Howto : GfxBoot ( Grub like suse )

[PingunZ]

Gfxboot makes grub look nicer but with the same features
In this howto you will install gfxboot and a suse theme for it, soon I'll make an ubuntu one ;)
Ok, let's start

Download the grub-gfxboot.deb (http://quasarfreak.googlepages.com/grub-gfxboot_0.97-5_i386.deb)
And the message.suse (http://quasarfreak.googlepages.com/message.suse)

First remove your old grub

sudo apt-get remove grub

Then Install the gfxboot-grub

sudo dpkg -i grub-gfxboot_0.97-5_i386.deb

then we're going to move the message

sudo cp message.suse /boot/grub/ # the suse can be replaced by the one you downloaded

Then edit your menu.lst



sudo cp /boot/grub/menu.lst /boot/grub/menu.lst_backup
sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
and make it use gfxboot

gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.suse # the suse can be replaced


Then do :
sudo grub

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hdx,y) # this will be the output
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdx)

-- Howto make you own theme --



mkdir /home/name/whatever
cpio -i < /boot/grub/message.suse # replace it by the name of you message
edit the pictures
sudo ls . |cpio -o > /boot/grub/message.new

Reboot and enjoy ;)
Thanks to Quasar_freak and kno

here are some themes posted in this thread ;) ( ty :KS )

Light Green generic theme [message.gobo] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1214274&postcount=12) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12251&d=1152089288)
Dark Brown (Dapper look) generic theme [message.new] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1239724&postcount=55) | Screenshot (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12549&d=1152600544)
Medium blue kubuntu theme [message.kubuntu] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1234300&postcount=54) | Screenshot (http://files.upl.silentwhisper.net/upload5/gfxboot.jpg)
Dark grey ubuntu theme [message.ubugrey] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1251236&postcount=61) | Screenshot (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12875&d=1153129717)
Medium brown ubuntu theme [message.ububrown] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1252317&postcount=63) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12874&d=1153129657)
Light orange ubuntu theme [message.ubu] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1254642&postcount=64) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12873&d=1153128852)
Red ubuntu theme [message.new] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1265601&postcount=65) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12870&d=1153128852)
Fuzzy blue and black ubuntu theme [message.bluspash] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1272301&postcount=71) | Screenshot (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12947&d=1153265746)
White / Grey Snowish generic theme [message.snow] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1292317&postcount=84) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=13161&d=1153730506)
Linspire-style blue kubuntu theme [message.kubu] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1294120&postcount=86) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=13176&d=1153757390)
Old- Grub style dark blue and light blue [message.kubu] | Link (http://mitglied.lycos.de/atoth/ubuntuusers/message.napo) | Screenshot (http://mitglied.lycos.de/atoth/ubuntuusers/screenshot_message_napo.png)
Light blue / grey Xubuntu theme [message.xubu] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1297486&postcount=97) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=13211&d=1153828350)[/QUOTE]


Grtz PingunZ

[bohboh]

Then install it

grub-install /dev/X

Then do :
sudo fdisk -l
and if it talks about hda replace X with hda, if it talks about sda ...


Sorry, first thicko question...

Do you mean that we should do "sudo fdisk -l" then with the result of that command do "grub-install /dev/hda" or "grub-install /dev/sda"

If so then your guide suggests to do "grub-install /dev/X" first. Being a newcomer i really down want to mess up my grub installation and so want to be sure. :D

[PingunZ]

yes, if fdisk tells you about sda you should replace the X with sda
so /dev/sda
same thing for hda
fdisk has nothing to do with grub, its just for you to know if you got sda or hda ;)

Grtz PingunZ

[PingunZ]

Any comments ?

[kno]

Hello,

The command grub-install doesn't work for me, instead I do :

grub
> root (hd0,0)
> setup (hd0)
Now, it runs very well.

Thanks for this howto.

PS: I use the theme GoboGrub (http://dev.gentoo.org/~spyderous/splash/gobo/).

[PingunZ]

Ty kno, I changed it ;)

Grtz PingunZ

[bohboh]

Ty kno, I changed it ;)

Grtz PingunZ

Here is my fdisk -l output:



Disk /dev/sda: 203.9 GB, 203928109056 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 24792 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 6375 51207156 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 6376 24791 147926520 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5 6376 12748 51191091 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda6 12749 24791 96735366 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdb: 81.9 GB, 81964302336 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9964 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 1 9964 80035798+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/hdc: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdc1 * 1 9351 75111876 83 Linux
/dev/hdc2 9352 9729 3036285 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hdc5 9352 9729 3036253+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris



What is my boot disk?

I tried root (sda1,0) and got an parse number error.

[kno]

Here is my fdisk -l output:



...


What is my boot disk?

I tried root (sda1,0) and got an parse number error.

You should try :


sudo grub
grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hdx,y)
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdx)

[d3x7r0]

hum... I tried the how to but my grub still looks exactly the same as it did before... did I do something wrong? :-?

[bohboh]

Cool, thanks Kno, that worked. Kind of. Turned out that i needed to run grub as root (sudo).

Problem is that i followed the guide and rebooted, still the old boot menu.

Erm, I:

1. Downloaded the files
2. Uninstalled grub
3. Installed debs
4. Copied file to /boot/grub
5. Added line to menu.lst (added it at the very top, i.e. line 1)
6. Entered the Grub commands
7. Rebooted

Did i miss a step?

[tlaloczint]

Then edit your menu.lst

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
and make it use gfxboot

gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.suse

ok how do I do that?

tlaloc@aztlan:~$ gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.suse
bash: gfxmenu: command not found
tlaloc@aztlan:~$

do I missing something here?

[kno]

If it could help someone, herewith my configuration :
http://rapidsharing.com/download.php?id=87DFE506

[scenestar]

Just copy paste line for line of the quote in a terminal
It should work for everyone.


wget http://quasarfreak.googlepages.com/grub-gfxboot_0.97-5_i386.deb

wget http://quasarfreak.googlepages.com/message.suse

sudo apt-get remove grub

sudo dpkg -i grub-gfxboot_0.97-5_i386.deb

sudo cp message.suse /boot/grub/

sudo echo gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.suse > /boot/grub/menu.lst

grub-install /dev/hda

[bohboh]

Tried your message.gobo file, still no joy.

Our files are the same, has the gfxmenu line at the top.

Any ideas?

[scenestar]

Tried your message.gobo file, still no joy.

Our files are the same, has the gfxmenu line at the top.

Any ideas?

Did you try with the theme provided in this howto?

If you did EXACTLY as was explained the most logical explanation would be that your theme is corrupted.

[bohboh]

Downloaded both files again and went through the entire guide EXACTLY.

Still the same. :-?

[bohboh]

One thing, doing


sudo echo gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.suse > /boot/grub/menu.lst

gave me a permission denied error.

but i can edit it using gedit ok.

[scenestar]

One thing, doing


sudo echo gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.suse > /boot/grub/menu.lst

gave me a permission denied error.

Ack, just screw sudo
su to root like a real man.

edit to bohboh

I found your problem. Instead of :

grub-install /dev/hda
try

grub-install /dev/hdc

[bohboh]

Many thanks, that sorted it. :D

For future reference, Can you explain how, by looking at my fdisk output, you knew it was hdc?

So all i need to do to change themes is to place the message.blah file in /boot/grub and to change the line in menu.lst?

Again, Thanks

[kno]

Many thanks, that sorted it. :D

For future reference, Can you explain how, by looking at my fdisk output, you knew it was hdc?




Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdc1 * 1 9351 75111876 83 Linux
/dev/hdc2 9352 9729 3036285 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hdc5 9352 9729 3036253+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris

It's hdc because grub is setup on /dev/hdc1 (your 3rd hdd) with Ubuntu


So all i need to do to change themes is to place the message.blah file in /boot/grub and to change the line in menu.lst?

Yes, but I don't find many message.xyz on the net...

[bohboh]

Yes, but I don't find many message.xyz on the net...

Thanks

That was going to be my next question. :D I have had a quick look and cant find any.

Oh well, suppose i could make my own. Do you know of any guides for making your own?

[kno]

Thanks

That was going to be my next question. :D I have had a quick look and cant find any.

Oh well, suppose i could make my own. Do you know of any guides for making your own?

sudo apt-get install gfxboot gfxboot-theme-ubuntu

then you'll find help and examples (to compile ;) ) in :
/usr/share/doc/gfxboot/
/usr/share/gfxboot/themes/

A tutorial :
http://www.andreas-loibl.de/content/linux/tutorials/grub-gfxboot/index.html

[frodon]

any screenshot of the result ?

[bohboh]

How do i take a screenshot of the boot menu?

[fantan]

Hi,

I did all steps by this how-to but after restart I get an error message like this:

"...I cannot find any graphic file >>message.suse<<..." and I can to go toward by pressing any key, and then I get the ordinary menu.lst to chose a system to boot.

Of course the message.suse graphic file is in the directory /boot/grub and
I ran the command grub-install hd0 without any error message.

What to do then?

fantan

[kno]

How do i take a screenshot of the boot menu?
eg by using qemu

[fantan]

Hi again,

The error message I get exactly is as follows:

The graphics file message.suse (or message.gobo) is missing, press any key to continue.
By pressing any key, I get the list of my systems according to my menu.lst and I can boot one of the systems.

Why the grub-glx doesn't find the message.suse or the message.gobo graphics file?
Again, these files are in the /boot/grub directory!!!

