I decided that I would finally like to have a play with linux and started with Ubuntu 10.10. Running dual boot with windows 7. I use Windows 7 more than linux so wanted to use the windows bootloader instead of Grub2. I found a little guide about how to change them at the following address; http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBCD/Ubuntu Followed the instructions but unfortunately this has led to my pc booting straight into ubuntu. Any ideas on how to solve this? UPDATE Managed to change the grub loader settings - GRUB_TIMEOUT=10 rather than the 0 as outlined in the guide and now get the grub loader displayed rather then booting straight into Ubuntu. Can anyone help me out with setting this up so that the windows boot loader is displayed instead of Grub?
The reason you need to use GRUB2 is because it obviously supports Linux and offers the option of chain-loading into another bootloader (the windows bootloader, in this case) so that you can choose which you want at bootup. Alternatively, you can tell the Windows bootloader to chain-load into GRUB; which is what that EasyBCD article is instructing you to do. Either way, you're going to have to deal with two bootloaders in series - That's just the nature of dual-booting Windows and Linux I think. If you want to just get back into Windows now instead of Ubuntu your best bet is to use your Windows 7 CD to restore the default Win7 bootloader to the MBR; then follow the instructions in the EasyBCD article to get access to GRUB from your Windows bootloader. Just a tip; you can hold down shift during boot (after the BIOS POST) to force GRUB to display its menu if you'd rather not have a boot delay in normal circumstances. As to choosing the default, your best bet would be to edit the GRUB configuration from within your Linux install and set the Windows bootloader as the default boot; with Ubuntu as your optional switch. If you don't want to muck around in the GRUB conf files I think you can use the GUI tool StartupManager to do what you want. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/StartUpManager
Ok cheers, I'll check out StartupManager manager tomorrow and see how far I can get. I have managed to add linux to the windows bootloader so I am starting to make progress.
Down load easy BCD it'll sort out the bootloader in no time . You can then set it up as you want it by installing the correct boot loader to give you back the dual boot.
Just install startup manager and set it to automatically boot windows with a 3 second timer or something, simple.
Or use the installer which allows you to install from within Windows. I've been doing that with Linux Mint with no problems. I know it offends certain hardcore Linux users but what the hey? It works...
Yeah, I don't get why it rattles hardcore linux users either. It works great for dual boot and if it gets more people to use linux, then even better. You can even change the order of the two OS's in Windows so that the boot screen displays the order you prefer and times-out to your prefered OS.
