how to make windows xp as primary [Solved]

[balajijagadesh]

there are many post about vista .. but i can't understand.. i want my windows xp to be my primary boot... so how to do.... can any one explain me in a simple way...? i am new to linux.....

[joeoden]

i want my windows xp
to be my primary boot...

I don't know why!

You can change the order in the grub.conf file

If you are using Sabayon 4.1 it has Grub Editor installed you can find grub editor in System Settings under the Advanced tab

Try searching for grub instead of Vista, plenty of info about grub in the newbies area

Have fun
Joe

[balajijagadesh]

i am using sabayan 4... but what i should do with that grub editor.. how should i change?

i want my windows xp
to be my primary boot...

I don't know why!

You can change the order in the grub.conf file

If you are using Sabayon 4.1 it has Grub Editor installed you can find grub editor in System Settings under the Advanced tab

Try searching for grub instead of Vista, plenty of info about grub in the newbies area

Have fun
Joe

[Fitzcarraldo]

What joeoden means by "change the order in the grub.conf file" is the following.

Here is my /boot/grub/grub.conf file as an example:

Code: Select all

# grub.conf generated by the Sabayon Linux Installer
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE:  You have a /boot partition.  This means that
#          all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
#          root (hd0,2)
#          kernel /kernel-genkernel real_root=/dev/sda6
#          initrd /initramfs-genkernel
#boot=sda3
default=0
timeout=10
splashimage=(hd0,2)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
password --md5 $6$déZ9ZýºI$XEbmAuyvIqqzYS2npCQiL/

title=Sabayon Linux x86-64 (2.6.29-sabayon)
   root (hd0,2)
   kernel /kernel-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.29-sabayon root=/dev/ram0 ramdisk=8192 real_root=/dev/sda6 quiet init=/linuxrc splash=silent,theme:sabayon vga=791 CONSOLE=/dev/tty1 elevator=as nopat resume=swap:/dev/sda7
   initrd /initramfs-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.29-sabayon

title Sabayon Linux x86-64 (2.6.29-sabayon) (safe mode)
   root (hd0,2)
   kernel /kernel-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.29-sabayon root=/dev/ram0 ramdisk=8192 real_root=/dev/sda6 init=/linuxrc CONSOLE=/dev/tty1 resume=swap:/dev/sda7 nox acpi=off ide=nodma vga=normal
   initrd /initramfs-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.29-sabayon

title Sabayon Linux x86-64 (genkernel-x86_64-2.6.27-sabayon)
   root (hd0,2)
   kernel /kernel-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.27-sabayon root=/dev/ram0 ramdisk=8192 real_root=/dev/sda6 quiet init=/linuxrc splash=silent,theme:sabayon vga=791 CONSOLE=/dev/tty1 elevator=as nopat resume=swap:/dev/sda7
   initrd /initramfs-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.27-sabayon

title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
   rootnoverify (hd0,1)
   chainloader +1

Notice that the Windows XP entry is at the end of the file. If I wanted to make it the default boot, I would just edit /boot/grub/grub.conf (I would open a Terminal/Konsole window, log in as the root user, and type "nano /boot/grub/grub.conf" to open the file using the nano text editor) and move the Windows XP entry above the Sabayon entries, like so:

Code: Select all

# grub.conf generated by the Sabayon Linux Installer
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE:  You have a /boot partition.  This means that
#          all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
#          root (hd0,2)
#          kernel /kernel-genkernel real_root=/dev/sda6
#          initrd /initramfs-genkernel
#boot=sda3
default=0
timeout=10
splashimage=(hd0,2)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
password --md5 $6$déZ9ZýºI$XEbmAuyvIqqzYS2npCQiL/

title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
   rootnoverify (hd0,1)
   chainloader +1

title=Sabayon Linux x86-64 (2.6.29-sabayon)
   root (hd0,2)
   kernel /kernel-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.29-sabayon root=/dev/ram0 ramdisk=8192 real_root=/dev/sda6 quiet init=/linuxrc splash=silent,theme:sabayon vga=791 CONSOLE=/dev/tty1 elevator=as nopat resume=swap:/dev/sda7
   initrd /initramfs-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.29-sabayon

title Sabayon Linux x86-64 (2.6.29-sabayon) (safe mode)
   root (hd0,2)
   kernel /kernel-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.29-sabayon root=/dev/ram0 ramdisk=8192 real_root=/dev/sda6 init=/linuxrc CONSOLE=/dev/tty1 resume=swap:/dev/sda7 nox acpi=off ide=nodma vga=normal
   initrd /initramfs-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.29-sabayon

title Sabayon Linux x86-64 (genkernel-x86_64-2.6.27-sabayon)
   root (hd0,2)
   kernel /kernel-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.27-sabayon root=/dev/ram0 ramdisk=8192 real_root=/dev/sda6 quiet init=/linuxrc splash=silent,theme:sabayon vga=791 CONSOLE=/dev/tty1 elevator=as nopat resume=swap:/dev/sda7
   initrd /initramfs-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.27-sabayon

Then, when my PC boots, if I don't touch the keyboard then Windows XP is booted automatically.

