[gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Liviu Andronic]

Dear Gentoo Community,

I was wondering if anyone knew how (whether) it is possible to set
temporary options to grub.

I am on a dual-boot setup with Gentoo Linux being the first choice in
grub's config file. When I perform a restart, most of the times it is
in order to subsequently boot Windows. With the current setup,
however, I need to press the restart button (in Xfce), wait patiently
till the computer restarts, wait for the grub screen and change the
option before the 5 seconds time-out expires. I find annoying when I
miss out the time-out, because of my going away from the computer
screen.

Basically, I would like to issue a command (restart with a certain
grub temporary setup change), go make myself a cup of tee and come
back and see the Windows login screen.

Could anyone suggest a way to do something similar?
Liviu
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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Stroller]

On 2 Feb 2008, at 12:57, Liviu Andronic wrote:
> ...
> With the current setup,
> however, I need to press the restart button (in Xfce), wait patiently
> till the computer restarts, wait for the grub screen and change the
> option before the 5 seconds time-out expires. I find annoying when I
> miss out the time-out, because of my going away from the computer
> screen.
>
> Basically, I would like to issue a command (restart with a certain
> grub temporary setup change), go make myself a cup of tee and come
> back and see the Windows login screen.

One answer to this is to change the "default" entry in /boot/grub/ 
grub.conf

If you don't want to do this manually using $editor each time you  
want to start Windows then you could surely write a script which  
would do so. In order to change /boot/grub/grub.conf from Windows you  
would need to install an ext3-write driver for 'doze or format your / 
boot partition FAT32.

Surely one could easily write a script which would change the  
"default" entry in /boot/grub/grub.conf. In order to change it back  
one would probably need to have it also write a /boot/grub/ 
my.next.boot.txt file, too, and have start-up scripts under each o/s  
to recognise that & once again edit /boot/grub/grub.conf.  I do not  
think such a facility is built-in to grub.

Stroller.
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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Mrugesh Karnik]

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On Saturday 02 Feb 2008 18:27:55 Liviu Andronic wrote:
> Basically, I would like to issue a command (restart with a certain
> grub temporary setup change), go make myself a cup of tee and come
> back and see the Windows login screen.

info grub

Look for grub-set-default.

What I've done is to add the default entry in grub.conf normally. After every 
menu entry, I've added `savedefault 0'. Then when rebooting, you could issue 
a `grub-set-default foo', it'll reboot into that entry without you having to 
wait.

If KDE has grub support, it'll allow you to pick which entry to boot into with 
the restart button.

HTH
-- 
----------------------------------------
Mrugesh Karnik
GPG Key 0xBA6F1DA8
Public key on http://wwwkeys.pgp.net
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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Alex Schuster]

Liviu Andronic writes:

> I was wondering if anyone knew how (whether) it is possible to set
> temporary options to grub.
[...]
> Basically, I would like to issue a command (restart with a certain
> grub temporary setup change), go make myself a cup of tee and come
> back and see the Windows login screen.

grub-set-default <n>

N is the number of the entry in grub.conf, counting from 0. So, if you 
have 2 entries only, grub-set-default 1 would activate the 2nd entry, 
probably windows. You need to have the line
	default saved
in grub.conf for this to work. See "info grub", section "Invoking 
grub-set-default::" for more infomation.

	Wonko
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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

On Saturday 2 February 2008, Stroller wrote:

> One answer to this is to change the "default" entry in /boot/grub/
> grub.conf
>
> If you don't want to do this manually using $editor each time you
> want to start Windows then you could surely write a script which
> would do so. In order to change /boot/grub/grub.conf from Windows you
> would need to install an ext3-write driver for 'doze or format your /
> boot partition FAT32.
>
> Surely one could easily write a script which would change the
> "default" entry in /boot/grub/grub.conf. In order to change it back
> one would probably need to have it also write a /boot/grub/
> my.next.boot.txt file, too, and have start-up scripts under each o/s
> to recognise that & once again edit /boot/grub/grub.conf.  I do not
> think such a facility is built-in to grub.

