If you installed Ubuntu and Windows at the same time, you probably noticed that when you start your computer you can choose what operating system to launch. The responsible software for this is usually the GRUB loader and its menu. Obviously, after you install Ubuntu, it is placed as the first option and if you do not explicitly choose Windows in a few seconds, Ubuntu will be started. But what if you want Windows as your default option? Here is how you change the order:

1. Launch a new Ubuntu Terminal (Applications, Accessories). Type in the following command:

sudo cp /boot/grub/menu.lst /boot/grub/menu.lst_backup

This will create a backup of the GRUB configuration file.

2. Now open the file. We’ll do it with a new command:

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

You will be prompted for a password, after which a text editor will be launched. In most of the situations, the menu.lst file contains many comments. You have to search for a line that says

default 0

This should not be very far from the end of file. Here you will have to intervene. After a few lines you will the variable called ‘timeout’ and its value (10 by default). If you want to have more or less time available for choosing your operating system, change the 10 with what number you want.

So back to the boot sequence. Scroll through the file again until you find:

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-10-generic

There will be more titles. Count the order number of Windows, but start from 0. The value you choose should overwrite the default one. For example, if Windows is the 4^th title in the list, you will need to type

default 4

instead of ‘default 0’, which was described above. All you need to do at this point is to save the file and restart your computer.