Dual Booting Windows 7 & Ubuntu Linux 10.14?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

I just recently installed Ubuntu Linux alongside my Windows 7 and I'm trying to set up a good dual-boot configuration between the two using EasyBCD but am having absolutely no luck getting Linux to load using EasyBCD. Does anybody have some good (easy-to-understand) step-by-step instructions about setting up this kind of configuration? Thanks!

[struggle4progress]

1. If you installed Ubuntu beside Win7, using the standard install,

it should have set everything up so GRUB gives you the option of which to boot when you boot up

Why are you mucking with EasyBCD?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. Simple

I want Windows 7 to boot up by default.

[struggle4progress]

3. It's Linux. You can arrange for that by editing a file. I forget exactly which one, but

when I wanted to change a boot order and default boot, I just did a little websearch to figure it out. When you figure out which file it is, you'll easily be able to change how much time passes before the default boot -- and getting the particular default boot is something easy like swapping the order of the listed options. I'm not sure: there may be something slightly weird, like the edit doesn't take effect until the next boot so you actually have to reboot twice to see it in effect

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. I've done some web search as well

but all of the solutions seem complicated as hell. I've been a lifelong Windows user and am still getting used to Linux.

[struggle4progress]

5. Here are some references if you're using grub2:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1195275
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2

I think opening a terminal and running sudo grub-set-default X (with X being the particular boot menu item # desired -- for example, sudo grub-set-default 4) is probably easiest, but you could also directly edit the file etc/default/grub (gksudo gedit etc/default/grub) or you could try this:

http://shadesfgray.wordpress.com/2010/01/31/change-grub-boot-order-ubuntu-9-10/

If you're using grub and not grub2, you can directly edit /boot/grub/menu.lst

Some other links:
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/grub-2.html

[RoyGBiv]

6. Don't directly edit grub ...

Just, don't. After you've done so, you have to run the update-grub command, which works off a template elsewhere, and if you've put a bad space in somewhere, it'll bork your whole boot menu. I say this based on sad, personal experience.

I'm not saying it isn't possible. It is, but it can be complicated, especially if you don't already know what you're doing, and I didn't. I eventually did figure it out, but it's just not as straightforward a process as it once was.

The commands, e.g. the grub-set-default, are intended to take the place of manual editing and in theory should be easier. Actually I guess they are, as long as everything goes okay, but just wait until you've got something screwed up on an install and have to play with this. It's a damn pain in the buttocks. Sometimes these scripts just can't do what I can do in 2 seconds if given the ability.

I *hate* Grub 2.

[Occulus]

7. *Don't* edit the grub config files?

That's the way I've always done it.

But then, I'm a masochist. I started using linux with RedHat 3.0... when it was new. :puke:

[RoyGBiv]

8. It's fine with Grub ...

Grub 2 however has changed things, and they try very hard to discourage you from doing so. It is still possible once you figure out the new structure of things. It's just more of a pain, imo.

Grub 2 didn't start being used in Ubuntu until 9.10. It's still not universal.

[struggle4progress]

9. Thanks. I didno realize this. I had no trouble with grub less than a year ago.

I suppose one should add: never ever just edit a potentially critical file -- first save a copy of with an easily remembered slightly altered name and then edit the file, so one has a known good copy if all screws up