Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Multiple installs - cleaning up boot menu

Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 2
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous 1 2 template Next
    #1

    Multiple installs - cleaning up boot menu

    Hi. I am totally new to Kubuntu (day 3!!) and I started with an old PC that had Win XP. After playing with the Live CD, I decided to take the plunge and started the install process. I was actually trying to get a dual-boot situation with Windows, but I obviously did that wrong...since Windows is gone (no big deal.) I made a mistake on the first install in sizing the partition (too small), and tried a second install. (It was late, and I may have actually done a third install :-S )

    In any case, I now have Kubuntu (7.10) up and running, got my wireless working and Firefox is running. The issue I have is that the boot menu has many choices, and the one I usually pick is well down the list. Since I want to use this PC for my kids to browse and IM, I want to make it dead simple to reboot, and not have to tell them which option to pick. So how can I move it up the list? Here's what it looks like:

    Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic
    Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (recovery mode)
    Ubuntu 7.10, memtest86+
    Other operating systems:
    Ubuntu 7.10 (7.10) (on /dev/sda1)
    Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (on /dev/sda2)
    Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda2)
    Ubuntu 7.10, memtest86+ (on /dev/sda2)

    The bolded option is the one I use and would like at the top of the list, so that it boots by default if no option is picked.

    BTW - I searched thru this forum and found some posts about editing menu.list, but my menu.list file doesn't contain the last three options.

    Any help would be greatly appreciated.
    Tags: None
    • Top
    • Bottom
    #2
    Re: Multiple installs - cleaning up boot menu

    You 'want it simple?' We can do that.

    Open a console and type:
    Code:
    cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
    Copy and paste the output. Tell us which entry (title line) you want visible during boot.
    Windows no longer obstructs my view.
    Using Kubuntu Linux since March 23, 2007.
    "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." - Sherlock Holmes​
    • Top
    • Bottom

    Comment

      #3
      Re: Multiple installs - cleaning up boot menu

      Below is the output. The title line I have been picking when I boot up is "Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (on /dev/sda2)", but I don't see that in the output below.

      # 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 10

      ## 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=28d8be55-1f6a-4126-a0d0-e93c4e51249f ro

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

      ## default grub root device
      ## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
      # groot=(hd0,1)

      ## 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 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic
      root (hd0,1)
      kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=UUID=28d8be55-1f6a-4126-a0d
      0-e93c4e51249f ro quiet splash
      initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
      quiet

      title Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (recovery mode)
      root (hd0,1)
      kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=UUID=28d8be55-1f6a-4126-a0d
      0-e93c4e51249f ro single
      initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic

      title Ubuntu 7.10, memtest86+
      root (hd0,1)
      kernel /boot/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 an existing
      # linux installation on /dev/sda1.
      title Ubuntu 7.10 (7.10) (on /dev/sda1)
      root (hd0,0)
      kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=/dev/sda1
      savedefault
      boot
      • Top
      • Bottom

      Comment

        #4
        Re: Multiple installs - cleaning up boot menu

        Originally posted by sbradley07
        Below is the output. The title line I have been picking when I# boot up is "Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (on /dev/sda2)", but I don't see that in the output below.
        Simple enough (until you get a kernel upgrade via Adept Notifier). Locate the #hiddenmenu (the one with a single # in front of hiddenmenu) line and remove the # from it. Save the file.

        Uncommenting the #hiddenmenu means that no one will see the boot menu. A countdown message will be displayed starting at 10. When it hits 0 the first boot option Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic will be executed. You would have 10 seconds to press the down arrow once to select (recovery mode), twice to select memtest86+, three times to select Ubuntu 7.10 (7.10) (on /dev/sda1)
        Windows no longer obstructs my view.
        Using Kubuntu Linux since March 23, 2007.
        "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." - Sherlock Holmes​
        • Top
        • Bottom

        Comment

          #5
          Re: Multiple installs - cleaning up boot menu

          For your future reference, sbradley07:

          How To GRUB Methods - Toolkit
          http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3081671.0
          (and see the first Reply under it for editing menu.lst)

          If you want to use the hiddenmenu thing, note the comment about using ESC:
          ## hiddenmenu
          # Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
          #hiddenmenu

          Since you are doing this for the family, you could also reduce the timeout setting
          timeout 10

          You could make that 5 seconds.
          Caution: Don't make it too quick or you won't have time yourself to intervene (e.g., with ESC), and certainly never make it zero!

          Don't forget to File > Save and File > Quit after editing.
          An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way. Charles Bukowski
          • Top
          • Bottom

          Comment

            #6
            Re: Multiple installs - cleaning up boot menu

            This thread has a link to a great GUI Grub tool. Maybe this will help.

            http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...seen#msg107781
            • Top
            • Bottom

            Comment

              #7
              Re: Multiple installs - cleaning up boot menu

              Thanks for the responses, though I don't think you've answered what I was asking (it's entirely possible that you did answer my question, but I am too dense to see it.)

