making Windows default bootup OS

[scot.t]

hi i installed mandrake 8.1 last night on my win2k rig last night and it overwrote my MBR so its the default OS and not Windows, anyway can i change the configuration somehow? also what the command to launch KDE(im starting from command line) ..hey im a newb trying to buckle down and learn linux

 

[maxim2]

Hey! Have a read of<a href=http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/history/8294> this</a>. If you're using Mandrake, I am pretty sure you're also using GRUB. Hope this helps!

--maxim2

 

[prosler]

I use grub with my Win98/Win2000/RedHat 7.2 system. I edited the file:/boot/grub/grub.conf so that DOS would be first. I also lengthen the time out to 30 secs as sometimes I'm a little slow to respond. I needed Dos to boot first so others could get to windows without worry. My grub.conf before and after just cut and paste. This works for me I dont know your configuration...no warranty implied...use at own risk. Notice the change in time out and the movement of the DOS code to begining:

Before:
# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE: You have a /boot partition. This means that
# all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
# root (hd0,5)
# kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/hde7
# initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/hde
default=0
timeout=10
splashimage=(hd0,5)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
password --md5 $1$þÇÒiMrqE$V4W0DmF1aMAXvBKTwwDNO.
title Red Hat Linux (2.4.9-13)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.9-13 ro root=/dev/hde7 hdc=ide-scsi
initrd /initrd-2.4.9-13.img
title Red Hat Linux (2.4.7-10)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.7-10 ro root=/dev/hde7 hdc=ide-scsi
initrd /initrd-2.4.7-10.img
titleDOS
rootnverify (hd0,0)
chainloader o+1

AFTER:
Before:
# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE: You have a /boot partition. This means that
# all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
# root (hd0,5)
# kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/hde7
# initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/hde
default=0
timeout=30
splashimage=(hd0,5)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
password --md5 $1$þÇÒiMrqE$V4W0DmF1aMAXvBKTwwDNO.
titleDOS
rootnverify (hd0,0)
chainloader o+1
title Red Hat Linux (2.4.9-13)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.9-13 ro root=/dev/hde7 hdc=ide-scsi
initrd /initrd-2.4.9-13.img
title Red Hat Linux (2.4.7-10)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.7-10 ro root=/dev/hde7 hdc=ide-scsi
initrd /initrd-2.4.7-10.img

Dont copy and paste my code as my config may be different. Also I have 2 kernels to choose from as I upgraded. If the latest works for me I'll just remove the older versions code so its not an option . Back up your original grub.conf file incase you edit something wrong you can copy to its folder and restore it. Make a bootfloppy also. Dont know how to Backup in linux so I use CDroast to copy files in order to restore configuration. Backup.....Backup.....Backup!!!!!!!!!! Don't learn the hard way and spend all day reinstalling your OS's, Programs, and valuable data.

Hope this helps.

 

[scot.t]

ok thx its fixed now

 

[keshav]

go to the shell prompt in your linux box and type the command
lilo -v . It would say added dos and added linux. If the * is on the dos label then your default would be now dos(win2k) in your case. If not type the command again to get the result.

As for your other question - you can use the command switchdesk kde to make kde your default GUI