There is the "savedefault" command, which can be used to boot an OS only 
once while keeping the original OS as default, thus booting the original 
OS the next time. It's explained in the grub info file.
So, I suppose the OP could write a wrapper script to /sbin/shutdown which 
does a grub-set-default to boot windows once.
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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Liviu Andronic]

Thanks all for their respective input. From the information provided,
I've assembled a short Gentoo Wiki Tip [1].

Regards,
Liviu

[1] http://gentoo-wiki.com/TIP_Reboot_to_Windows_(using_grub)
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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Dan Farrell]

On Sat, 2 Feb 2008 23:44:59 +0100
"Liviu Andronic" <landronimirc@gmail.com> wrote:

> Thanks all for their respective input. From the information provided,
> I've assembled a short Gentoo Wiki Tip [1].
> 
> Regards,
> Liviu
> 
> [1] http://gentoo-wiki.com/TIP_Reboot_to_Windows_(using_grub)

Thanks; I've been wanting to do this for months now, but failed to
write up a coherent message to the list.  Now I can finally reboot with
ease and walk away, without having to mess with quickly switching grub
(being impatient and having a short attention span, similar as they may
be, are, in conjunction, quite an obstacle for multi-booters ;) )

I was thinking, though; wouldn't it be possible to just switch back and
forth each boot?  Have grub set windows as the default when it boots
linux and linux as the default after booting windows, and you can just
switch back and forth by rebooting - no grub-set-default required.
However, this would be appropriate only for people who want to reboot
into the other OS every time they reboot.  

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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Mrugesh Karnik]

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On Sunday 03 Feb 2008 20:50:47 Dan Farrell wrote:
> On Sat, 2 Feb 2008 23:44:59 +0100
>
> "Liviu Andronic" <landronimirc@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Thanks all for their respective input. From the information provided,
> > I've assembled a short Gentoo Wiki Tip [1].
> >
> > Regards,
> > Liviu
> >
> > [1] http://gentoo-wiki.com/TIP_Reboot_to_Windows_(using_grub)
>
> Thanks; I've been wanting to do this for months now, but failed to
> write up a coherent message to the list.  Now I can finally reboot with
> ease and walk away, without having to mess with quickly switching grub
> (being impatient and having a short attention span, similar as they may
> be, are, in conjunction, quite an obstacle for multi-booters ;) )
>
> I was thinking, though; wouldn't it be possible to just switch back and
> forth each boot?  Have grub set windows as the default when it boots
> linux and linux as the default after booting windows, and you can just
> switch back and forth by rebooting - no grub-set-default required.
> However, this would be appropriate only for people who want to reboot
> into the other OS every time they reboot.

info grub

Look for savedefault.

-- 
----------------------------------------
Mrugesh Karnik
GPG Key 0xBA6F1DA8
Public key on http://wwwkeys.pgp.net
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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Sun, 3 Feb 2008 09:20:47 -0600, Dan Farrell wrote:

> I was thinking, though; wouldn't it be possible to just switch back and
> forth each boot?  Have grub set windows as the default when it boots
> linux and linux as the default after booting windows,

That would make installing new drivers in Windows even more of a pain,
doubling the number of reboots needed :(


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Dew knot trussed yore spell chequer two fined awl mistakes.

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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Arturo 'Buanzo' Busleiman]

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Neil Bothwick wrote:
| That would make installing new drivers in Windows even more of a pain,
| doubling the number of reboots needed :(

Not really, you can always change the default option by using the cursor keys in the grub boot menu.

- --
Arturo "Buanzo" Busleiman
The Charlie Protas Project is on its way
Independent Security Consultant - SANS - OISSG
http://www.buanzo.com.ar/pro/
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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:27:28 -0200, Arturo 'Buanzo' Busleiman wrote:

> | That would make installing new drivers in Windows even more of a pain,
> | doubling the number of reboots needed :(  
> 
> Not really, you can always change the default option by using the
> cursor keys in the grub boot menu.

I thought the point of the question was to avoid waiting for the GRUB menu
to appear.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

It's the year 2000. Where are all the flying cars? I was promised flying
cars!

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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Dan Farrell]

On Tue, 5 Feb 2008 13:34:07 +0000
Neil Bothwick <neil@digimed.co.uk> wrote:

> I thought the point of the question was to avoid waiting for the GRUB
> menu to appear.

