In this article, we will delve into the process of changing the rEFInd boot order and setting the default boot for Windows and Ubuntu. rEFInd is a boot manager for UEFI-based systems like modern PCs and Macs, which allows you to choose between different operating systems or kernels at boot time.
To change the rEFInd boot order and set the default boot for Windows and Ubuntu, you need to locate and edit the refind.conf configuration file. The default_selection option in the file determines the default boot option, while the boot order is automatically sorted based on the date stamps of the files. It is possible to set Ubuntu as the default boot option and have the most recent version appear first in the menu.
Understanding rEFInd
rEFInd is a fork of the rEFIt boot manager. Its primary function is to detect EFI boot loaders in your computer’s EFI System Partition (ESP) and present a graphical menu to let you choose between them. However, it also offers more advanced features, like the ability to boot Linux kernels directly and the ability to customize the boot menu.
Locating the rEFInd Configuration File
The first step in customizing rEFInd is locating its configuration file, refind.conf. This file is typically found in the /boot/efi/EFI/refind directory on Linux systems. You can navigate to this directory using the cd command:
cd /boot/efi/EFI/refindOpening the Configuration File for Editing
Once you’ve navigated to the directory containing refind.conf, you can open it for editing using a text editor. For this example, we’ll use nano, but you can use any text editor you’re comfortable with:
sudo nano refind.confSetting the Default Boot Option
The default_selection option in the refind.conf file determines the default boot option. This is the option that rEFInd will automatically boot if you don’t manually choose a different one within a certain time period.
The default_selection option can be set to a relevant subset of the text that appears when you highlight the option in the rEFInd menu. For example, to set Ubuntu as the default, you could use:
default_selection vmlinuzHere, vmlinuz is a compressed Linux kernel, and it’s part of the text that appears in the rEFInd menu when you highlight the Ubuntu option.
Changing the Boot Order
The options in the rEFInd menu are sorted based on the date stamps of the files. The most recent file appears first. This means that when you install a new kernel package, rEFInd automatically moves it to the start of the list.
So, if you want the most recent version of Ubuntu to be the first option, you don’t need to manually change it every time you update Ubuntu. This is a convenient feature of rEFInd that saves you from having to manually manage your boot order.
Saving Changes and Exiting
After you’ve made the desired changes, you can save and exit the text editor. In nano, you can do this by pressing Ctrl+X, then Y to confirm that you want to save changes, and then Enter to confirm the file name.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you should be able to set Ubuntu as the default boot option in rEFInd and have the most recent version automatically appear first in the menu. Remember to always be careful when editing system configuration files, as incorrect changes can cause problems. If you’re not sure about something, it’s always a good idea to look it up or ask for help.
For more information about rEFInd, you can check out the official rEFInd documentation.
To install rEFInd, you need to download the latest version from the official rEFInd website (http://www.rodsbooks.com/refind/). Once downloaded, you can follow the installation instructions provided on the website for your specific operating system.
Yes, rEFInd supports a wide range of operating systems, including macOS, BSD, and other Linux distributions. As long as your operating system has an EFI boot loader, it should work with rEFInd.
To add additional boot options to the rEFInd menu, you need to locate the EFI boot loader for the desired operating system or kernel and copy it to the appropriate location on your EFI System Partition (ESP). Once copied, rEFInd should automatically detect and display the new boot option in its menu.
Yes, rEFInd allows for customization of the boot menu. You can modify the refind.conf file to change the theme, background image, and other visual elements of the menu. The official rEFInd documentation provides detailed instructions on how to customize the appearance.
If you want to revert back to the default boot settings in rEFInd, you can simply remove any customizations made in the refind.conf file. You can either delete or comment out the lines that were added or modified. After saving the changes, rEFInd should revert back to its default behavior.
