Reconfiguring Boot Order - For the Linux newbie like me

As much as I'm drawn to Linux and I've had very positive experiences with it, I still prefer to do most of my work in Windows (It's a matter of preference -- not to mention that a lot of my classes require software that only runs on Windows). So, I was a little frustrated when upon first installing Ubuntu last year it claimed itself as the first item in the boot order. I'd restart my laptop from linux to go back to Windows... only to end up back in Ubuntu. So, here's how to simply rearrange the boot order in GRUB. (Note: you should probably back up your menu.lst file before doing this)

Open up a terminal and give the command:
sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

This will open up the menu list that GRUB uses to generate the list you see when your computer boots. If you scroll to the bottom of this file, you'll find a list of nicely commented commands for the various OSes on your computer in the order in which they appear in the GRUB loader.

It will look something like this:




If you scroll all the way to the bottom, it will list your other operating systems, ie. Windows. All you need to do is cut and paste the ENTIRE entry for Windows up to above the Ubuntu entries. You will want to paste it just below the text that says "## ## End Default Options ##." The entire entry you want to copy consists of (at least for Vista)

title Windows Vista/Longhorn (loader)
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

New menu.lst file:

Save the menu.lst file, and that's all!

With this entry at the top of the list, when your computer boots it will now default to Windows (or whatever other entry you chose to place first).

Note: I have heard that this trick might become switched back when there's a kernel update which edits the menu.lst file. Should this happen to you, it should only take a few moments to change it back.

Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn

Just got the release of Feisty Fawn installed and running in a dual boot setup with Vista on my Thinkpad. Initial opinion--very very slick.

Things that stick out from just my first hour:

1. Easy codec access--When you try to play an mp3 or another file that requires one of the restricted codecs you once had to manually install, Ubuntu informs you that you need to get a codec and after a couple dialog boxes and an admin password all the codecs are ready to go.
2. Beryl in 1 step-- Beryl is now included in the default repositories, and the video drivers (at least the ones for my T43p's ATI card) are up to snuff enough to run Beryl out of the box. sudo apt-get install beryl and I was all set. A basic version of Compiz that does the virtual dekstop cube and wobbly windows is included in Feisty, but I personally prefer the customizability of Beryl for now until the projects re-merge.
   
3. Networking--On my laptop, wireless access and managing it can be a pain. Luckily, Feisty has a nice new set of wireless controls easily accessible through the tray. It even picks up networks around my apartment that I could never see in Windows!
   
4. It's fast. Booting up seems much faster than 6.10 ever did, and within the OS it feels like I'm using a much faster computer than I am -- even running all the Beryl GUI enhancements.
   

Complaints:

• Thunderbird 2 (which I've made the switch to in Windows) isn't in the repositories yet so I had to put it on here manually. It sucks when I'm spoiled by Synaptic