I sometimes forget that some people actually use XP as an alternate OS
(for me it's just there in case I forget how bored with games I am)
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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Dale]

Dan Farrell wrote:
> On Tue, 5 Feb 2008 13:34:07 +0000
> Neil Bothwick <neil@digimed.co.uk> wrote:
>
>   
>> I thought the point of the question was to avoid waiting for the GRUB
>> menu to appear.
>>     
>
> I sometimes forget that some people actually use XP as an alternate OS
> (for me it's just there in case I forget how bored with games I am)
>   

You should join me then.  All I have is Linux.  I have NEVER bought a M$
product, ever.  I built this rig and put Linux on it.  I have never
looked back either.

Dale

:-)  :-)
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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Alan McKinnon]

On Friday 08 February 2008, Dale wrote:
> Dan Farrell wrote:

> You should join me then.  All I have is Linux.  I have NEVER bought a
> M$ product, ever.  I built this rig and put Linux on it.  I have
> never looked back either.

What is this Microsoft of which you speak?
I have never heard of such a thing.

-- 
Alan McKinnon
alan dot mckinnon at gmail dot com

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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Fri, 8 Feb 2008 13:14:02 -0600, Dan Farrell wrote:

> I sometimes forget that some people actually use XP as an alternate OS

XP is a valid alternate OS... to Vista :)


-- 
Neil Bothwick

"Bother," said Pooh, as Smurfette got dressed.

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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Daniel Barkalow]

On Sat, 9 Feb 2008, Alan McKinnon wrote:

> On Friday 08 February 2008, Dale wrote:
> > Dan Farrell wrote:
> 
> > You should join me then.  All I have is Linux.  I have NEVER bought a
> > M$ product, ever.  I built this rig and put Linux on it.  I have
> > never looked back either.
> 
> What is this Microsoft of which you speak?
> I have never heard of such a thing.

They were a late 80s mouse manufacturer. I had one of their products, and 
it was actually kind of nice. It only had two buttons, though, so it 
wouldn't be good these days.

	-Daniel
*This .sig left intentionally blank*
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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Liviu Andronic]

On 2/8/08, Dan Farrell <dan@spore.ath.cx> wrote:
> I sometimes forget that some people actually use XP as an alternate OS
> (for me it's just there in case I forget how bored with games I am)

Well, other than games, Windows can at times prove a useful companion.

What's good about it is that after a reboot it often functions exactly
as it did after a previous reboot. On Gentoo, you make a system
update, your apache glitches: no printing; you mess up with the
libraries versions (updating some, others leaving as they are), vlc
refuses to start: no DVD menus. I have also not yet managed to
configure my HP PSC machine to scan on Gentoo. Once I was playing with
the config files, emerging, re-merging to get it working, but I
subsequently decided that it was easier to switch to Windows in the
rare cases that I need scanning. [All these, of course, were personal
examples.]

The idea: Windows feels lame, offering however certain functionality
out-of-the-box; Gentoo (in combination with Xfce) feels sweet,
breaking however too often too easy without much contribution from my
side.

Liviu
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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Peter Humphrey]

On Saturday 09 February 2008 04:35:35 Daniel Barkalow wrote:

> *This .sig left intentionally blank*

It did? Where did it leave for?

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Peter
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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Dale]

Peter Humphrey wrote:
> On Saturday 09 February 2008 04:35:35 Daniel Barkalow wrote:
>
>   
>> *This .sig left intentionally blank*
>>     
>
> It did? Where did it leave for?
>
>   

That reminds me of the pages in the IBM service manuals.  They would put
that on the "blank" pages.  My questions was always this:  If it has
that on it, is it blank?   :/

Dale

:-)  :-) 
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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Dan Farrell]

On Sat, 09 Feb 2008 04:46:48 -0600
Dale <dalek1967@bellsouth.net> wrote:

