brady.k — Thu, 03 May 2007 07:03:50 +0000

This isn't necessarily on-topic, but I'm going to say it anyways....

I did what you have done, a few months ago. I created a dual boot between my Windows and Ubuntu, with a shared partition for easy file access (FAT32). I was still using Windows for normal use, but would boot into Ubuntu to mess around for awhile until I needed to do something like code, do graphic design, or play music. But, about a month ago, I accidentally deleted and overwrote my Windows partition, from inside Ubuntu.

That was one of the best things that could have ever happened.

I didn't bother to reinstall Windows, since the whole process sucks, and told myself I would reinstall when I needed it. Well, I started figuring things out in Ubuntu...like how to use GiMP instead of Photoshop (...it's pretty much the same), how to use Quanta Plus to write code instead of Notepad++ (again, the same), play music, write documents, install software, play movies, etc etc.

It was a learning curve, and it took a few weeks, but now I'm successfully a proficient Linux user...but I still have to look up docs and how-to's all the time. I was so excited that I was using Linux now instead of Windows that I reformatted my entire drive when the latest version of Ubuntu came out ("Fiesty Fawn"), and installed it clean...that way I could make sure I did it right, and avoid any kernel issues I might have created the last time.

And you know what? I'm fine. Life is much faster and easier on Ubuntu...I only reboot when I really have to (install some key updates, kernel changes, or libraries), otherwise it can LITERALLY run for days on end without slowing down.

My suggestion to you is: backup all your data (I use Google Docs for all my office needs, so maybe upload all your files), put all your music somewhere (mine is on an external...but make sure it's in FAT32 mode, or a Linux format, because NTFS is difficult), wipe the drive, and install the latest version of Ubuntu.

And in about a month, you'll thank me, and be glad that you did.

*end story*

Monkeyboy — Tue, 01 May 2007 22:08:36 +0000

Thanks alot for that pr0gr4mm3r. Unfortunately I've forgotten my login password for Ubuntu so I may have to reinstall it. Once I sort that out I shall put your advice into action

pr0gr4mm3r — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 17:23:47 +0000

Not that I know of. You can just leave all your "default" commands there, and have them all commented out except the one you want to use.

Example, here's mine:

default		0
#default		4

When I want to switch the default, I just comment out one, and uncomment the other.

cnun — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 16:01:46 +0000

is there any tool or software to do instead of manually change it ?

pr0gr4mm3r — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 13:47:41 +0000

Although I would rather you leave the default to Linux , here's how you do it.

Open the file /boot/grub/menu.lst
Find the line "default 0" towards the top.
Change that to the preferred default item.
If you don't know what it is, scroll down the file until you get to the menu entries (below "## ## End Default Options ##")
Count them starting at 0. Any separators in the menu do count.