Windows 7: Booting Win7 automatically, dual boot Ubuntu

TenderNugget · 07 Nov 2011

I have Ubuntu dual booting on Windows 7. After the bios load, is there anyway that I can make Windows 7 boot right away without selecting anything on the OS selection? The same way it would boot without dual boot...if that makes any sense.

If the above exists: Let's say I use Windows 7 all the time, but one day I decide to boot into Ubuntu. Is there a way that I can press a button, before Windows 7 loads, to make the OS selection come up?

I tried to make myself as clear as possible and I hope that you understand what I'm trying to say.

Please ask if unclear.

gregrocker · 07 Nov 2011

Use separate HD's booted via the BIOS:

image or install Windows 7 to separate HD while Ubuntu HD unplugged,

set Windows 7 first HD to boot,

then if you want Ubuntu use the BBS key given on first boot screen.

TenderNugget · 07 Nov 2011

Could that be possible on one HD with two partitions?

gregrocker · 07 Nov 2011

On the same HD it must boot via Windows Boot Menu, GRUB or another Boot manager.

I believe there are boot managers that can be triggered from desktop of Windows 7, though, just as Windows Boot Manager can be engaged/disengaged and have the default OS chosen or hidden at Computer>Properties>Advanced Tools>Startup.

On Dual boot I like to set the default timeout to 10 seconds or less since if you want to boot the other OS you likely already know and can be ready, and it doesn't waste time otherwise.

rraod · 08 Nov 2011

Assuming you are using Windows 7 boot manager to load either Windows 7 or Ubuntu ...

Open msconfig on run dialog box, go to Boot tab, select Windows 7 and press "Set as default" button. On the "Timeout" field make the value as 5 seconds. Press OK button to close the dialog box.

Now on next boot you will be presented with the windows boot menu and if you do not press any button within 5 seconds, it will continue to boot windows 7.

You can move down the cursor within this 5 seconds to select Ubuntu and the system will boot into Ubuntu.

You can adjust the timeout value to your convenience in msconfig utility.

prospero · 08 Nov 2011

The Grub menu is controlling the boot sequence.
You can edit Grub to make Windows 7 the default OS.

joenaz2003 · 10 Nov 2011

Hello all I'm going to jump in on this since I have the same question. I have (2) SATA HDD's
HDD1 - Windows 7 Ultimate x64
HDD2 - Ubuntu 11.10

As of right now I have my case open, I shut down then unplug the Win 7 HDD and plug in the Ubuntu HDD and vice versa. I'm eventually gonna wear out the SATA plugs or blow something up with static lol. How can I keep both plugged in and choose which to boot from? Like tendernugget said above I would like the win 7 drive to boot default and hit a key or 3 if I want to boot from the Ubunto HDD

TenderNugget · 10 Nov 2011

I actually found rraod's method pretty neat. You can install both operating systems on one HD and change the default OS boot timer to 5 seconds. Like he said, it's a quick boot and you'll have enough time to boot into another one if you would like to.

EternalRZ · 10 Nov 2011

If your boot manager is GRUB, then boot into Ubuntu and install GRUB Customizer (run a Google search for it). GRUB Customizer allows you to change the order of your boot menu, the amount of time before the computer automatically boots to an OS, which OS is the default, and much more.

If your boot manager is the Windows Boot Manager, then try using a program called EasyBCD. You can edit the Windows Boot Loader with that program.

If you get confused, you can search for help with using these programs on Google.

joenaz2003 · 10 Nov 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by TenderNugget

I actually found rraod's method pretty neat. You can install both operating systems on one HD and change the default OS boot timer to 5 seconds. Like he said, it's a quick boot and you'll have enough time to boot into another one if you would like to.

Sure enough, I'm going to give that a try. I must have went right past his post.

@etarnalrz - Thanks for the GRUB idea. I'll google it. I'm a first time user with Ubuntu so I'm just getting used to a terminal again. Last time I wrote anything in a string was on my commadore 64 lol. I've actual just installed Ubunto 11.10 2 days ago to try and retrieve data off a Buffalo NAS drive with a bad boot sector and a couple of other bad sectors that I couldn't retrieve with Windows UFS Explorer. I have another thread here about that mess already.

Windows 7: Booting Win7 automatically, dual boot Ubuntu

Booting Win7 automatically, dual boot Ubuntu problems?