts from 0 until the next release) with the menu file being
/boot/user/menu.usr you would first invoke grub by its name
and then use its interactive CLI (command shell) to make it
write boot code referencing your menu file.

grub
> root (hd0,4)
> install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) /boot/grub/stage2 p /boot/user/menu.usr

If you want to make a boot floppy, copy just the grub and user
folders into the /boot folder of a dos (or ext2) floppy and do

grub
> root (fd0)
> install /boot/grub/stage1 (fd0) /boot/grub/stage2 p /boot/user/menu.usr

Once you have edited your menu file a few times you will remember
where it is by heart, and will also repeat the above by heart.

BTW, the logical method of listing those bootable partitions that
you want listed is, well, the logical partition sequence.

HTH

On Sun, 6 Apr 2008 11:32:22 +0200,
kature <katurelabin******.com> wrote:
> Regards to everyone!
> I am a Linux begginer, and just installed Ubuntu 7.10 on my machine (I have
> two hard disks, on first there is Windows XP installed, and on otherUbuntu),
> every went down ok.
>
> If someone could help me I would like to know following:
>
> - is it possible to edit boot record so during boot choice the Windows Xp
> are on top, and Ubuntu options bellow

Well, I've never heard grub bellow, but yes, you can move Windows XP
to the top of the list.

Open /boot/grub/menu.lst in your favorite editor as root. If you're
not comfortable with vi/vim/emacs, you can use gedit or kate.

gksu gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

Look for the line starting with title for windows, and copy that stanza.
In my case, I would copy the four lines:

title Windows NT/2000/XP (loader)
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
chainloader +1

And move them to right above:

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

> - additionally I would like to set timer of 30 seconds, so if no choice is
> confirm Windows XP starts automatically (because it is marked)

Look for a line that starts with "default"

and either comment the line or change to "default 0".

Next look for the line that starts with "timeout"

and change the number following it to "30".

I'm not certain, but I believe that there is a GUI way to change the
default, and possibly the timeout, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't
allow you to reorder the list.

The change takes more time to describe than to actually do it once you
have a firm handle on your text editor. Please note that this is
somewhat Debian/Ubuntu specific, and your windows stanza may differ
from mine.

HTH,

Michael C.
--
mjchappell@verizon.net http://mcsuper5.freeshell.org/

They grumble the most who see the show on free passes.