Computer FAQs & Tips

Configure default Boot Loader

In most cases, users are installing Ubuntu as dual boots to their Windows. By default the system will boot to Ubuntu. Now they want to the default boot to Windows.

This post is showing you how to configure the default Boot Loader on Ubuntu.

The file which you need to modify is /boot/grub/menu.lst

Now use the following command to edit

sudo vi /boot/grub/menu.lst

Scroll to (almost) end of file, you will see a list similar to example below

title         Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.20-15-server (recovery mode)
root          (hd0,1)
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-15-server root=UUID=40fae4a8-1d37-4506-99fa-6d9435e7e806 ro  single
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-15-server

title         Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+
kernel        /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

title         Other operating systems:
root          

title         Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root          (hd0, 0)

The first section has index = 0, second section has index = 1, and so on...

Note down which index you want to be default, and scroll up to top of file and change the line below. i.e replacing the index number with the one you noted down earlier.

default         0

From example list above, if I want to default to Windows XP I will change it to

default         3

Author: Manet Yim FAQ & Tip