> Peter Humphrey wrote:
> > On Saturday 09 February 2008 04:35:35 Daniel Barkalow wrote:
> >
> >   
> >> *This .sig left intentionally blank*
> >>     
> >
> > It did? Where did it leave for?
> >
> >   
> 
> That reminds me of the pages in the IBM service manuals.  They would
> put that on the "blank" pages.  My questions was always this:  If it
> has that on it, is it blank?   :/
> 
> Dale
> 
> :-)  :-) 
http://www.this-page-intentionally-left-blank.org/
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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Daniel Barkalow]

On Sat, 9 Feb 2008, Dale wrote:

> Peter Humphrey wrote:
> > On Saturday 09 February 2008 04:35:35 Daniel Barkalow wrote:
> >
> >   
> >> *This .sig left intentionally blank*
> >>     
> >
> > It did? Where did it leave for?
> >
> >   
> 
> That reminds me of the pages in the IBM service manuals.  They would put
> that on the "blank" pages.  My questions was always this:  If it has
> that on it, is it blank?   :/

In fact, my .sig is entirely blank. I just always type the same thing by 
hand after writing every email, and have been doing so for long enough to 
forget if there was actually a good reason to do so originally. There may 
have also been a good reason I didn't make it "*This .sig intentionally 
left blank*", which would match the word order of the IBM manuals (and the 
door in Zork).

The IBM manuals actually had a good reason. I think it was that they were 
in loose-leaf binders so they could mail people new versions of individual 
chapters, and each chapter was therefore on pieces of paper that weren't 
shared with any other chapter (this also required page numbers like 6-15). 
This meant that if a chapter ended on a right-hand page, the other side of 
the paper couldn't have anything on it. But if it were actually blank, 
people would worry that it was a misprint (if two sheets stuck together in 
the printer and then came unstuck before shipping, this could happen). So 
they wanted to print something innocuous on that side.

	-Daniel
*This .sig left intentionally blank*
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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Dale]

Daniel Barkalow wrote:
> On Sat, 9 Feb 2008, Dale wrote:
>
>   
>> Peter Humphrey wrote:
>>     
>>> On Saturday 09 February 2008 04:35:35 Daniel Barkalow wrote:
>>>
>>>   
>>>       
>>>> *This .sig left intentionally blank*
>>>>     
>>>>         
>>> It did? Where did it leave for?
>>>
>>>   
>>>       
>> That reminds me of the pages in the IBM service manuals.  They would put
>> that on the "blank" pages.  My questions was always this:  If it has
>> that on it, is it blank?   :/
>>     
>
> In fact, my .sig is entirely blank. I just always type the same thing by 
> hand after writing every email, and have been doing so for long enough to 
> forget if there was actually a good reason to do so originally. There may 
> have also been a good reason I didn't make it "*This .sig intentionally 
> left blank*", which would match the word order of the IBM manuals (and the 
> door in Zork).
>
> The IBM manuals actually had a good reason. I think it was that they were 
> in loose-leaf binders so they could mail people new versions of individual 
> chapters, and each chapter was therefore on pieces of paper that weren't 
> shared with any other chapter (this also required page numbers like 6-15). 
> This meant that if a chapter ended on a right-hand page, the other side of 
> the paper couldn't have anything on it. But if it were actually blank, 
> people would worry that it was a misprint (if two sheets stuck together in 
> the printer and then came unstuck before shipping, this could happen). So 
> they wanted to print something innocuous on that side.
>
> 	-Daniel
> *This .sig left intentionally blank*
>   


This is funny, I used to put the IBM manuals together in my spare time.  
LOL  That was how they did it too.  You get a new fresh one and they 
just updated the pages that were changed.  I used to also try to figure 
out what was changed.  Saw a couple that had typos.  Most of the time it 
was a serious change.  I guess they made changes to the boards so that 
led to the manual being changed too.

I also worked in a print shop.  So yea, the pages can stick together 
sometimes.  I've had it happen to me a few times.  Humidity in the south 
makes them sticky.

Memories. . . . .

Dale

:-)  :-)  :-)
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Re: [gentoo-user] (OT) Reboot to Windows (using grub)

[Peter Humphrey]

On Sunday 10 February 2008 02:28:40 Daniel Barkalow wrote:

> *This .sig left intentionally blank*

Alternatively: this sentence no verb.

-- 
Rgds
Peter
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