What can I do to get the proper screen?

fantan

[kno]

GoboGrubTheme :
12251

SuseTheme :
12252

[fantan]

Hi again,

Thanks for the screenshots, but I know them very well, because in the past I used SuSE.
My problem is, that I can't get this bootscreen on my computer, although I did all steps exactly as these are written in this how-to.
My grub doesn't find the graphics file message.suse (or message.gobo) in the directory /boot/grub, but both of them are there!!!

What is the problem in my system?

[fantan]

Hi gentlemen,

I figured out what was the problem with my system!
On my HDD I have several partitions and for the boot I have a separate partition, hda1.
This partition is mounted to the /boot directory of the Dapper system.
On this partition there isn't /boot directory, just /grub.
If in the menu.lst file I change the first line from
"gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.gobo" to "gfxmenu /grub/message.gobo" then grub finds the graphics file message.gobo.
That's all, everithing is fine!
But, there isn't any animation on this screen!!! Although in the SuSE system there is an animation around the Earth picture.

What to do with this?

fantan

[bohboh]

Ok, i have searched and i am going to have to ask. :D

How do you take a screenshot using qemu? My ideas was to create a vmware image, or is that silly? :p

[kno]

...
That's all, everithing is fine!
But, there isn't any animation on this screen!!! Although in the SuSE system there is an animation around the Earth picture.

What to do with this?

Timeout must be greater than 0 in /boot/grub/menu.lst.

[kno]

Ok, i have searched and i am going to have to ask. :D

How do you take a screenshot using qemu? My ideas was to create a vmware image, or is that silly? :p
I launch qemu with a grub boot floppy and then I use gnome-sreenshot (Alt+Print Screen).

[rejser]

have been using gfxboot a couple of days now and one things bug me, no mather wich theme I choose i get a popup saying "You have a cool system, but you are about to install a 32-bit applikation on a 64-bit system"
I have amd 64, though ubuntu 32 installed.. anyone know how to make it go away?

[bohboh]

I have managed to create my grub boot floppy using this guide (included menu.lst and device.map with my message file):

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GrubHowto/BootFloppy

And then do qemu /dev/fd0

It eventually drops me into the grub console.

How do i get it to display the boot menu?

[kno]

I have managed to create my grub boot floppy using this guide (included menu.lst and device.map with my message file):

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GrubHowto/BootFloppy

And then do qemu /dev/fd0

It eventually drops me into the grub console.

How do i get it to display the boot menu?

...
cp menu.lst message.suse /media/floppy/boot/grub
umount /media/floppy
qemu -fda /dev/fd0 -boot a

[kno]

have been using gfxboot a couple of days now and one things bug me, no mather wich theme I choose i get a popup saying "You have a cool system, but you are about to install a 32-bit applikation on a 64-bit system"
I have amd 64, though ubuntu 32 installed.. anyone know how to make it go away?
Can you try this :
12290

[rejser]

Can you try this :
12290

worked like a charm, mind sharing the source?
did you exclude dia_bits from boot.config? or dia_install?

[kno]

worked like a charm, mind sharing the source?
did you exclude dia_bits from boot.config? or dia_install?

I comment some lines of common.inc, that's all.
12295

[tlaloczint]

ok I got this what I am doing wrong
any help please?


root@aztlan:/home/tlaloc# sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/hdc: 120.0 GB, 120034123776 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14593 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdc1 * 1 14592 117210208+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/hdd: 251.0 GB, 251000193024 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30515 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdd1 6203 29053 183550657+ 5 Extended
/dev/hdd2 * 1 6202 49817533+ 83 Linux
/dev/hdd5 6469 29053 181405949 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hdd6 6203 6468 2136582 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Partition table entries are not in disk order
root@aztlan:/home/tlaloc# grub-install /dev/hdc1
Due to a bug in xfs_freeze, the following command might produce a segmentation
fault when /boot/grub is not in an XFS filesystem. This error is harmless and
can be ignored.
xfs_freeze: specified file ["/boot/grub"] is not on an XFS filesystem
Installation finished. No error reported.
This is the contents of the device map /boot/grub/device.map.
Check if this is correct or not. If any of the lines is incorrect,
fix it and re-run the script `grub-install'.

(hd0) /dev/hdc
(hd1) /dev/hdd
root@aztlan:/home/tlaloc#

[scenestar]

ok I got this what I am doing wrong
any help please?


How about you tell us what the hell you were doing in the first place.

[frodon]

please keep civil, this thread has a good spirit

[bohboh]

I got that error also, but like it says. You can ignore it, so i did and it still worked.

Is it not working for you?

[hypnoticstate]

How about us dual booters on Sata,

My partitions are labelled Sda, Ubuntu root is on
SDA4, XP is on SDA1, suggestions ? or leave well alone.

[tlaloczint]

Just copy paste line for line of the quote in a terminal
It should work for everyone.

this is what I did but nevermind it mess up my grub and I could not boot xp or ubuntu after 5 hours of tring to fix it I gave up so I did a clean install
sorry if I bother asking newbie question not in this tread anymore

[art]

You need to paste the line
gfxmenu /boot/grub/message
in the menu.lst, somewhere in the beginning, and also do
sudo grub
and then type root (hd0,0) or whatever
Also, does anyone know how to compile the Ubuntu theme for gfxboot?

[gruvsyco]

Just copy paste line for line of the quote in a terminal
It should work for everyone.
I did this and now when I boot, all I get is a grub cli.

I was able to boot from the Live CD and figure out how to get my Linux partition up but now, I have no real grub config to speak of, other than command line.

[nir78]

I think it will be great if you'll add a warning asking to save the menu.lst before beginning so things like that: http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=1229960
will not happen...

Nir

[nir78]

I did this and now when I boot, all I get is a grub cli.

I was able to boot from the Live CD and figure out how to get my Linux partition up but now, I have no real grub config to speak of, other than command line.

Is this what happen to you ? http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=1229960

Nir

[nickless]

screenshots? errr... fotos? :D

[gruvsyco]

Is this what happen to you ? http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=1229960

Nir

Yup. It took me a little research to recover but, it's back and I have a little better understanding of grub.

[avender]

Hello,

The command grub-install doesn't work for me, instead I do :

grub
> root (hd0,0)
> setup (hd0)
Now, it runs very well.

Thanks for this howto.

PS: I use the theme GoboGrub (http://dev.gentoo.org/~spyderous/splash/gobo/).
When I open http://dev.gentoo.org/~spyderous/splash/gobo/

I'm getting 404 Not found error... :(

[mmmichael]

I know there's a way to compile gfxboot message files, and this aint it.
I borrowed from http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1049234&postcount=15
and did some editing. I'm sure others can do better but this works for me. If you want you can copy this 12475 , extract it and sudo cp
into /boot/grub directory and edit menu.lst accordingly. Just please back up menu.lst first.

[sebbe1991]

I made a Kubuntu gfxboot :)

Screenshot (http://files.upl.silentwhisper.net/upload5/gfxboot.jpg)

12476

[mmmichael]

Here's a screenshot taken under qemu

http://ubuntuforums.org/images/attach/png.gif

file: 12550

[adam.tropics]

Here's a screenshot taken under qemu

http://ubuntuforums.org/images/attach/png.gif

file: 12550


Nice job, works great

[n00b@linux]

file: 12550

Very nice! I would like to have a go at making my own, but do not know how. Can you please point me in the direction of how I can do it? Is it hard to do?

[sharperguy]

sudo echo gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.suse > /boot/grub/menu.lstuhh shouldnt it be >> if you want to append, rather than > which would just overwrite the whole file?

[Wipster]

how do I use qemu to boot, cause I cant seem to work it out from the documentation, cheres.

[mmmichael]

Very nice! I would like to have a go at making my own, but do not know how. Can you please point me in the direction of how I can do it? Is it hard to do?

I followed the steps here http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1049234&postcount=15
and just changed some of the images from the suse message.
There is an ubuntu package -see http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1215764&postcount=22
but I don't know how to use it.

[Footissimo]

Made a mod of the SuSE GFXBoot theme. Basically its a mash up of this SVG icon (http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=42245) by Sairitupac Vasquez and this wallpaper (http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=41588) by Paul Beyens.

I know nothing about QEMU, EMU or any flightless birds so I just took a screenie with me mobile. If some kind person fancies running it through a virtual PC thingy and doing a screenie then that would be much appreciated. (thanks Kno) There are two problems with it:

1) There is a slight artifact around the ubuntu icon - I've spent hours brushing to minimise JPG artifacts, but there's only so much I can do..it should be barely noticeable now. Its due to the complexity of the background - if people like this then I'll do another on a plainer background and get the logo 100%

2) The original SuSE theme screws up a little if you scroll down the kernel / OS options - seems to be because that panel needs to be shoved to the left a bit or made into 1024x768 rather than 800x600. Mine does the same...it doesn't effect functionality or anything, but if I do another, then I'll correct it (it was too late by the time I noticed it on this one).

Installing:

After doing all the GFXBoot palaver, just unzip the theme and copy it to /boot/grub/ then add
gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.ubugrey to the top of the /boot/grub/menu.lst file. Presumably you should remove any other themes you have there (such as message.suse)

[mech7]

any screenshots ?

[Footissimo]

Another theme, this time based on this wallpaper (http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=32429). Again, decompress and stick in /boot/grub then change the first line of /boot/grub/menu.lst to
gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.ububrown and reboot.

