Ubuntu

Changing the boot menu options

Asked by Kevin S

I just got an XPS laptop from dell and I am running Windows Vista Ultimate. I installed Ubuntu but I did not realize that it would make itself the default boot option. Not only that but it has Windows XP as a boot option too. I don't even have Windows XP. I would like to know how to get rid of the Windows XP boot option. And I would like to make Windows Vista the default boot option.

I am also wondering if I ever want to get rid of Ubuntu is it possible for me to simply delete the Ubuntu partitions and merge them back with my main Windows partition?

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arekkusu (arekkusu-r) said : 		#1

The "Windows XP" option might there there for a reason. Did you try to select it ?
I wouldn't be surprised if the Windows XP actually point to your recovery partition. (Most laptop are now shipping with recovery partition.)

Concerning changing the boot option I recommend you install "StartUp-Manager"
You'll find it under Add/Remove Application. (the apps install under System > Administration)
The program will let you easily edit your boot option. (you can also edit a file manually but I don't recommend it)

Concerning removing Ubuntu... you can't just remove the partition and expect the system to boot properly.
This is because the boot loader is in the Ubuntu partition.
You hard drive has a boot sector that's called MBR. When the system boot it will look at the MBR and boot accordingly.
After you install Ubuntu the MBR point to the boot loader (called grub) that Ubuntu Installed and that is on the Ubuntu partition.
So the boot loader won't be able to launch.
(I hope you got my explanation... sorry if it's not very clean. I am sure you're find better info on the web)
That might sound pretty bad but even it's actually pretty easy to repair... you can boot on your Windows CD and you should have a reparation option. There your should be able to let windows "repair" the MBR so that if point to the windows Bootloader.

Concerning resizing your Windows partition to make it bigger there are a number of tool that permit to do this.
(I recommend you always do a backup of your important data before modifying partition though)

It's too late now but just to inform you, Ubuntu 8.04 ship with a new installer called "Wubi" which permit to install Ubuntu from inside windows.
Quite a lot of ppl get confused about what it actually does (thinking it's a emulator or just another windows apps) but it does install a full version of Ubuntu. Only it uses your existing windows partition to store data (so no touch your partition) and uses the windows boot loader.t
Therefore it make it even to uninstall (there is a uninstaller that work like for any other windows application)
The disadvantage is that it's a bit slower that a standard Ubuntu install (because hard drive access are slower) and you can't use Hibernate / Suspend.

Can you help with this problem?

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