Help Modifying a Boot.ini File

2048Megabytes

2048Megabytes

Active Member
Below is my boot.ini file. How do I modify it to make Microsoft Windows the first option?


[boot loader]
timeout=15
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
 
2048Megabytes said:
Below is my boot.ini file. How do I modify it to make Microsoft Windows the first option?


[boot loader]
timeout=15
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
Click to expand...

it is the only OS installed according to your boot.ini file, what are you trying to accomplish? Multi-booting OSes?
 
tlarkin said:
it is the only OS installed according to your boot.ini file, what are you trying to accomplish? Multi-booting OSes?
Click to expand...

I am dual booting with Windows XP 32-bit and Ubuntu 7.10. The wife is complaining ever since I installed Ubuntu since it loads by default if nothing is selected within 15 seconds rather than Windows.
 
GRUB by default should install as the boot loader with most Linux distros. You need to set up your grub menu, which you do during installation.
 
2048Megabytes said:
How do I find the Ubuntu boot file to modify? I am still new to the Ubuntu operating system.
Click to expand...

As far as Windows is concerned, it thinks it's the only OS present. Ubuntu was installed after (which is good--it should), and in doing so, told GRUB to control the boot options. It's an easy fix, though. Open a terminal and type:

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

Read *everything* and make sure you are comfortable changing things around. It looks a lot worse than it actually is, though, so don't worry. Feel free to PM me, or IM me (I'll send you my AIM via PM) if you want a step-by-step walk through.
 
Last edited:
One other question. If I were to change the timeout in this boot file to 10 would Windows XP startup in less time?

[boot loader]
timeout=15
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
 
no. windows bootloader IS NOT used. if you want to change anything on the boot loader you need to do so in ubuntu
 
2048Megabytes said:
One other question. If I were to change the timeout in this boot file to 10 would Windows XP startup in less time?

[boot loader]
timeout=15
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
Click to expand...

no, the time out is only when you have multiple entries and you need to choose one. If you don't choose one in 15 seconds it goes to the default OS.
 
2048Megabytes said:
One other question. If I were to change the timeout in this boot file to 10 would Windows XP startup in less time?

[boot loader]
timeout=15
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
Click to expand...

This file is not used, since GRUB was given master control. There is a way to change it in Ubuntu though, since it tells GRUB what to do.
 
>>"If i spell something wrong and you want it to be corrected please just kindly post how it should be spelt.

Ummm...actually...:D
 
yeah there was a thread on how it should be from spelled from spelt. us would be spelled uk spelt
 
Actually I think that the bootloader is used but it's chainloaded. There is a guide on the internet on how to modify GRUB to allow you boot XP as the first option. I did it with Vista as the first option on this rig,
 
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