Again, if someone could do a virtual session for the screenie :) (thanks Kno)

[Malac]

Here's my attempt. \\:D/

[nimes]

new gfxboot theme.

[kno]

#61 (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1251236&postcount=61)
12872

#63 (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1252317&postcount=63)
12871

#64 (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1254642&postcount=64)
12873

#65 (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1265601&postcount=65)
12870

[Footissimo]

Thank you Kno :)

*looks at QEMU*

[nimes]

thanks Kno

[msak007]

Thanks for this how-to, it took less than 5 minutes to get everything installed and configured. This one of those "nice to have" features that I missed after switching back from SuSE and previously asked about something like it in the forums, but nobody knew how to do it. It just makes the overall look of the OS much nicer and more integrated. Now I just have to learn how to make my own gfxboot screen. For now I'm using the Kubuntu one that sebbe1991 made and it looks really nice. Thanks again!

[BuffaloX]

With my inferior abilities, I managed to mess my menu.lst :rolleyes:
Got it fixed, and then read the guide more careful...

This is cool, thanx for the howto. :p

[Footissimo]

Another GFXboot theme - this time to go with the blue usplash theme here (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=82835&highlight=usplash) by SilentCacophony. It's a very basic black background with the glowy logo and lettering from the usplash image. If anyone likes it, I can do the other colours.

[Sandsound]

This is SO cool :cool:

Thanks for a great HowTo

[Jolly Roger]

I have been trying to get this tutorial to work for me for a while now. I've done and redone each step of the tutorial many times. The only thing I think that I may be doing wrong is putting the line "gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.blusplash" in the wrong place in my menu.lst file. Here's my file so hopefully someone can help me out:

### 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/hdc1 ro

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

## 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=

## 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

## ## End Default Options ##

gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.blusplash

timeout 20

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-26-386
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-26-386 root=/dev/hdc1 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-26-386
boot

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-26-386 (recovery mode)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-26-386 root=/dev/hdc1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-26-386
boot

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-25-386
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-25-386 root=/dev/hdc1 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-25-386
boot

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-25-386 (recovery mode)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-25-386 root=/dev/hdc1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-25-386
boot

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-23-386
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-23-386 root=/dev/hdc1 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-23-386
boot

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-23-386 (recovery mode)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-23-386 root=/dev/hdc1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-23-386
boot

title Memtest86+
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
boot

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root (hd1,0)
savedefault
makeactive
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
chainloader +1

[BuffaloX]

Seems OK
of course you need to have the message.blusplash file in /boot/grub

My menu.lst has a line:

Default 0

Before the timeout line.
I have no idea if this means anything...

[Jolly Roger]

I do have message.blusplash in my /boot/grub directory. Thanks for trying to help. Anyone else got any ideas?

[BuffaloX]

Oh you changed your post..
I have the line

gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.mysplash

as the very first line.
then default 0
then timeout 10
...

[Jolly Roger]

Well I did have gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.blusplash as the very first line when I originally posted it. But I moved it to after the commented section to see if it would make the splash work, but it didn't. I editted my post though because that is how my current menu.lst is. Having it as the first line or in it's current position made no difference for me.

[BuffaloX]

Having it as first line works.
So it must be something else.

[rogeriovinhal]

Any amd64 packages for it?
Or the source, so I can do it myself?

Nevermind, just found it here:
http://kanotix.com/files/debian/pool/main/g/grub-gfxboot/grub-gfxboot_0.97-7_amd64.deb

[Jench]

Jolly Roger > have you tried with this (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1214303&postcount=13) (thx to scenestar) because it works for me.

And if i'm not wrong it would be : sudo grub-install /dev/hdc1 for you.
I hope it would help.

[PingunZ]

I updated the guide,
now it uses " find /boot/grub/stage1 " instead of the fdisk thing
I also added the posted messages
Ty very much to all who made a message or helped ppl in this thread ;)

Grtz PingunZ

[xXx 0wn3d xXx]

The Ubuntu Brown theme is amazing. Thanks for writing this tutorial. And to who it may concern, I am back on Ubuntu linux. Hopefully for good.

[PingunZ]

WB xXx 0wn3d xXx and ty very much

Grtz PingunZ

[Footissimo]

One which is a little lighter (and generic)..snowish! :)

This one is a mix-up of the web browser icon from the Snowish icon set (http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=32599) by 'Saki' and the Snowish-inspirat wallpaper (http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=33217) by wuf. Had to move and add things around a little (and being lighter in colour) so it's not so 'clean' but..oh well.

To install: Install GFXboot. Unzip the message.snow file attached and move it to your /boot/grub directory, then open up /boot/grub/menu.lst and add the following line to the top:
gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.snow

[PingunZ]

nice footissimo, I added it to the howto ;)

Grtz PingunZ

[Footissimo]

You missed Ubuntu Brown..and called Ubuntu Grey, Brown :cry:

Anyhoo, I've done another Kubuntu one 's a bit like the other one but a mash up of this wallpaper (ttp://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php?content=42881) and the official Kubuntu SVG logo.

Unzip, move to /boot/grub and add the following to /boot/grub/menu.lst:

gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.kubu

[PingunZ]

Added that one too footissimo, nice work ;)

Grtz PingunZ

[Footissimo]

You missed what I said in the last post :( Just quote then cut and replace the text in your HOWTO below "Here are some themes posted in this thread" and it'll correct and add a couple of links, correct the filenames..and give credit to people who made the themes.

Light Green generic theme [message.gobo] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1214274&postcount=12) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12251&d=1152089288)
Dark Brown (Dapper look) generic theme [message.new] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1239724&postcount=55) | Screenshot (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12549&d=1152600544)
Medium blue kubuntu theme [message.kubuntu] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1234300&postcount=54) | Screenshot (http://files.upl.silentwhisper.net/upload5/gfxboot.jpg)
Dark grey ubuntu theme [message.ubugrey] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1251236&postcount=61) | Screenshot (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12875&d=1153129717)
Medium brown ubuntu theme [message.ububrown] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1252317&postcount=63) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12874&d=1153129657)
Light orange ubuntu theme [message.ubu] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1254642&postcount=64) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12873&d=1153128852)
Red ubuntu theme [message.new] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1265601&postcount=65) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12870&d=1153128852)
Fuzzy blue and black ubuntu theme [message.bluspash] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1272301&postcount=71) | Screenshot (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12947&d=1153265746)
White / Grey Snowish generic theme [message.snow] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1292317&postcount=84) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=13161&d=1153730506)
Linspire-style blue kubuntu theme [message.kubu] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1294120&postcount=86) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=13176&d=1153757390)

[msak007]

Anyhoo, I've done another Kubuntu one 's a bit like the other one but a mash up of this wallpaper (ttp://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php?content=42881) and the official Kubuntu SVG logo.

Unzip, move to /boot/grub and add the following to /boot/grub/menu.lst:

gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.kubu

Thanks for this, it looks awesome.

[DMC_Mandrake]

How i can change the gfxboot language ? i want to use French.

Thanks

[napo]

I did a gfxboot theme, too.
Here is a screenshot:
http://mitglied.lycos.de/atoth/ubuntuusers/screenshot_message_napo_thumb.png

And here you can download it:
http://mitglied.lycos.de/atoth/ubuntuusers/message.napo

[ltmon]

I just thought I should post that the newly advised method of installing grub using:


sudo grub

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hdx,y) # this will be the output
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdx)

did not work for me.

I had to use the old method of fdisk -l followed by grub-install. Maybe because I don't have an IDE drive (e.g. my drive is sda1/sda2/sda3)?

Possibly you should add it back to the main instructions as an alternative method for installing.

L.

[PingunZ]

I added the message.napo and also added the links how you told me footissimo ( ty ;) )
ltmon, its weird that youre having that problem.
Are there others with this error ?

[DMC_Mandrake]

How i use the french translation ?

[Malac]

.....ltmon, its weird that youre having that problem.
Are there others with this error ?

Yep me too I recently did a re-install of Ubuntu and this time mucked up the MBR i.e. I installed it on there instead of my /dev/hda2. I re-wrote the MBR with XP fixmbr. And re-did grub from a live disk onto /dev/hda2 after that I couldn't get the find....root....setup method to work. Tried everything and in desperation this morning did grub-install method and it worked. As you can see my system is hdX so I don't think it's sdX related.

It may be worth adding it back in as an alternate if the other method doesn't work as most people wanting to do this might not troll to the end of the posts.

Perhaps my experience might point a more technically savvy person in the direction of what is happening.
Here's the output of fisk -l

Disk /dev/hda: 30.7 GB, 30735581184 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 3736 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 1 1567 12586896 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hda2 * 1568 3643 16675470 83 Linux
/dev/hda3 3644 3736 747022+ 5 Extended
/dev/hda5 3644 3736 746991 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/hdb: 203.9 GB, 203928109056 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 24792 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdb1 * 1 3961 31816701 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hdb2 3962 24792 167325007+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hdb5 3962 7922 31816701 b W95 FAT32
/dev/hdb6 7923 11883 31816701 b W95 FAT32
/dev/hdb7 11884 16060 33551721 b W95 FAT32
/dev/hdb8 16061 20237 33551721 83 Linux
/dev/hdb9 20238 24792 36588006 7 HPFS/NTFS


Hope this helps.