              Snowhog: I understand that if I uncomment "hiddenmenu", the boot menu won't appear and when the count-down hits zero, the first menu option will be executed. I'm ok with the hidden menu, but I want it to execute "Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (on /dev/sda2)", which is the 5th option on the list. I don't want to have to arrow down to pick it.

              Qqmike: I read the post you linked and see that I can edit the order of the menu list, but the menu choice I want doesn't appear in my menu.lst file. I'm confused by this. Is there another menu.lst file that I am missing?

              Lastly, I noticed the section of the output I posted where it says:

              ## 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

              Since the numbering starts from 0 and I want the 5th entry on my boot list, do I simple change it to: "default 4" to accomplish what I am trying to do?

              Thanks for your patience!
              • Top
              • Bottom

              Comment

                #8
                Re: Multiple installs - cleaning up boot menu

                Moonrise:
                you could also stick your GUI under [my?] GRUB topic as a new Reply, if you wish:
                How To GRUB Methods - Toolkit
                http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3081671.0
                An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way. Charles Bukowski
                • Top
                • Bottom

                Comment

                  #9
                  Re: Multiple installs - cleaning up boot menu

                  With "default 0", that is how you get it to auto select which entry to be the "default". Be aware that GRUB starts counting at 0, so your entry 5 would be 4. (0,1,2,3,4)
                  • Top
                  • Bottom

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Re: Multiple installs - cleaning up boot menu

                    "Since the numbering starts from 0 and I want the 5th entry on my boot list, do I simple change it to: "default 4" to accomplish what I am trying to do?"

                    Yes, that's right.
                    Try that and see if this all works as you expect.
                    If so, for now, I would leave it that way.

                    (There is something not quite right about your menu.lst, but I've seen this happen before with other users. Sometimes it happens if you are using Automatix. Your boot menu you see when you turn on the PC doesn't correspond to your menu.lst that you posted. You can play with this later, as I say. For now, let's just see if you can set this up so it booting into what you want. We could try to re-install GRUB as explained in the How-to, using root (hd0,1) -- setup (hd0) -- quit.)
                    An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way. Charles Bukowski
                    • Top
                    • Bottom

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Re: Multiple installs - cleaning up boot menu

                      Setting "Default 4" did not work.

                      I suspect it's because there is no 5th option in menu.lst, so it just uses option 0 as a default.

                      I searched around to see if I could find any file with a reference to "Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (on /dev/sda2)", but couldn't find anything.

                      I will start reading thru some of the Grub posts to see if I can find an answer.
                      • Top
                      • Bottom

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Re: Multiple installs - cleaning up boot menu

                        You have 4 entries in menu.lst: 0, 1, 2, and 3.
                        Pick one and set it as default and see if that works.
                        There's a way to generate a new menu.lst using a grub command in the Linux shell (emulator); I'll look into it, and I want to be sure it is safe to use, but there's no hurry if you can do it your way for now.
                        Try default = n
                        using the menu.lst you printed here (n = 0,1,2, or 3, counting from the top of menu.lst down).
                        An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way. Charles Bukowski
                        • Top
                        • Bottom

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Re: Multiple installs - cleaning up boot menu

                          Change default 0 to default 3. This will boot the last item in the boot menu list:

                          # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
                          # linux installation on /dev/sda1.
                          title Ubuntu 7.10 (7.10) (on /dev/sda1)
                          root (hd0,0)
                          kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=/dev/sda1
                          savedefault
                          boot
                          Windows no longer obstructs my view.
                          Using Kubuntu Linux since March 23, 2007.
                          "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." - Sherlock Holmes​
                          • Top
                          • Bottom

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Re: Multiple installs - cleaning up boot menu

                            Snowhog: "Change default 0 to default 3. This will boot the last item in the boot menu list:"

                            isn't that implied in my post above? He indicates he knows how to count in GRUB ...?
                            An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way. Charles Bukowski
                            • Top
                            • Bottom

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Re: Multiple installs - cleaning up boot menu

                              I tried default 3 and that did not work either. When the boot menu appears, there is a highlighted bar over the first entry, and at the bottom it says something like "the highlighted entry will be booted automatically in x seconds". Should I have set that default in conjunction with the hiddenmenu option?

                              The first entry is not one I ever want to boot, nor are the next three. I'd just like it to boot "Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (on /dev/sda2)" automatically. Otherwise, it's inevitable that my kids will boot the system, pick the wrong entry...or space out and let the time count down...and boot into the wrong one. Then I get the phone calls at work saying "Dad's crazy Linux experiment never works!!"

                              Should I bite the bullet, wipe out everything and start from scratch? At least that way, the first entry will be the right one.
                              • Top
                              • Bottom

                              Comment

                              Previous 1 2 template Next
                              Working...
                              X