Linux is a great operating system, but it can be hard to completely switch over. For this reason, many people prefer to dual-boot Linux with Windows. The Linux boot loader though (called Grub), usually defaults to booting Linux. If you’d prefer to have Windows boot up by default, here’s how to change it:
Note: The Linux distro we’re using for this How To is Ubuntu.
Graphical method
If you’re not quite comfortable with the command line yet or just prefer the pretty graphical interface, this is the method for you.
Step 1: We need to install a program called startupmanager by opening the Ubuntu Software Center and installing “startupmanager.”
(Credit: Screenshot by Ed Rhee)Step 2: After you’ve finished installing startupmanager, launch it and enter your user password at the prompt.
Step 3: In the Boot options tab, click on the drop-down menu under Default operating system, then select Windows as your default operating system.
(Credit: Screenshot by Ed Rhee)Step 4: When you’re finished, click the Close button and you’ll see startupmanager finalize the settings.
(Credit: Screenshot by Ed Rhee)
Command line method
If you’re comfortable with the command line or prefer it, use this method. Just make sure you’re also comfortable using a text editor like vi.
Step 1: Open up a terminal window (CTRL+ALT+T).
Step 2: Find the Windows entry number in the boot loader.
Type command:
cat /boot/grub/grub.cfg | grep menuentry
In the screenshot below, you’ll see that “Windows 7…” is the fifth entry, but since entries start at 0, the actual entry number is 4.
(Credit: Screenshot by Ed Rhee)Step 3: Edit /etc/default/grub
Type command:
sudo vi /etc/default/grub
Change the GRUB_DEFAULT from 0 to 4, then save the file.
(Credit: Screenshot by Ed Rhee)Step 4: Update the changes into the boot loader.
Type command:
sudo update-grub
That’s it. Now you know how to change the boot order of a Linux dual-boot system. If you’d like to see more Linux-related How To articles, let us know in the comments below.
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