[Footissimo]

I did a gfxboot theme, too.
Here is a screenshot:
http://mitglied.lycos.de/atoth/ubuntuusers/screenshot_message_napo_thumb.png

And here you can download it:
http://mitglied.lycos.de/atoth/ubuntuusers/message.napo

Nice one! Thats the first one I've seen that isn't a mash up of the default SuSE theme - would you mind saying how you did it? I did a larger QEMU screenie for you:

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/2035/screenshotru1.th.jpg (http://img89.imageshack.us/my.php?image=screenshotru1.jpg)


I added the message.napo and also added the links how you told me footissimo

No probs - any more I do, I'll add a line so you just have to append :)

[Footissimo]

A Xubuntu theme. This will be the last one until I can work out how to do a non-SuSE based GFXBoot theme.

This one is a mash-up of Eric Hewitt's SVG icon and JozsefMak's wallpaper from the Xubuntu art page: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/XubuntuArtwork. It's a little dull, sorry..but it has rodents! :)

To install - make sure you have GFXBoot installed, then unzip the theme file and put message.xubu in the /boot/grub directory then append the following to the top of /boot/grub/menu.lst:
gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.xubu

For PingunZ

Light blue / grey Xubuntu theme [message.xubu] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1297486&postcount=97) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=13211&d=1153828350)

[ltmon]

Well whilst install GfxBoot I've managed to screw things up royally and nuke my ability to boot Windows. All of my important files are on Linux, but I do need to boot XP from time to time for work stuff.

Can anyone help me get out of this bind?

When I select it I get a very quick flash of "Loading stage 2" follwed by some "malloc" lines and hex codes. It all goes by too fast to really see it.

So next I tried to mount my XP (NTFS) partition from Linux, and if failed with errors. dmesg reports the following:


[17179857.324000] NTFS-fs warning (device sda1): is_boot_sector_ntfs(): Invalid boot sector checksum.
[17179857.324000] NTFS-fs error (device sda1): read_ntfs_boot_sector(): Primary boot sector is invalid.
[17179857.324000] NTFS-fs error (device sda1): read_ntfs_boot_sector(): Mount option errors=recover not used. Aborting without trying to recover.
[17179857.324000] NTFS-fs error (device sda1): ntfs_fill_super(): Not an NTFS volume.


... not encouraging :(

My fdisk -l output:


ltmon@clifford:~$ sudo fdisk -l
Password:

Disk /dev/sda: 100.0 GB, 100030242816 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 12161 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 3916 31455238+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 3917 4177 2096482+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda3 4178 12161 64131480 83 Linux


Preferably I would like to rescue my Windows partition, but don't mind reinstalling it too much because it's pretty much vanilla and doesn't have anything irreplaceable other than saved games.

I really don't want to reinstall Dapper, as there's a whole lot of work gone into perfecting my setup.

On the plus side, Grub now looks really nice :)

Thanks,

L.

[kno]

How i can change the gfxboot language ? i want to use French.

Thanks

Salut DMC_Mandrake,

You have to replace in makefile (so you need theme source) line
DEFAULT_LANG = by
DEFAULT_LANG = fr
and then compile.

[kno]

I did a gfxboot theme, too.
Here is a screenshot:
http://mitglied.lycos.de/atoth/ubuntuusers/screenshot_message_napo_thumb.png

And here you can download it:
http://mitglied.lycos.de/atoth/ubuntuusers/message.napo

Very nice !
I would like to take a look at your source...

Thanks

[frodon]

BTW, this guide has been added to the UDSF there :
http://doc.gwos.org/index.php/GfxBoot

Feel free to update the page or add some more theme links.

[Footissimo]

Well whilst install GfxBoot I've managed to screw things up royally and nuke my ability to boot Windows. All of my important files are on Linux, but I do need to boot XP from time to time for work stuff.

Can anyone help me get out of this bind?

When I select it I get a very quick flash of "Loading stage 2" follwed by some "malloc" lines and hex codes. It all goes by too fast to really see it.

So next I tried to mount my XP (NTFS) partition from Linux, and if failed with errors. dmesg reports the following:


[17179857.324000] NTFS-fs warning (device sda1): is_boot_sector_ntfs(): Invalid boot sector checksum.
[17179857.324000] NTFS-fs error (device sda1): read_ntfs_boot_sector(): Primary boot sector is invalid.
[17179857.324000] NTFS-fs error (device sda1): read_ntfs_boot_sector(): Mount option errors=recover not used. Aborting without trying to recover.
[17179857.324000] NTFS-fs error (device sda1): ntfs_fill_super(): Not an NTFS volume.


... not encouraging :(

My fdisk -l output:


ltmon@clifford:~$ sudo fdisk -l
Password:

Disk /dev/sda: 100.0 GB, 100030242816 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 12161 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 3916 31455238+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 3917 4177 2096482+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda3 4178 12161 64131480 83 Linux


Preferably I would like to rescue my Windows partition, but don't mind reinstalling it too much because it's pretty much vanilla and doesn't have anything irreplaceable other than saved games.

I really don't want to reinstall Dapper, as there's a whole lot of work gone into perfecting my setup.

On the plus side, Grub now looks really nice :)

Thanks,

L.

Erm..I'm not the most technical, but couldn't you try reinstalling the Windows bootloader then, once that has done, reinstall grub from a live CD?

This Wiki entry (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RecoveringUbuntuAfterInstallingWindows) refers to the latter - not sure about the windows bootloader...can't that be done by just partially going through the windows install (..just seen this: Google cache link (http://66.249.93.104/search?q=cache:syt0pVVokoAJ:www.linuxforums.org/forum/redhat-fedora-linux-help/50847-removing-fedora-re-installing-windows-xp-boot-loader.html+reinstalling+master+boot+loader+window s&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=5&client=firefox)

Sorry..not much help :(

[ltmon]

Erm..I'm not the most technical, but couldn't you try reinstalling the Windows bootloader then, once that has done, reinstall grub from a live CD?

This Wiki entry (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RecoveringUbuntuAfterInstallingWindows) refers to the latter - not sure about the windows bootloader...can't that be done by just partially going through the windows install (..just seen this: Google cache link (http://66.249.93.104/search?q=cache:syt0pVVokoAJ:www.linuxforums.org/forum/redhat-fedora-linux-help/50847-removing-fedora-re-installing-windows-xp-boot-loader.html+reinstalling+master+boot+loader+window s&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=5&client=firefox)

Sorry..not much help :(

Well since posting I have made some progress. The problem was that I installed Grub on my windows partition rather than my MBR. ](*,)

I fixed this using the most excellent "testdisk" utility. It can recover the NTFS partition boot sector by copying it from the backup. Don't use the version in the repositories, as it is old, but download from the testdisk website http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk.

After doing this it's easiest to reinstall grub before you reboot. This time I did it properly.

Now I can mount the partition, but it still won't boot. I think windows needs it's boot record fixed. To do this I need the Windows XP install CD and to boot into a recovery mode. Then issue the command "fixmbr" or "fixboot" or something similar. I'll try this tommorrow.

Cheers,

L.

[Footissimo]

The google cache link shows how to repair the MBR..about 4-5 posts down :) Though wouldn't surprise me if Windows co-opts Grub.. ho hum. Good luck! :)

[napo]

Very nice !
I would like to take a look at your source...

Thanks

This is the source: http://mitglied.lycos.de/atoth/ubuntuusers/gfxboot-theme-napo-0.2.tar.bz2

You need this package to compile it: http://www.barwap.com/morphix/gfxboot_2.5-12.1_i386.deb

To change the gfxboot theme you have to edit the files with the inc extension. Here is explained how to do this: http://mitglied.lycos.de/atoth/ubuntuusers/gfxboot.html

This theme is based on the theme from Kanotix. But I did some little modifications.

[KStorm]

I hate to use my first ever post here to gripe, but I could not get it to work. I downloaded it via kde-look.org to my home directory, unzipped it to /boot/grub/, edited grub (see below) as per instructions, but no change. Something I'm missing?

Edit: I'll try commenting out "pretty colors" and see what happens.

gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.kubu

# 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 5

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 15

## 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/hdb5 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd1,4)

## 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

## 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 ##

title Kubuntu 6.06 LTS, kernel 2.6.15-26-k7
root (hd1,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-26-k7 root=/dev/hdb5 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-26-k7
savedefault
boot

title Kubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-26-k7 (recovery mode)
root (hd1,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-26-k7 root=/dev/hdb5 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-26-k7
boot

title Kubuntu, memtest86+
root (hd1,4)
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 Windows NT/2000/XP
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/hda2
title Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
root (hd0,1)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/hdb1.
title PCLinuxOS .93 (on /dev/hdb1)
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-oci3.lve root=/dev/hdb1 vga=788 ro noapic nolapic acpi=ht psmouse.proto=imps splash=silent
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.15-oci3.lve.img
savedefault
boot

[Footissimo]

Sounds obvious, but you didn't mention it...did you install GFXBoot?

[PingunZ]

KStorm, do
sudo kate /boot/grub/menu.lst
and paste this in it ( just remove everything and paste this ::

gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.kubu
default 0
timeout 15

title Kubuntu 6.06 LTS, kernel 2.6.15-26-k7
root (hd1,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-26-k7 root=/dev/hdb5 vga=791 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-26-k7
savedefault
boot

title Kubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-26-k7 (recovery mode)
root (hd1,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-26-k7 root=/dev/hdb5 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-26-k7
boot

title Kubuntu, memtest86+
root (hd1,4)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
boot

title Windows NT/2000/XP
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


title Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
root (hd0,1)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


title PCLinuxOS .93 (on /dev/hdb1)
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-oci3.lve root=/dev/hdb1 vga=788 ro noapic nolapic acpi=ht psmouse.proto=imps splash=silent
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.15-oci3.lve.img
savedefault
boot

[i-mehl]

hi.

nice howto..
but how can i change the resolution of the monitor.
because the grub-menu is blurred.

