The /boot/grub/menu.lst file must have "updatedefaultentry=true" line, or else the default entry will change place.

[Marcelo Lira]

Binary package hint: grub

The /boot/grub/menu.lst file must have "updatedefaultentry=true" line, or else the default entry will change place.
In a dual-boot installation, with Ubuntu being the first option to choose, and Microsoft Windows the last and default option, when the kernel is updated, things move and loses the position MS Windows is no more the default option.
The problem is possibly solved with adding the line:

updatedefaultentry=true

in the /boot/grub/menu.lst

[KarlGoetz (kgoetz)]

This is the expected behaviour for grub, so its not a bug.

IT would be a (wishlist) bug if you were asking for the update string to be added to grub to change the way the system currently handles new kernels.

FWIW, i dont feel that the line should be added :)
kk

[John Vivirito (gnomefreak)]

Thank you for reporting this but this is not a bug. Please reply to this if you wish for this to be marked as a wishlist item. (to be decided if it will be an added feature.

[Marcelo Lira (setanta)]

Sorry for confusing bugs with wishs.
And yes, thanks, a wish it as a wish. :)

On 8/2/06, John Vivirito <email address hidden> wrote:
>
> Thank you for reporting this but this is not a bug. Please reply to this
> if you wish for this to be marked as a wishlist item. (to be decided if
> it will be an added feature.
>
> ** Changed in: grub (Ubuntu)
> Status: Unconfirmed => Rejected
>
> --
> The /boot/grub/menu.lst file must have "updatedefaultentry=true" line, or
> else the default entry will change place.
> https://launchpad.net/bugs/48956
>

--
Marcelo Lira dos Santos
EMAIL: <email address hidden>
JID: <email address hidden>

"Live in fragments no longer. Only connect..." -- E.M. Forster

[Marcelo Lira (setanta)]

>>And yes, thanks, a wish it as a wish. :)
And yes, thanks, i wish it is a wish.

Sorry, i'm beginning to handle these (english and bug reporting). :-\

[tomZZZ (tom-lists)]

After having upgrade 3 times from one major version to the next and after having to find out every time again how to get the system back to work, I have now found the reason ("updatedefaultentry=true") and I would strongly support the inclusion of this line into standard-grub.

As updating is something any user can do, this is a problem, every soon-to-completely-convert user is going to have. Most people I know would not be able to find out the reason for their system not booting into Ubuntu anymore and would also not be able or daring to fiddle with menu.lst.

Are there any good reasons why this line shouldn't be included?

Greetings,

Thomas

[Kieran Fleming (kieran-fleming)]

I'm experiencing this problem with a friend that wants to keep Windows as the default option. Because of this bug it is impossible to keep Windows as the default, and also it means that Ubuntu is now booting the wrong (old) kernel by default. This problem mainly affects those new to Linux who are trying to work out if they prefer it to Windows, so I would say it is more important than a wishlist.

[Steve Langasek (vorlon)]

Certainly more important than a wishlist. In fact, we have another bug open on grub at 'high' priority that describes this same issue; marking this bug as a duplicate of that one since the other has a bit more information in the log.

As for it being impossible to keep Windows as the default, it is possible to do this by editing the menu.lst so that the Windows entry is listed /above/ the Ubuntu entries; that avoids any problems with variable-length lists of boot options. Of course, if you can edit the list to put Windows first, you can just as well turn on 'updatedefaultentry', so it's six of one, half a dozen of the other.