Multi OS Booting

Linux boot loader like LILO and GRUB can use to manage booting option for more then one distro or operating system (Multi Operating System). In this example below, I'll show you how to make booting to Windows and others Linux. Normally, Fedora directly known windows partition if in your computer you have installed Windows. Fedora's installer will add booting option to Windows, with default option to Fedora. To change this default option to Windows, you must edit /boot/grub/grub.conf file, with change default number from 0 (zero) to 1 (one). Before you change default number, it's better you check "other" sequence in grub.conf file. It's possible, default number is 2 or 3, depend on how many oerating system you have used. To edit grub.conf, you must be a root or super user.

default=1

To edit grub.conf file, you can use vi editor or mcedit (you must install
mc first). Word "Other" in grub.conf file, you can change with word
"WindowsXP" or other words as you like.

title WindowsXP
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

Beside you can change boot sequence, you can change timeout variable too.

timeout=15

Sample GRUB conf file :
[root@localhost grub]# more grub.conf
# 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/VolGroup00/LogVol00
# initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/sda
default=2
timeout=15
splashimage=(hd0,5)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title Fedora (2.6.27.9-73.fc9.i686)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27.9-73.fc9.i686 ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 rh
gb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.27.9-73.fc9.i686.img
title Fedora (2.6.25-14.fc9.i686)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.25-14.fc9.i686 ro root=UUID=1a00549a-f9a4-484c-9ac7-
c0594927abb9 rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.25-14.fc9.i686.img
title Other
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1
[root@localhost grub]#
by.msmunir@batan.go.id