[PingunZ]

What do you mean ? the gfxboot image is blurred ?
try another one, but there are lots of limitations. so its normal

Grtz PingunZ

[KStorm]

Sounds obvious, but you didn't mention it...did you install GFXBoot?Yep.

[KStorm]

KStorm, do
sudo kate /boot/grub/menu.lst
and paste this in it ( just remove everything and paste this ::
<snip>Nothing changed with the GRUB screen, but the subsequent Kubuntu bootup graphics were much smaller (perhaps due to the insertion of the vga=791 argument in the kernel line).

[PingunZ]

Yes, its something I like so I put it in there, erm...
did you install everything without errors ?

Grtz PingunZ

[KStorm]

Yes, its something I like so I put it in there, erm...
did you install everything without errors ?

Grtz PingunZNo issues there. I'm running the K7 kernel, so that might be an issue.
https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/portable-gfxboot

[msak007]

No issues there. I'm running the K7 kernel, so that might be an issue.
https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/portable-gfxboot

I'm running gfxboot on a k7 kernel with no issues.

[PingunZ]

msak007, your kernel has nothing todo with gfxboot
gfxboot starts before your ubuntu.
But I'm glad it works ;)

[i-mehl]

hi PingunZ.

i change the image, but there is the same :(

[gmc]

Hi Folks,

I must be in need of sleep. I've followed this howto and when I get to running grub, I get the following:



grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hd0,5)

grub> root (hd0,5)
Filesystem type is reiserfs, partition type 0x83

grub> setup (hd0)
Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes
Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes
Checking if "/boot/grub/reiserfs_stage1_5" exists... yes
Running "embed /boot/grub/reiserfs_stage1_5 (hd0)"... 18 sectors are embedded
.
succeeded
Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) (hd0)1+18 p (hd0,5)/boot/grub/stage2
/boot/grub/menu.lst"... succeeded
Done.


However when I reboot, I just get a simple text menu, no graphical menu when I reboot.



gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.suse
default 0
timeout 10

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-26-686
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-26-686 root=/dev/sda6 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-26-686
savedefault
boot

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-26-686 (recovery mode)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-26-686 root=/dev/sda6 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-26-686
boot

title Ubuntu, memtest86+
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
boot


G.

[PingunZ]

So you followed the WHOLE howto on the first page, without errors, your sure you did every step ?

[msak007]

msak007, your kernel has nothing todo with gfxboot
gfxboot starts before your ubuntu.
But I'm glad it works ;)

I know it doesn't, I was just replying to KStorm's post to demonstrate that it's not kernel releated because I'm using the same kernel.

[drbmm]

I too followed the following steps to install GfxBoot:

1. Downloaded the files
2. Uninstalled grub
3. Installed debs
4. Copied file to /boot/grub
5. Added line to menu.lst (added it at the very top, i.e. line 1)
6. Entered the Grub commands
7. Rebooted

Still the text grub page on reboot.

To get the thing to finally work I did the following at step 6:

sudo grub-install /dev/hdx #put your drive values in

sudo grub

grub< setup (hdx,y) #put your values in here

grub< root (hdx,y) #put your values in

grub< quit

reboot

When I rebooted I got the grub prompt instead of the nice graphical log in screen. At the grub prompt I did the following again:

grub< setup (hdx,y) #put your values in here

grub< root (hdx,y) #put your values in

Grub would not allow me to quit so I did a Ctrl-Alt-Del to reboot.

On reboot the nice graphical interface was there.

I have performed the above on two computers to get the program to work.

[domino]

[earlier post removed]

okay, I had no idea i had access to grub without using a boot disk. So i' back in dapper but without GfxBoot. I'm going to test some thing and see if I can get it to work. In the mean time here is an error:


grub> setup (hd1,0)

Error 12: Invalid device requested

Those are the correct drive perameters where /boot exists. The MBR is also on IDE hd1,0. I don't understand the error stating that it's an "invalid device".

gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.blusplash
#
default 0
#
timeout 10
## ## End Default Options ##

title Dapper 6.06, kernel 2.6.15-26-686
root (hd1,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.15-26-686 root=/dev/hdc2 ro quiet splash vga=795
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.15-26-686
savedefault
boot

title Microsoft Windows XP / Windows Vista
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
chainloader +1

title Alternative OS
root (hd0,1)
makeactive
chainloader +1

#title Ubuntu, memtest86+
#root (hd1,0)
#kernel /memtest86+.bin
#boot


Disk /dev/hda: 41.1 GB, 41110142976 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4998 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 1 1912 15358108+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda2 * 1913 4998 24788295 af Unknown

Disk /dev/hdc: 41.1 GB, 41110142976 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4998 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdc1 * 1 18 144553+ 83 Linux
/dev/hdc2 19 869 6835657+ 83 Linux
/dev/hdc3 870 930 489982+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/hdc4 931 4998 32676210 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hdc5 931 2205 10241406 83 Linux
/dev/hdc6 2206 4331 17077063+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hdc7 4332 4998 5357646 b W95 FAT32

Device map:

(hd0) /dev/hda
(hd1) /dev/hdc

[domino]

Okay i tried a few things but I just cnt get it to work. I think this error on post #122 is the problem. Now on hard boot, grub wouldn't load.

[edit]

solved

[doncarlos]

I do the steps what are in the first post and i dont have graphical grub. I tried many times but dont want to work. I dont know whats the matter.

Pls somebody give an advice to me:(

[Malac]

I do the steps what are in the first post and i dont have graphical grub. I tried many times but dont want to work. I dont know whats the matter.

Pls somebody give an advice to me:(

Have you tried the other method:

sudo grub-install /dev/hdx #put your drive values in

[domino]

Why is it on every hard boot, grub deosn't show and goes straight into Windows active partition. but every soft boot, grub shows?

[domino]

Okay, so I get no response to my post from 2 days ago. And obvioussly no one cares to support this thread anymore.

How do i revert back to the original grub configuration. Undoing what was done from the 1st page. This "hack" is not worth all this trouble. You only see grub for less than3 seconds anyway.

[kno]

Okay, so I get no response to my post from 2 days ago. And obvioussly no one cares to support this thread anymore.

How do i revert back to the original grub configuration. Undoing what was done from the 1st page. This "hack" is not worth all this trouble. You only see grub for less than3 seconds anyway.
Try this 3 commands, it should work :

sudo apt-get remove grub-gfxboot
sudo apt-get install grub
sudo update-grub

[domino]

Yea that worked. Thanks.

This was my image while I was using the hack. Not perfect, but It was fun while it lasted.

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/3503/backph4.th.jpg (http://img140.imageshack.us/my.php?image=backph4.jpg)

[fornix]

I am getting a 404 error on the message.suse link. Can someone giv me the message.suse file please.

[kno]

I am getting a 404 error on the message.suse link. Can someone giv me the message.suse file please.

13830

[doncarlos]

Have you tried the other method:

sudo grub-install /dev/hdx #put your drive values in


don @ the_box /home/don]>> sudo grub-install /dev/hda
cannot find a GRUB device for /boot/grub.
Auto-detection of a filesystem module failed.
Please specify the module with the option `--modules' explicitly


don @ the_box /home/don]>> sudo grub-install hd0
cannot find a GRUB device for /boot/grub.
Auto-detection of a filesystem module failed.
Please specify the module with the option `--modules' explicitly

And when I try a module:

sudo grub-install --modules=default /dev/hda
cannot find a GRUB device for /boot/grub.
grub-setup: error: Cannot guess the root device. Specify the option ``--root-device''.

:confused:

[kno]

[QUOTE=doncarlos;1341689]
don @ the_box /home/don]>> sudo grub-install /dev/hda
cannot find a GRUB device for /boot/grub.
Auto-detection of a filesystem module failed.
Please specify the module with the option `--modules' explicitly
Could you tried this :

sudo grub-install /dev/hdc
or :

sudo grub-install /dev/hd1

[Malac]

don @ the_box /home/don]>> sudo grub-install /dev/hda
cannot find a GRUB device for /boot/grub.
Auto-detection of a filesystem module failed.
Please specify the module with the option `--modules' explicitly

don @ the_box /home/don]>> sudo grub-install hd0
cannot find a GRUB device for /boot/grub.
Auto-detection of a filesystem module failed.
Please specify the module with the option `--modules' explicitly
And when I try a module:

sudo grub-install --modules=default /dev/hda
cannot find a GRUB device for /boot/grub.
grub-setup: error: Cannot guess the root device. Specify the option ``--root-device''.
:confused:

My command reads as follows:

sudo grub-install /dev/hda2 As I want my grub on partition 2 of the first hard drive (a) this command works for me.
Try it with the correct partition number for your system;
i.e.
/dev/hda1 - First Drive, First Partition
/dev/hda2 - First Drive, Second Partition
/dev/hdb1 - Second Drive, First Partition
/dev/hdb4 - Second Drive, Fourth Partition

So long as this partition is marked active/bootable it should work.

