Run Windows XP by default alongside Ubuntu 9.10

Q I have installed Ubuntu 9.10 alongside Windows XP. While it is all working, I would rather have Windows XP as the default option in the boot menu so I don’t have to manually choose a different option in the menu.

I knew how to do this in the previous version of Ubuntu but when I tried to edit the option file it was empty.
Derek Morgan

A The software used to choose between Ubuntu and Windows has been changed with Ubuntu 9.10. The good news is there is now a utility to change this option rather than having to use a text editor. The bad news is that this tool is not installed with Ubuntu.

Click on the Applications menu and then on Ubuntu Software Center. Type startup in the search box. Double-click on StartUp-Manager and then click on the Install button. When it has finished installing, click on the System menu, Administration and then StartUp-Manager. Enter your password to continue.

Select Windows XP Home from the dropdown menu labelled ‘Default operating system’. You may also want to change the timeout setting ­ this is the number of seconds the menu will appear before the default option is chosen. Click on Close and the new settings will be saved.

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