How to: Create a Customized GRUB2 Screen that is Maintenance Free.

**Halfling Rogue** · December 28th, 2011

I had a custom xrandr setup on my original install and making these grub changes lost it. The original grub mkconfig had this in it:

Code:

insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 0e8ef373-799f-4d11-8cca-3d8b4d4b6a94
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=1366x768
  insmod gfxterm
  insmod vbe
  if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
    # For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
    # understand terminal_output
    terminal gfxterm
  fi
fi

Is there a way to add that to the file? I tried repeating my steps from when I first added the drivers, but xrandr isn't behaving the same way for some reason:

Code:

$ cvt 1366 768
# 1368x768 59.88 Hz (CVT) hsync: 47.79 kHz; pclk: 85.25 MHz
Modeline "1368x768_60.00"   85.25  1368 1440 1576 1784  768 771 781 798 -hsync +vsync
$ xrandr --newmode "CUSTOM" 85.25  1368 1440 1576 1784  768 771 781 798 -hsync +vsync
$ xrandr --addmode default "CUSTOM"
$ xrandr --output default --mode "CUSTOM"
xrandr: screen cannot be larger than 1024x768 (desired size 1368x768)

Before it let me do it thanks to xserver-xorg-video-intel, linux-image-generic-lts-backport-natty, and linux-headers-generic-lts-backport-natty, but those don't seem to be applying any more with the new grub.

**Cavsfan** · December 28th, 2011

Originally Posted by Halfling Rogue

I had a custom xrandr setup on my original install and making these grub changes lost it. The original grub mkconfig had this in it:

Code:

insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 0e8ef373-799f-4d11-8cca-3d8b4d4b6a94
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=1366x768
  insmod gfxterm
  insmod vbe
  if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
    # For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
    # understand terminal_output
    terminal gfxterm
  fi
fi

Is there a way to add that to the file? I tried repeating my steps from when I first added the drivers, but xrandr isn't behaving the same way for some reason:

Code:

$ cvt 1366 768
# 1368x768 59.88 Hz (CVT) hsync: 47.79 kHz; pclk: 85.25 MHz
Modeline "1368x768_60.00"   85.25  1368 1440 1576 1784  768 771 781 798 -hsync +vsync
$ xrandr --newmode "CUSTOM" 85.25  1368 1440 1576 1784  768 771 781 798 -hsync +vsync
$ xrandr --addmode default "CUSTOM"
$ xrandr --output default --mode "CUSTOM"
xrandr: screen cannot be larger than 1024x768 (desired size 1368x768)

Before it let me do it thanks to xserver-xorg-video-intel, linux-image-generic-lts-backport-natty, and linux-headers-generic-lts-backport-natty, but those don't seem to be applying any more with the new grub.

I don't have any knowledge about xrandr. Perhaps you could ask drs305 on his Grub2 thread:
The Grub 2 Guide by drs305

**drs305** · December 28th, 2011

Originally Posted by Cavsfan

I don't have any knowledge about xrandr. Perhaps you could ask drs305 on his Grub2 thread:
The Grub 2 Guide by drs305

Hehe. I was waiting to learn about it in this thread. I don't have an answer.

**Cavsfan** · December 28th, 2011

Originally Posted by cavsfan

i don't have any knowledge about xrandr. Perhaps you could ask drs305 on his grub2 thread:
the grub 2 guide by drs305

Originally Posted by drs305

hehe. I was waiting to learn about it in this thread. I don't have an answer.

LOL! I did a little research and found this solved thread:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1724926

Your setup doesn't sound very generic though. Your sig. says Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx, you added xrandr and you mention Natty in the list of files at the bottom of your post.
I left my setup pretty generic Lucid Lynx with the exception of I have the most current nVidia driver installed.
I also have a script that installs the nVidia driver into a new kernel install (got that from a how to in this forum).

That thread just says that it opened another thread in the "Multimedia & Video" and "Networking & Wireless" forums.
But, it mentions that xrandr does not work very well with nVidia hardware.
Do you have an ATI card and why is it you feel the need for xrandr?

I have mixed things up and ended up having to do a clean install every time.
Which is why I went back to the LTS and am leaving it as generic as possible.

Let us know if you find a solution or if you can just get rid of xrandr.
Good Luck!

EDIT: I do not even find xrandr in Synaptic Package Manager on my system.

**Cavsfan** · January 7th, 2012

My latest grub2 screen. They get boring after a while and so I change them.

I guess my latest screen mysteriously came back. Sweet!

**Cavsfan** · January 26th, 2012

If any one wants to post their Grub2 screen on here, feel free. I posted my most current one "Dread Dog" above.
I know it is a pain because you have to use a camera and upload it.

**Cavsfan** · March 22nd, 2012

I just added kernel Linux 2.5.32-40 and rebooted. It came up as the default. No changes necessary.
Pretty sweet.

**Roasted** · March 22nd, 2012

Hi there. I'm questioning how user friendly we can make the grub boot screen for Win/Ubu dual booters in our environment. I have the idea of Deja Dup in my head, where the main screen is "BACKUP" and "RESTORE". Two giant buttons.

Is there a way to cut out recovery mode and everything else and get a screen looking like that? Or am I still dreaming?

**Cavsfan** · March 22nd, 2012

Originally Posted by Roasted

Hi there. I'm questioning how user friendly we can make the grub boot screen for Win/Ubu dual booters in our environment. I have the idea of Deja Dup in my head, where the main screen is "BACKUP" and "RESTORE". Two giant buttons.

Is there a way to cut out recovery mode and everything else and get a screen looking like that? Or am I still dreaming?

Not sure how you could make it any more simpler than this.

If you look at my screen on this post, you'll see I have just 3 entries: Lucid Lynx, Lucid Lynx (Recovery) and Windows 7 and nothing else.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=11594281&postcount=105

If this is not what you're looking for, you should look at some of drs305's links. He knows a lot about grub2.
The Grub 2 Guide by drs305

Item number 20 on that page provides all of the links.

**Naruto Man** · April 1st, 2012

I have 4 questions :

- How to know my grub resolution (i am Ubuntu 11.10)
- How to customize the top title in the GRUB (see attachments)
- If i want to remove these settings is it safe to remove the 06_custom file
- I have another Linux distribution (linux-deepin) so how to make the 4 lines-box for it ???