[aceracer24]

ok I have tried this over and over again with no luck what so ever. First off doing sudo grub gets me a grub prompt but typing in find /boot/grub/stage1 just gives me file not found..... so I tried teh grub-install /dev/hda which game me the same error everyone else got but at teh end said it finished with no errors :shock: but when I rebooted grub spits out that /boot/grub/message.xubu (I picked that one instead of suse since there is no longer a suse link) can't be found...WTF? It's like the partitions don't exist. I've all but given up because even using normal grub and trying to install a bankground gave me much the same error, file can't be read or found. I have been able to get compiz running MUCH easier then getting something as simple as backgrounds for grub to work. ANYONE have any idea what might be the problem? The only thing i can think of is that /boot is on another HDD (hda2) and the rest of the system is on hdb. No clue if that could be the cause of the problem or not.

EDIT: well no reply's, thats always a good sign lol. Anyway, I managed to find my problem. The command grub> Find /boot/grub/stage1 didn't work but after some playing and frustration I found that grub> Find /grub/stage1 did work. I am guessing this has to do with the boot being on a seperate hdd? ANyway all is well in the grub splash world..for me anyway.

[delfick]

just came upon this today...

at first it didn't work
but i kept trying...have no idea what i did..but now it works

so i'm happy :D:D:D:D

so thnx for the tutorial... :D

simple question though....is there a place like gnome-look.org or something like that where i can find other message.xyz files?

thnx

[der_kaiser]

Hello everybody,
I'm working on a customized version of a Live CD based on Ubuntu Dapper.
I'm trying since days to change the picture of gfxboot, but without success...
Gfxboot has almost no documentation, and it's very hard to work on it. As the live cd uses Isolinux instead of Grub as a bootloader, I can't use the Howto in this topic. I've found that the only way to customize the gfxboot picture, is to recompile gfxboot with a PCX picture.
So what I've done, is running make in /usr/share/gfxboot/themes/Ubuntu with my own PCX picture. But I get an error message :


Undefined words: txt_error_title, txt_info_title, txt_change_disk_title, txt_insert_disk, txt_insert_disk3, txt_insert_disk2, txt_load_kernel_title, txt_load_memtest, txt_load_kernel, txt_password_title, txt_password, txt_exit_title, txt_exit_dialog, txt_dvd_warning_title, txt_dvd_warning2, txt_power_off_title, txt_power_off, txt_ok, txt_cancel, txt_reboot, txt_continue, txt_bootoptions, txt_help, txt_harddisk_title, txt_hd_diskdevice, txt_directory, txt_ftp_title, txt_server, txt_user1, txt_http_title, txt_nfs_title, txt_smb_title, txt_domain, txt_user2, txt_other_options, texts
make: *** [bootdir] Erreur 10

The only modification I did to the original Makefile is to set the DEFAULT_LANG to fr .

Can anyone help me on that? Thanks a lot!

[denisesballs]

Ok, you REALLY should add to the first page, if your boot partition is on a seperate partition, that you should do:


find /grub/stage1

and you should add


/grub/message.suse

to the menu.lst. A lot of Linux users (especially ones with LVM) have seperate boot partitions.

[ophanim]

I'm having problems getting this to work. I've followed the directions step by step twice now, but I'm left with the same plain text boot menu that's on by default.

Here's my fdisk -l output if it helps.


Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160000000000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19452 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 7 56196 de Dell Utility
/dev/sda2 * 8 19010 152641597+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 19011 19452 3550365 db CP/M / CTOS / ...

Disk /dev/sdb: 37.0 GB, 37019566080 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4500 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 1 4314 34652173+ 83 Linux
/dev/sdb2 4315 4500 1494045 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 4315 4500 1494013+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris


Note: When I'm in grub, I'm doing (hd1,0), but my fdisk doesn't show any hda devices.

[nathanbriggs]

Thanks for this solved a problem I had with graphics file not found in grub error stage 2

You wouldn't believe how nice it is not to have to press a key to reboot (sometimes I'ma thousand miles away)

And now I can have eye candy boot splashes too

[spockrock]

this seems weird but I made my own splash, and on my xubuntu box it works perfectly but on my ubuntu box, the gfx menu either crashes or just reboots my computer I have no Idea why. but if I use one of the ones posted here it works perfectly. Anyone have any clue as to why that might be??

[roe_polak]

Hi... I couldn't get it working by using the "sudo grub"-command because of my sata drives (I think, I'm noob). Instead I had to log in as root and use "grub-install /dev/sda2". First I tried "sudo grub-install /dev/sda2" but this returned a lot of errors and I didn't dare rebooting. I tried root and it installed with no errors. I really liked this feature in Suse, but I like it even more when it serves Ubuntu...

Again, I should note that I only used this method because of my sata drives. As far as I have understood, the folks with IDE drives can use the guide as is.

To gain root-privileges I entered this in the terminal:

sudo passwd root
(set the password)

Here's my "session" from the terminal:


def@maskine:/$ sudo grub-install /dev/sda2
Due to a bug in xfs_freeze, the following command might produce a segmentation
fault when /boot/grub is not in an XFS filesystem. This error is harmless and
can be ignored.
xfs_freeze: specified file ["/boot/grub"] is not on an XFS filesystem


GNU GRUB version 0.97 (640K lower / 3072K upper memory)

[ Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For the first word, TAB
lists possible command completions. Anywhere else TAB lists the possible
completions of a device/filename. ]
grub> root (hd0,1)
Filesystem type is reiserfs, partition type 0x83
grub> setup --stage2=/boot/grub/stage2 --prefix=/boot/grub (hd0,1)
Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes
Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes
Checking if "/boot/grub/reiserfs_stage1_5" exists... yes
Running "embed /boot/grub/reiserfs_stage1_5 (hd0,1)"... 18 sectors are embedde d.
succeeded
Running "install --stage2=/boot/grub/stage2 /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0,1) (hd0,1)1+ 18 p (hd0,1)/boot/grub/stage2 /boot/grub/menu.lst"... failed

Error 6: Mismatched or corrupt version of stage1/stage2
grub> quit


def@maskine:/$ su
Password:
root@maskine/# grub-install /dev/sda2
Due to a bug in xfs_freeze, the following command might produce a segmentation
fault when /boot/grub is not in an XFS filesystem. This error is harmless and
can be ignored.
xfs_freeze: specified file ["/boot/grub"] is not on an XFS filesystem
Installation finished. No error reported.
This is the contents of the device map /boot/grub/device.map.
Check if this is correct or not. If any of the lines is incorrect,
fix it and re-run the script `grub-install'.

(hd0) /dev/sda
(hd1) /dev/sdb
root@maskine:/#

Please tell me if any of my conclussions, especially that one about root (and not sudo), is incorrect. My goal is to help anyone having the same problems, not to throw them into even worse trouble. I'm also sorry if any of this has been noted before in this thread, but since the custom themes showed up, it's like the support-asspect in the thread disappeared.

Oh, and do back up your menu.lst. Justin Case...

[human]

If anyone is still trying to make this work, try the command


sudo apt-get install gfxboot

as opposed to the file that was in the first post of this thread.

it worked for me ;)

[kno]

I couldn't get it working by using the "sudo grub"-command because of my sata drives (I think, I'm noob).
[...]
As far as I have understood, the folks with IDE drives can use the guide as is.
[...]
[-X

Note that GRUB does not distinguish IDE from SCSI - it simply counts the drive numbers from zero, regardless of their type. Normally, any IDE drive number is less than any SCSI drive number, although that is not true if you change the boot sequence by swapping IDE and SCSI drives in your BIOS.
source : GNU GRUB Manual 0.97 (http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub.html)

I've a SATA drive and I only use the commands :




sudo grub
grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hdx,y)
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdx)

[Malakia]

I had tried both ways and I still get that black screen does anybody have any suggestions. I have tried two different messages two.

[distroman]

hmmm, all that did was cook my mbr, I just had to reinstall grub. :(
I can't quit understand how come, but if someone could help me, ill gladly cook grub again.

I am on duel boot, but since reinstalling grub was fine, I am not sure if that's of any importance.

I used this theme message.blusplash.


grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
Gave me (hd0,4) so I did -

grub> root (hd0,4)
grub> setup (hd0)

On reboot I didn't even make it to grub, totally cooked.
Anyone know where I made the mistake?

edit

Seems like there use to be some other instructions.

I just thought I should post that the newly advised method of installing grub using:


sudo grub

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hdx,y) # this will be the output
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdx)

did not work for me.

I had to use the old method of fdisk -l followed by grub-install. Maybe because I don't have an IDE drive (e.g. my drive is sda1/sda2/sda3)?

Possibly you should add it back to the main instructions as an alternative method for installing.

L.
Any way it could have anything to do with this?

edit


As to your problem, post your menu.lst and your fstab and make sure the message.blusplash is in the grub folder and is owned by root with 755 permission. What was the error message when you tried to boot to grub?

