Changing dual-boot system

I have a dual-boot system with Windows XP SP2 and Xandros 3.0 (Linux). Is there a BIOS or registry change I can make so that Windows XP and not Xandros will be the default OS selected at startup?

 

There is no BIOS setting or registry entry that manages boot configuration, this is a function of your Boot Manger.

What is your boot Manager? NTLDR, GRUB or LILO.

 

>>I have a dual-boot system with Windows XP SP2 and Xandros 3.0 (Linux). Is there a BIOS or registry change I can make so that Windows XP and not Xandros will be the default OS selected at startup? << ancientnut

When you install Windows and another operating system; whenever you've opted for 'Dual-Boot' - by default - Win 2000/Win XP will automatically make itself the default option when booting, and displays the 'choice' menu will count down from 30 seconds and then boots up that default choice; [that is if you do not choose either boot option within the 30 seconds, I mean].

To change the OS Boot Default Choice:
(1) Right-click on My Computer and select Properties
(2) Select the Advanced tab
(3) Then click the Startup & Recovery button.
(4) From there, you can select which operating system boots first by default.
(5) Once done click "OK" and reboot to test

Note: You can also change [shorten] the length of time that the windows menu will count down.

Good Luck!

 

Wrong, It depends entirely on which bootloader has control. If the boot loader is NTLDR then the default option is Windows.

 

My system boots into Xandros by default. Thanks, Compuable, your instructions will do the trick.

 

>> My system boots into Xandros by default. Thanks, Compuable, your instructions will do the trick. << ancientnut

Oh anytime Ancient, my pleasure really. Hope all goes well for you. Sorry about the mixup. I actually clicked send a little bit too quickly on that last post! But I'm glad some of the info in the post was useful for you!

Good Luck!

 

COMPUABLE's instructions will only work if NTLDR has control of the boot process. If as you say Xandros is the default OS, then I seriuosly doubt NTLDR is in control of the boot process.

It is very likely that either GRUB or LILO is in control of the boot process; and if this is the case you can't alter the boot options for either of those boot loaders using Windows. You can only do this from 'root' or 'su' within Xandros.

What bootloader has control of your boot process?

 

I am out of town and not at my own computer on this holiday. I will be accessing my computer early tomorrow. How do I can determine which bootloader has control of my boot process?

 

If it's NTLDR then you get a screen, that looks something like this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d3/NTLDR_selection_menu.png

 

Nope. I get a screen with Xandros at the top as default and have to scroll down and select Windows XP.

 

Shadow, how do I determine which bootloader has control of my boot process and how can I change it to Win XP as default?

 

OK, if you aren't getting a screen that looks like the one I posted then either GRUB or LILO has control. I believe that Xandros uses LILO by default. The file you want to edit is /etc/lilo.conf. It will look like this one, but have entries for your Windows OS as well.

boot=/dev/sda
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
#prompt
timeout=50
linear
default=linux

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.2.16-3
label=linux
initrd=/boot/initrd-2.2.16-3.img
read-only
root=/dev/sda1

Find label= for your windows OS and enter that for default=; save the file.

You have to do this either from 'root' or as 'su'.

When you reboot Windows should now be the default OS.