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[El Guru (Al)]

Since the majority of the time I still use Windows is there a way to change the default boot option to Windows instead of Ubuntu?  Either that, how do I uninstall Ubuntu and get back that hard drive that it currently occupies?

[Pieter]

No problem! First, copy /boot/grub/menu.lst to /boot/grub/menu.old.lst (as root). If your boot file becomes messed up for some reason, you can go back and fix the problem using the backup file (even using Windows). What you're about to do is not difficult, but you never know what could happen. Okay, so now you'll need to open /boot/grub/menu.lst with root privileges. (sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst in a terminal)
Scroll down until you see a list of operating systems:

title      Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-16-generic
root      (hd0,2)
kernel      /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-16-generic root=UUID=3cf77cc0-5e33-4537-902a-f8d7f46900fb ro quiet splash locale=nl_NL
initrd      /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-16-generic
quiet
savedefault

title      Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-16-generic (recovery mode)
root      (hd0,2)
kernel      /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-16-generic root=UUID=3cf77cc0-5e33-4537-902a-f8d7f46900fb ro single
initrd      /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-16-generic

title      Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-15-generic
root      (hd0,2)
kernel      /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-15-generic root=UUID=3cf77cc0-5e33-4537-902a-f8d7f46900fb ro quiet splash locale=nl_NL
initrd      /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-15-generic
quiet
savedefault

title      Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-15-generic (recovery mode)
root      (hd0,2)
kernel      /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-15-generic root=UUID=3cf77cc0-5e33-4537-902a-f8d7f46900fb ro single
initrd      /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-15-generic

title      Ubuntu, memtest86+
root      (hd0,2)
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 a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title      Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
root      (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader   +1

You should recognize the text behind the word 'title' as it is shown in your boot menu. You can rename these entries if you like. Anyhow, now comes the easy part. Just move the entry for Windows to the top of the OS list like this:
(Note: do not copy/paste this, the situation could be different on your computer.)

# Note: you can add comments to this file by using the pound character
# Windows is on top of the list
title      Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
root      (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader   +1

title      Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-16-generic
root      (hd0,2)
kernel      /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-16-generic root=UUID=3cf77cc0-5e33-4537-902a-f8d7f46900fb ro quiet splash locale=nl_NL
initrd      /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-16-generic
quiet
savedefault

title      Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-16-generic (recovery mode)
root      (hd0,2)
kernel      /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-16-generic root=UUID=3cf77cc0-5e33-4537-902a-f8d7f46900fb ro single
initrd      /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-16-generic

title      Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-15-generic
root      (hd0,2)
kernel      /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-15-generic root=UUID=3cf77cc0-5e33-4537-902a-f8d7f46900fb ro quiet splash locale=nl_NL
initrd      /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-15-generic
quiet
savedefault

title      Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-15-generic (recovery mode)
root      (hd0,2)
kernel      /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-15-generic root=UUID=3cf77cc0-5e33-4537-902a-f8d7f46900fb ro single
initrd      /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-15-generic

title      Ubuntu, memtest86+
root      (hd0,2)
kernel      /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

And you're done. Note that I deleted this entry:

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title      Other operating systems:
root

This entry doesn't actually do anything, it's just something like a separator. If you'd like to separate Windows from the Ubuntu entries, add this entry right underneath the entry for Windows:

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title      Ubuntu boot options:
root

You get the general idea. And if you'd like to uninstall Ubuntu: boot the Recovery Console from your Windows XP install CD, execute fixmbr and fixboot, delete Ubuntu's partitions and you're done. The boot menu has been removed and all traces of Ubuntu are gone.

[El Guru (Al)]

Thanks, I'll give this a try.  I do want to keep Ubuntu but it is a pain to have to make sure I select Windows when I start my computer up.  Now if only I can figure out how to partition the drive that Ubuntu resides on so I can get a chunk of that unused space.  I suppose I could always remove Ubuntu then reinstall it and create it's own partition that way.  I am still trying to figure out who I managed to create another partition on my other drive that doesn't have Ubuntu or Windows on it.  It happened one time when I had trouble booting up.

[Pieter]

So you want to resize the Ubuntu partition to make more room for Windows? The only tool I know that can do the job is Acronis Partition Expert, but it's not free.

[Richard]

use start up manager (SUM) - http://web.telia.com/~u88005282/sum/

Direct Download Link - http://web.telia.com/~u88005282/sum/archive/deb/startupmanager_1.9.5-1_all.deb



Easiest way to change Grub i use it when want to change some settings

Older Version will be in 7.10 software universe repository

[Pieter]

I still prefer to do it manually though. I like doing dirty work. If you know your way around, it's easier to do it yourself than to let a third-party tool do the job.

[Richard]

I still prefer to do it manually though. I like doing dirty work. If you know your way around, it's easier to do it yourself than to let a third-party tool do the job.

I know it is but useful if don't do the "dirty work" editing code your self

[Pieter]

True. But I for one prefer to do it manually if it's quick and easy.

[Ryan Wagner]

I still prefer to do it manually though. I like doing dirty work. If you know your way around, it's easier to do it yourself than to let a third-party tool do the job.

You're a crazy geek Pieter! I hate messing with system files knowing that one misspelling can cause the OS not to boot.

[Pieter]

Nah. If you know what you're doing, stuff ain't going to break. In fact, it's possibly even safer to do it yourself. Here's why.

Ryan, you've developed the new CyberNet website, right? So you probably know why some people prefer text editors over WYSIWYG editors: because they mess up your HTML code. Dreamweaver, I'm looking at you! ).
What if something weird happened to one of your system files? Let's just say you've performed some tweaks using a tweaking application. Will the automatic boot file editor still be able to pull it off without messing it up?

[Richard]

Dreamweaver just ticks me off so much bloat and not need for coding normal html and some javascript files i was doing a website design for course i am on. i turned to notepad and funny thing is nearly half of the class used notepad to do coding after they asked what i using instead of dreamweaver.

moral of the story:

If want bloated code and frequent crashes uses Dreamweaver
If want just the code and no crashes or freezers use Notepad (Best Application MS have keep simple)

[spock1982 (Ernie)]

Have you tried Notepad++ Richard? I find it handy for HTML coding and it has no bloat?

[Ryan Wagner]

I do use Notepad++ to do a lot of the programming. It's syntax highlighting is more than sufficient for me, and it just rocks.

[Richard]

Have you tried Notepad++ Richard? I find it handy for HTML coding and it has no bloat?

Yes i have used it at home but could not install that on too one of the college computers

[Pieter]

Have you tried Notepad++ Richard?

Yeah, Notepad++ is like the best HTML editor I've used so far. Sure, it just applies some color coding to your HTML files but that's all I really need. I wish they'd port it to Linux though.