Timeout in booting with grub

[rasputin]

Hei
I cannot understanf why Kubuntu Heron don't boot up after 5 sec when I have set timeout in menu.lst til 5 sec.
It stops, and I have to use the keyboard (the enter-key) It is highlighted on the right option)
Here is my menu.lst :

(And I have run sudo update-grub )
# 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 use 'savedefault' 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 5

## 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=UUID=b4fbd46b-bf0c-4114-bd3d-b74042b71fa4 ro

## Setup crashdump menu entries
## e.g. crashdump=1
# crashdump=0

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,4)

## 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

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

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

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic
root (hd0,4)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=UUID=b4fbd46b-bf0c-4114-bd3d-b74042b71fa4 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=UUID=b4fbd46b-bf0c-4114-bd3d-b74042b71fa4 ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic

title Ubuntu 8.04, memtest86+
root (hd0,4)
kernel /memtest86+.bin
quiet

### 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/sda1
title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

[Qqmike]

Re: Timeout in booting with grub

First time I've seen this.

Try re-typing by hand the line
timeout 5
First delete your existing line, then type it again.

(As you probably know, but just to be sure and not waste time, you must edit menu.lst as root, like
Open Konqueror
type
/
Enter
click boot
click grub
right-click menu.lst, Actions > Edit as Root,
make the change
File > Save
File > Quit
close all programs/windows
re-boot to test it


And you did indicate that it works when you press Enter with HH highlighted, and that it boots up OK & etcetera., right?

[rasputin]

Re: Timeout in booting with grub

Hei
It boots yes, but not according to the timeout value in grub menu.lst.
I tried your tips, but did not function.
Thanks for the answer anyway.

[Snowhog]

Re: Timeout in booting with grub

Due to font kerning, it's hard to tell from your posted menu.lst file if you have a true space between timeout and your 5. Redit the file and make certain that you have a hard space between the option and the value.

[derixc]

Re: Timeout in booting with grub

try qgrubeditor instead. install it via adept. You can easily change the timeout settings there without messing up your menu.lst

[Guest]

Re: Timeout in booting with grub

I am having the same problem, whenever I boot up my computer GRUB hangs at 4 and I have to enter the menu and select the OS manually to boot up.

I have just tried using qgrubeditor to edit the timeout setting, I will reboot and edit this post when I'm back up. (it takes a while to boot.)

EDIT:
Okay, it didn't work. GRUB still hangs on the load screen after counting down 1 second.
When I first power up the screen looks exactly like this:

GRUB Loading stage1.5.

GRUB loading, please wait...
Press 'ESC' to enter the menu... 4

It's set to timeout after 5 seconds but it only counts down 1 and just hangs until I hit ESC and select from the menu myself. Thoughts?