Ubuntu
grub2 package

menu.lst doesn't exist and grub.cfg uneditable!

Asked by Simon

Hi

I have succesfully installed Ubuntu v9.10 onto my computer, alongside Windows Vista. Currently Ubuntu is the default selection when grub boots up. However, I would like to make Windows Vista the default and have used your FAQ section on the Ubuntu website to guide me. It tells me that if I change the default setting in menu.lst in the Boot directory then this should solve the issue. However, there is no file called menu.lst in the boot directory. I did however manage to find grub.cfg which seems to house the same data. However, when attempting to change the default and then save the file I'm told that the disk is read only?!

Am I accessing the correct file or do I need to change the default in another one?

Thanks

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu grub2 Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
Philip Muškovac
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:

This question was originally filed as bug #514017.

Revision history for this message
Mathieu Comandon (strycore) said : 		#1

Thank you for taking the time to report this issue and helping to make Ubuntu better. Examining the information you have given us, this does not appear to be a bug report so we are closing it and converting it to a question in the support tracker. We appreciate the difficulties you are facing, but it would make more sense to raise problems you are having in the support tracker at https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu if you are uncertain if they are bugs. For help on reporting bugs, see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#When%20not%20to%20file%20a%20bug.

Revision history for this message
Philip Muškovac (yofel) said : 		#2

Please see https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Grub2#Grub%202%20Files%20&%20Folders
on the meaning of the new grub2 configuration files and how to edit them.

Revision history for this message
Best Philip Muškovac (yofel) said : 		#3

Also please note that grub2 doesn't understand 'savedefault' yet. Either use
GRUB_DEFAULT=<number>
in /etc/default/grub

or another way:
The enties in your grub.cfg are sorted by the order of the scripts in /etc/grub.d/ that create them.
You could rename /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober to /etc/grub.d/09_os-prober with
sudo mv /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober /etc/grub.d/09_os-prober
and run 'sudo update-grub' after that

This will move the Windows entry before the Linux entry.

Revision history for this message
Simon (simon-woods) said : 		#4

All sorted! Thanks for your help!