This is all I did with the message.bluesplash -

sudo cp message.bluspash /boot/grub/

As for an grub error on reboot (from memory), I didn't really get one. It didn't find grub at all, it didn't even say it didn't. I think it was something like - “hd0,0 succeeded”.
When I try again, ill be sure to note the error.

menu.lst

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-26-386
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-26-386 root=/dev/hda5 ro quiet splash vga=791
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-26-386
savedefault
boot

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-26-386 (recovery mode)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-26-386 root=/dev/hda5 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-26-386
boot

title Ubuntu, memtest86+
root (hd0,4)
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

fdisk -l

Disk /dev/hda: 81.9 GB, 81964302336 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9964 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 6145 49359681 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda2 6146 9964 30676117+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hda5 6146 7178 8297541 83 Linux
/dev/hda6 7179 7318 1124518+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/hda7 7319 9964 21253963+ 83 Linux

Disk /dev/hdb: 41.1 GB, 41110142976 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4998 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdb1 1 2581 20731851 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hdb2 2582 4111 12289725 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hdb5 2582 4111 12289693+ b W95 FAT32
Thanks

[ScottMorris]

Hi, I have followed the directions many times and it has been unsucessful. below is my menu.lst code, maybe I did something wrong.


# 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/.
gfxmenu (hd0,1)/boot/grub/message.gobo
splashimage (hd0,1)/home/scott/bootback.xpm.gz

## 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 2

## 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=/dev/hda2 ro

## 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

## 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=1

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

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 6.06 LTS
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-26-686 root=/dev/hda2 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-26-686
boot

#title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.15-26-686 (recovery mode)
#root (hd0,1)
#kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-26-686 root=/dev/hda2 ro #single
#initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-26-686
#boot

#title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel memtest86+
#root (hd0,1)
#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 Windows XP Media Center Edition
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


I know there is the bootsplash command in there but it is better than looking at black all the time. I had disabled it to try gfxmenu but it just was the plan black GRUB so I put my boot piture back in. What could be wrong with it? I followed the instructions and it turned out nothing. BTW there is no error messages that come up.

[rohankaikini]

Hi,
I tried to install gfxboot.. as shown in the 1st page of this thread..
everything went well.. as in i got all 'succeeded' messages

But now, all i get on booting is a black screen with a
'grub>' prompt...
i dont know what to do next... i am unable to boot up my system...
please help

~rohan

[Malac]

Hi,
I tried to install gfxboot.. as shown in the 1st page of this thread..
everything went well.. as in i got all 'succeeded' messages

But now, all i get on booting is a black screen with a
'grub>' prompt...
i dont know what to do next... i am unable to boot up my system...
please help

~rohan
Type:

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hdx,y) # this will be the output
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdx,y)
see if that works.

[rohankaikini]

Type:

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hdx,y) # this will be the output
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdx,y)
see if that works.
i tried that...
it says:


grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hd0,2)

grub> root (hd0,2)
Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83

grub> setup (hd0,2)
Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes
Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes
Checking if "/boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5" exists... yes
Running "embed /boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0,2)"... failed (this is not fatal)
Running "embed /boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0,2)"... failed (this is not fatal)
Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0,2) /boot/grub/stage2 p /boot/grub/menu.lst "... succeeded
Done.

grub>


Thats it... nothing after that... again when i reboot, i get the same prompt..
Is there a way i can check or edit menu.lst file? i think i might have done something wrong there...

I have taken a backup of that file though.. as mentioned in the method in this thread..

Please tell me what to do...
Thanks a ton for replying..

~rohan

[Malac]

Just to double check this method only works with the gfxboot that is mentioned at the beginning of the thread.

http://quasarfreak.googlepages.com/grub-gfxboot_0.97-5_i386.deb

If you have ANY version of GRUB installed as well you have the wrong gfxboot installed. Check this in synaptic.


grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hdx,y) # this will be the output
grub> root (hdx,y)
Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83 # this should be the output
grub> setup (hdx,y)
and do this also.


sudo grub-install /dev/hdA0 Replace the A with lowercase letter of drive, 0 with partition number on that drive.
GRUB to dev conversion.
(hd0) = /dev/hda
(hd1) = /dev/hdb
(xxx,0) = /dev/xxx1
(xxx,1) = /dev/xxx2
(xxx,7) = /dev/xxx8

My other problem I had with this was that I had two GRUB's on my system one on /dev/hdb2 and one in the MBR of the first hard drive /dev/hda. One got updated one didn't. Check that is not the case.

Hope this helps.

[Matrixy]

Hi,
I have read this thread on how to do GfxBoot like in SuSe.
i have amd64 kernel and the deb file is for 386...
how can i install the GfxBoot and make it work instead of GRUB...
i want my menu to have an animation B4 loading Os...
thx for ur help

[ciscosurfer]

WARNING: As with any HOWTO, please take care when modifying your files/system; backup if necessary, and prepare for alternative outcomes.
The following is what's worked best for me ;).

What works for one, does not work for all!

If you are still having trouble getting Gfxboot work, try the following steps (modified from this post (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1307510&postcount=121)) that have worked for me:

1. Start by backing up your current menu.lst so you can revert to it if you want to later
sudo cp -pv /boot/grub/menu.lst /boot/grub/menu.lst.backup 2. Download the files (grub-gfxboot.deb (http://quasarfreak.googlepages.com/grub-gfxboot_0.97-5_i386.deb) and message.suse (http://quasarfreak.googlepages.com/message.suse) [you can use the files at the bottom of this UDSF page (http://doc.gwos.org/index.php/GfxBoot) as well, or the end of the first post of this thread!])
3. Uninstall grub
sudo aptitude remove grub 4. Install .deb file 'cd' to wherever you downloaded the .deb file, then issue
sudo dpkg -i grub-gfxboot_0.97-5_i386.deb 5. Copy message.suse file to /boot/grub 'cd' to wherever you downloaded the theme file, then issue
sudo cp message.suse /boot/grub/ ## you can copy any message file over from the bottom of the UDSF page as well 6. Add line to beginning of /boot/grub/menu.lst file
gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.suse ## modify message.suse to whichever theme you downloaded, message.snowish, for example 7. Enter the following GRUB commands (use sudo fdisk -l to find out where your Ubuntu drive/partition is located...mine happens to be on sda1, so I use that.) Each line is a separate command:
sudo grub-install /dev/hdx ## put your drive values in...mine happens to be sda1, so I use that

sudo grub

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1 ## use the output of this to fill in the following values...output will look like this (hdx,y) ... mine is (hd1,0)

grub> root (hdx,y) ## put your values in here from previous step ... I put in (hd1,0) here including the parentheses

grub> setup (hdx,y) ## put your values in here from previous step ... again, I use (hd1,0)

grub> quit

Save all open files, close out, reboot. I like to use sudo reboot b/c it's quick...but be sure to save any open file(s) and close out programs before you do this!8. Reboot and enjoy your new GRUB modification!

FYI: If you have your "Pretty Colors" line enabled (uncommented) or have added your own to your menu.lst file, I have found commenting it out once again, like it is by default on a fresh Ubuntu install, has been helpful...don't know whether this is important or not :wink:

[Ahriman]

Very good. My grub looks awesome now :)
(using Ubuntu Grey)

[latebeat]

I just thought I should post that the newly advised method of installing grub using:


sudo grub

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hdx,y) # this will be the output
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdx)

did not work for me.

I had to use the old method of fdisk -l followed by grub-install. Maybe because I don't have an IDE drive (e.g. my drive is sda1/sda2/sda3)?

Possibly you should add it back to the main instructions as an alternative method for installing.

L.


Same thing for me as well, just thought I'd let you know so u could add the second method as well to the howto.


Also I've got a couple of questions..

Does anyone know how to change the resolution of the boot up screen? I'm using a widescreen monitor and 800x600 doesn't look as good. I tried resizing the .jpg image in the message archive to 1680x1050 but it was only shown cropped during boot.

thanks again for the wonderful guide!!

[Metroid48]

Hi, I typed setup (hd0) by accident (my ubuntu drive is at hd1) and, though GFXboot works fine for Ubuntu, I can't boot windows anymore. BTW, my Ubuntu drive is removable, so that's why I didn't want to install it on my HD.

Also, I'm getting an error 21 for GRUB on the HD.

How do I fix this and uninstall it so that WinXP boots normally?

Thanks,
-Metroid48

[ciscosurfer]

@latebeat
Refer to post #153 (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1426798&postcount=153)

And try keeping your questions limited to the title of this thread...post other questions not relating to Gfxboot to another thread to keep this thread consistent.

[misaine]

here is my theme
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/2210/terrezo9.th.jpg
http://misaine.chez-alice.fr/gfxboot/message.terre
sorry i don't know how to use qemu

[Malac]

Hi, I typed setup (hd0) by accident (my ubuntu drive is at hd1) and, though GFXboot works fine for Ubuntu, I can't boot windows anymore. BTW, my Ubuntu drive is removable, so that's why I didn't want to install it on my HD.

Also, I'm getting an error 21 for GRUB on the HD.

How do I fix this and uninstall it so that WinXP boots normally?

Thanks,
-Metroid48
Boot to your Windows XP disc and go to recovery console type in fixboot and fixmbr. If you don't know how to get to recovery console do a google search for "XP RECOVERY CONSOLE".

[Metroid48]

Uh-oh. I have no clue where my XP disk is.

Any free ways to do it?

EDIT: Also, forgot to mention it. I don't have a floppy drive either.

[Malac]

Metroid48
Try this page : http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

XPQUICK files may do the job. If not there are some CD .iso files as you don't have a floppy. You'll probably also need the one with NTLDR and NTDETECT on also, they're on that site if you search.

Or if you can get a Bootable DOS CD with fdisk.exe on it(maybe from a friend or from inside Ubuntu) you could try DOS Command fdisk /mbr.