Another thing: Notice the line "timeout=10" in the file? If you want the delay reduced or increased before GRUB boots the selected OS, just change the "10" (seconds) to another value.

[joeoden]

On the first page of Grub Editor you should see a listing of all the operating systems that grub has found, from memory I think there is 3 entries (I haven't supplied a screen shot because of the rude comment I have after Microsoft on mine)

Sabayon Linux x86-64 (genkernel-x86_64-2.6.29-sabayon)
Sabayon Linux x86-64 (genkernel-x86_64-2.6.29-sabayon) (safe mode)
Other Operating System - Microsoft Windows

Next to each entry is a radio button, the default entry has a dot on it

Click on the radio button next to the entry
Other Operating System - Microsoft Windows

Then click the Apply button, close all open programs and reboot to test


If you want to edit the grub.conf file (the way I prefer) open your favourite text editor as root, navigate to /boot/grub then open then file grub.conf and change;

default=0
to
default=2

(That is providing you only have 3 entries in your boot menu)

Or change the position of Other Operating System as Fitzcarraldo has shown

Save the file, close all open programs and reboot to test

If you require more help please let us know which version of Sabayon you are using as there is a big difference between 4... and 4.1 KDE or Gnome, also if you need to know how to become superuser (root) to edit grub.conf

Have fun
Joe

[balajijagadesh]

hai... thanks ... you explained me every step.. i could do it very easily than i thought... now i am able to change the time out and primary boot... also can i know how to boot from the command line..? mine is sabayon 4 kde...when the grub is coming after entering the command prompt how to boot into the operating system of my choice..? i have windows xp professional....

[joeoden]

also can i know how to boot from the command line..? mine is sabayon 4 kde...when the grub is coming after entering the command prompt how to boot into the operating system
of my choice..?

Not sure what you mean,
if you want to select different OS from the Grub Boot Menu then use the Down/Up Arrow keys (not Page Up/Down) on your keyboard to select the one you want, then press the Enter key

If you wish to learn more about the grub boot loader then in a terminal type
man grub

Please if you have been able to make windows xp as primary, mark this topic as [Solved]
Have fun
Joe

[Fitzcarraldo]

I'm not sure what balajijagadesh means, either.

If you mean that you want to type a command in a Terminal/Konsole window or in a TTY console to tell your PC to reboot into the OS of your choice, then you can't do it as far as I know. All you could type (as root user) is:

Code: Select all

reboot

which would force your PC to reboot. When the PC reboots the GRUB boot loader would then display the GRUB menu as usual. And, as usual, from that GRUB menu you can select the OS to boot from the list displayed, or wait for the timeout period to elapse and then GRUB will select the top entry in the list for you.

[balajijagadesh]

hi.. sorry for being clear.. i didnt mean of what to do when you are in sabayon... when you start your computer grub comes with list of os to be booted... it also gives you an option for entering into command mode... when you enter into command mode of grub... then how to boot from there....? when i typed boot i said that kernal should be loaded first... then i tried several commands.. it did not work... so what it should be done in command line of grub...?

I'm not sure what balajijagadesh means, either.

If you mean that you want to type a command in a Terminal/Konsole window or in a TTY console to tell your PC to reboot into the OS of your choice, then you can't do it as far as I know. All you could type (as root user) is:

Code: Select all

reboot

which would force your PC to reboot. When the PC reboots the GRUB boot loader would then display the GRUB menu as usual. And, as usual, from that GRUB menu you can select the OS to boot from the list displayed, or wait for the timeout period to elapse and then GRUB will select the top entry in the list for you.

[Fitzcarraldo]

Why do you want to use the GRUB command line? It's not necessary. If you want to boot Windows, select Windows from the menu that GRUB displays; if you want to boot Sabayon Linux, select Sabayon Linux from the menu that GRUB displays. It's very simple, and there is no need to use the GRUB command line. The only time you would need to use it would be to edit a faulty grub.conf that results in the PC not booting.

Anyway, if you want to know what commands are available from the GRUB command line then, as joeoden wrote, you need to read the GRUB manual. It's also available on line:

GNU GRUB manual

and you can read the following Red Hat Linux article on using the GRUB command line in the event that Linux won't boot and you need to fix GRUB:

Using GRUB to overcome boot problems

But really, you would be wasting your time unless you have made a mistake in your configuration of GRUB or in your grub.conf file, and now cannot boot your PC.


I'm marking this thread as solved, as the subject of the original post has been addressed and answered.