as always, i have another question. i have ubuntu linux and XP. when i restart, it gives me a list and gives me 8 seconds. if i dont do anything, it automatically goes with the highlighted one which is linux. how can i change this?

I believe you have to modify your boot.ini, which is in your basic C:\ root directory (you have to have system folders visible).

From there you can modify the default and the timeout time (if you wanted to change it from 8 seconds).

Make sure you make a backup, too.

its different in XP, you might be thinking of 95 or 98. i have a C and D drive. C being linux and D being XP.

Goto run and type msconfig, you'll be able to alter the OS info in there.

Which boot loader are you using?
NTLDR? GRUB? LILO?

If it is NTLDR then you need to edit boot.ini which is located on the Windows parition. Such as D:\boot.ini, But the file is invisible. Since it is marked hidden/system file. But you can see it using the 'msconfig' tool as stated above.

If it is LILO, then you need to edit /etc/lilo.conf on your Linux partition.

and what if its grub? cuz thats what it is.

Didn't realise you meant GRUB, check this out, it's pretty straight forward and easy to follow.

the boot.ini file:


thats not even the settings it uses, to start, its only 10 sec timeout.

So you use the GNU GRUB bootloader.
* http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/

Look at the GRUB manual;
* http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub.html

I never used GRUB myself. But I am sure the manual takes it up. Else search for grub.conf or something in /etc, maybe its there.

Or I assume you could get help on #grub in irc.freenode.net