Booting with Grub

[rasputin]

Hi

I have set timeout 4, and default 0, in the menu.lst.
But the default choice doesn't boot after 4 second.

What is wrong ??

[Fenyx]

Re: Booting with Grub

could you post your menu.lst so that we could see?

[rasputin]

Re: Booting with Grub

Hi

Thanks for the answer, here's menu.lst:

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not change this entry to 'saved' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 4

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
#hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=/dev/hda3 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,2)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery mode) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## ## End Default Options ##

fallback 1
title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-26-386
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-26-386 root=/dev/hda3 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-26-386
savedefault
boot

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-26-386 (recovery mode)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-26-386 root=/dev/hda3 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-26-386
boot

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-23-386
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-23-386 root=/dev/hda3 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-23-386
savedefault
boot

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-23-386 (recovery mode)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-23-386 root=/dev/hda3 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-23-386
boot

title Ubuntu, memtest86+
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
boot

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/hda1
title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


I hope this could help you.

[Fenyx]

Re: Booting with Grub

I'm not absolutely sure, but what it might be due to the "fallback 1" option there?

Try removing it and see what happens.

[analyticalman]

Re: Booting with Grub

Might need to proceed with caution here. The fallback option is what GRUB will use to boot if the default option fails - so in this case - automatically booting to the recovery mode ubuntu. Therefore removing it and waiting the 4 seconds may end up with a blank screen and nothing much happening.

I'm puzzled because you seem to be trying to boot Ubuntu by default and the fallback is also ubuntu. Are you trying to boot windows by default?

[Fenyx]

Re: Booting with Grub

The strange part, though, is that I don't have that line in my menu.lst. Is it possible that the fallback line shouldn't be preceding the title line?

[analyticalman]

Re: Booting with Grub

Nor mine - or in the Anaconda generated grub from FC5 which is the other version I've got hanging around. Its something that you would add manually to grub configuration if you had a failsafe option (ie - if all else fails boot this) - useful if you are manually editing your grub and are doing frequent reboots to get it right. I cant think of a use for it in the final configuration (although I'm sure some exist) because then nothing should fail. So I would agree with you that it could/should be removed - I was just <cough> cautioning that the initial effect could be unexpected. As the default is 0 - that first Ubuntu image on the list should be booting If its not, and the fallback is being booted (which is the same image with different kernel parameters) then thats a puzzle!

[rasputin]

Re: Booting with Grub

Hi
I have tried 'sudo update grub' some times, an then the fallback was removed.
Then I looked at another menu.lst and saw that there was more space between
default and 0, something like this :default 0
The same with timeout and and the number.

I tried it , and now the laptop just boot right in to the default option without showing
the menu at all. But hiddenmenu is still commented out. I thought perhaps there was a change with hiddenmenu, but it was not. It seems like making some distance between
the parameter and the value kind of set it out.

Any other explanations ??

[analyticalman]

Re: Booting with Grub

I'm having a little trouble understanding what it is you are trying to do. Exactly what behaviour do you want from your computer? What do you want to boot as default? When you talk about another menu.lst - what do you mean?

Does the default now boot immediately? or after a short period? If immediately is there any way you could have set the timeout to 0? (I hope not)! I don't think the spaces are the problem, thats what its like on my grub menu.lst

Sorry to ask so many questions - just trying to get a clearer idea of exactly what you are trying to do

[rasputin]

Re: Booting with Grub

Hi
The timeout is still 4, but the default boot immediately. I don't see the menu.
I am trying to boot kubuntu, therefore default is 0, and kubuntu is the first option in the list.

I want the computer to wait in 4 second, and of course show me the boot-menu.

I didn't really think the spaces were the problem, but I have run out of explanations.

[analyticalman]

Re: Booting with Grub

can you edit your boot/grub/menu.lst file? Here is a section of mine. Can you make it look like that ensuring that you are editing the file and saving it using sudo - e.g. alt and F2 then type kdesu kate /boot/grub/menu.lst


## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not change this entry to 'saved' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 10

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
#hiddenmenu

[rasputin]

Re: Booting with Grub

Hi
I have done it.
And also written with the same distance between default and 0 and timeout and 10.
What happens is that I now get the boot menu, and there it stops.
Now timeout is happening, I have to press the higlighted option, which is the first and default.

[rasputin]

Re: Booting with Grub

Hi

I didn't intend to write:
Now timeout .....

I intended to write no timeout ...

Because timeout doesn't happen

[analyticalman]

Re: Booting with Grub

How did you make the space between timeout and 10? I don't think there needs to be anything other than a single space. However, in the menu.lst example I posted there are two tabs that make up the space between default, and timeout and the numbers - Could you try that?

[rasputin]

Re: Booting with Grub

Hi
Tried it.

And nope.
There must exist something overriding the menu.lst file , or what ??