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Changing default OS

Changing default OS

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I have a dual boot XP/2000 machine. Currently, XP is set as the default. Does anyone know what I have to modify in the boot file to change this to the 2000 OS? I've tried changing a few things in it, but it just refuses to boot then, so I've had to change them back. Any offers?

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Originally posted by jimslyp69
I have a dual boot XP/2000 machine. Currently, XP is set as the default. Does anyone know what I have to modify in the boot file to change this to the 2000 OS? I've tried changing a few things in it, but it just refuses to boot then, so I've had to change them back. Any offers?
not sure with xp, with 2000 it's something like:

control panel > system > advanced > startup and recovery

in there you'll be able to choose your default o.s.

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Originally posted by jimslyp69
I have a dual boot XP/2000 machine. Currently, XP is set as the default. Does anyone know what I have to modify in the boot file to change this to the 2000 OS? I've tried changing a few things in it, but it just refuses to boot then, so I've had to change them back. Any offers?
Look at the boot.ini on you root partition.

Change the line
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

to point to whatever partition hold the windows version you want to be default.. If confused doa google on "boot.ini"

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this could be used as a sample assuming Xp is on partition 1, and win2k is on partition 2.. this will provide a menu upon each bootup.. change the timeout if you don't want to wait 10 seconds..

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

partition counting starts at 1 , but rdisk counting starts at 0..
These will change depending on configuration.. the above assumes 1 HD as the first harddrive on the daisy chain, and 2 partitions. If Win2k is on a secondary HD, then rdisk would become 1, and partition would become 1 (unless its a second partition).

caveat.. been awhile since I played with multiboots, so.. if someone sees a mistake.. please correct me!

EDIT: also assuming not scsi

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Originally posted by dk3nny
Look at the boot.ini on you root partition.

Change the line
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

to point to whatever partition hold the windows version you want to be default.. If confused doa google on "boot.ini"
I've tried that and it refused to boot full stop. Luckily I managed to go back to last known good config and changed it back again.

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Originally posted by hopscotch
not sure with xp, with 2000 it's something like:

control panel > system > advanced > startup and recovery

in there you'll be able to choose your default o.s.
Bingo! Cheers mate.

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I think with the modifying the boot.ini file method, you have to swap the physical positions of the lines about too. Maybe I'm wrong, but, This is the before and after notepad entries for my boot.ini file: -

Before:
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

After:
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

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