From Microsoft.com

Fdisk has an undocumented parameter called /mbr that causes it to write the master boot record to the hard disk without altering the partition table information. This only works on the first hard drive but can be dangerous as it can, on rare occassions, make the files that are on the disk unreadable so do it at your own risk.

[Metroid48]

Well, I found a recovery CD that doesn't require me to have my installation cd.

fixboot works fine, but fixmbr warns that I have a non-standard configuration. It says partitions may become unstable if I proceed.

I have three partitions (1system file thingy, one C:/ drive, and some other system file thingy) and of course the messed up Grub boot loader.

Should I still try fixmbr?

Thanks,
-Metroid48

[Metroid48]

Hey, so is fixmbr stable enough or could it actually destroy my Windows install?

[Malac]

Hey, so is fixmbr stable enough or could it actually destroy my Windows install?

Theoretically; Yes, but if you can do a backup of any data you don't want to lose, it may be worth a try.
I, too, had that warning with fixmbr when GRUB installed in my hd0 MBR. I ran the command anyway as I had backups of data and it worked out fine and restored my MBR to Windows XP version.
The GRUB MBR on your first drive could be what it means by "non-standard".

It's ultimately upto you.

[latebeat]

@latebeat
Refer to post #153 (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1426798&postcount=153)
.

I don't think u read my post at all :)
I solved the problem but had to reboot and reboot and go through 10 pages of this thread until I came up to ltmon's post. It never occured to me doing grub-install /dev/sdx instead of grub, root bla bla, setup bla bla as they are essentially the same thing. Anyway, just thought I'd post my experience as well to help update the howto and save others the trouble I had.

thanks tho

[ciscosurfer]

@latebeat
I'm not sure what you mean. Your last post (two posts ago) you quoted ltmon and agreed with him/her that the method he lists didn't work for you either. My method, on the other hand, is a little different than that. Maybe take a look at it again to verify this. Either way, glad you solved your problem with whichever way worked for you (no solution is a catch-all solution).

[distroman]

This howto should get added to the first page as an alternative.
It seems to me that the howto as it is now, don't cover, multiple partitions, dual boot, boot partitions etc.

If you are still having trouble getting Gfxboot work, try the following steps (modified from this post (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1307510&postcount=121)) that have worked for me:

1. Download the files (grub-gfxboot.deb (http://quasarfreak.googlepages.com/grub-gfxboot_0.97-5_i386.deb) and message.suse (http://quasarfreak.googlepages.com/message.suse) [you can use the files at the bottom of this UDSF page (http://doc.gwos.org/index.php/GfxBoot) as well, or the end of the first post of this thread!])
2. Uninstall grub
sudo aptitude remove grub 3. Install .deb file 'cd' to wherever you downloaded the .deb file, then issue
sudo dpkg -i grub-gfxboot_0.97-5_i386.deb 4. Copy message.suse file to /boot/grub 'cd' to wherever you downloaded the theme file, then issue
sudo cp message.suse /boot/grub/ ## you can copy any message file over from the bottom of the UDSF page as well 5. Add line to beginning of /boot/grub/menu.lst file
gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.suse ## modify message.suse to whichever theme you downloaded, message.snowish, for example 6. Enter the following GRUB commands (use sudo fdisk -l to find out where your Ubuntu drive/partition is located...mine happens to be on sda1, so I use that.) Each line is a separate command:
sudo grub-install /dev/hdx ## put your drive values in...mine happens to be sda1, so I use that

sudo grub

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1 ## use the output of this to fill in the following values...output will look like this (hdx,y) ... mine is (hd1,0)

grub> root (hdx,y) ## put your values in here from previous step ... I put in (hd1,0) here including the parentheses

grub> setup (hdx,y) ## put your values in here from previous step ... again, I use (hd1,0)

grub> quit

Save all open files, close out, reboot. I like to use sudo reboot b/c it's quick...but be sure to save any open file(s) and close out programs before you do this!7. Reboot and enjoy your new GRUB modification!

FYI: If you have your "Pretty Colors" line enabled (uncommented) or have added your own to your menu.lst file, I have found commenting it out once again, like it is by default on a fresh Ubuntu install, has been helpful...don't know whether this is important or not :wink:
Perhaps this howto should have some sort of warning as well, don't these kind of howto's usually have that?
When I mess with stuff like this, I always backup first. Secondly I have messed up so many MBR's, (because I am really dumb, with stuff like this) that I feel I can fix them with a little luck. However it could be that, not all feel that way.

During this I managed to both screw up grub and last, but not least windows MBR, I know :D
To my surprise I could fix windows with “fixboot” without messing up grub. I think I know why now, as beside getting a nice picture in grub, I have learned a bit.

Thank you for this second howto, because I needed a bit more help, then the post it is based on.

[distroman]

Hey, so is fixmbr stable enough or could it actually destroy my Windows install?
I had to use “fixboot” because I was so clever, that I installed grub on my NTFS partition. If you have done nothing else, then follow this howto, you should not worry about any of these commands.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058/

FIXBOOT
fixboot drive name:
Use this command to write the new Windows boot sector code on the system partition. In the command syntax, drive name is the drive letter where the boot sector will be written. This command fixes damage in the Windows boot sector. This command overrides the default setting, which writes to the system boot partition. The fixboot command is supported only on x86-based computers.

FIXMBR
fixmbr device name
Use this command to repair the MBR of the boot partition. In the command syntax, device name is an optional device name that specifies the device that requires a new MBR. Use this command if a virus has damaged the MBR and Windows cannot start.

Warning This command can damage your partition tables if a virus is present or if a hardware problem exists. If you use this command, you may create inaccessible partitions. We recommend that you run antivirus software before you use this command.

You can obtain the device name from the output of the map command. If you do not specify a device name, the MBR of the boot device is repaired, for example:
fixmbr \device\harddisk2
If the fixmbr command detects an invalid or non-standard partition table signature, fixmbr command prompts you for permission before rewriting the MBR. The fixmbr command is supported only on x86-based computers.
Hope it workes out for you.

[cpslim7626]

i get a grub error sayiing /boot/grub/message.ubugrey is to large

[spockrock]

that happens when you message file is too large, it has to be below 170K i believe.

[Matrixy]

Will GfxBoot work on 64bit amd?
i saw here only i386 version.

[lepre]

6. Enter the following GRUB commands (use sudo fdisk -l to find out where your Ubuntu drive/partition is located...mine happens to be on sda1, so I use that.) Each line is a separate command:
sudo grub-install /dev/hdx ## put your drive values in...mine happens to be sda1, so I use that

sudo grub

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1 ## use the output of this to fill in the following values...output will look like this (hdx,y) ... mine is (hd1,0)

grub> root (hdx,y) ## put your values in here from previous step ... I put in (hd1,0) here including the parentheses

grub> setup (hdx,y) ## put your values in here from previous step ... again, I use (hd1,0)

grub> quit

Save all open files, close out, reboot. I like to use sudo reboot b/c it's quick...but be sure to save any open file(s) and close out programs before you do this!

this fixed!

you should add in the first post that grub-install is necessary!

[fishonadish]

i get a grub error sayiing /boot/grub/message.ubugrey is to large

Hi,
I'm having trouble getting an acceptable filesize when making a message file.

I've been trying to edit the suse one.
The original message.suse is 125KB, but when I edited the images and archived it I got twice that.

It seems if I extract and then compress the suse one without editing it at all, I get a file of 250KB or so.

I did the following.



:~/temp$ cpio -i < message.suse
250 blocks
:~/temp$ rm message.suse
:~/temp$ ls . |cpio -o > message.suse
cpio: File message.suse grew, 123392 new bytes not copied
491 blocks

There aren't any other files in the folder to begin with, and I did delete the message.suse before re-archiving (which was my first thought).

Anyone any idea what I'm doing wrong here?
Why is it going from 250 to 491 blocks?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Fishonadish


Update: In case anyone else makes this error, the resulting archive did contain a copy of itself, which is why it was double the size. The solution was to output to another directory (i.e. cpio -0 > /another/dir/message.suse). Not sure why this happens...anyone able to explain?

Fishonadish

[Average Joe]

Ok. The Gfxboot kind of works for me. But I still have some questions I hope somebody can answer.

1) Why doesn't gfxboot work with the grub that comes with Ubuntu? Gfxboot shows up as a package in Synaptic, saying that it is suitable for grub. But apparently not the default grub. I find that strange. Why the need for an integrated grub/gfxboot package if both grub and gfxboot are available in Synaptic?

2) Is it possible to fully customize the message? I mean not only play around with the images, but also their positions on the screen, and the position where the boot entries are shown. I guess one would need the source code of the message then and compile the message yourself. Where can I get the source code of any message? Or don't I need it?

I hope some wizard knows more about this, and is willing to share some of his infinite wisdom with me, and other forum members of course.

[3rr0r]

tagged for later reading.

[NewbieLearnLinux]

Gfxboot makes grub look nicer but with the same features
In this howto you will install gfxboot and a suse theme for it, soon I'll make an ubuntu one ;)
Ok, let's start

Download the grub-gfxboot.deb (http://quasarfreak.googlepages.com/grub-gfxboot_0.97-5_i386.deb)
And the message.suse (http://quasarfreak.googlepages.com/message.suse)

First remove your old grub

sudo apt-get remove grub

Then Install the gfxboot-grub

sudo dpkg -i grub-gfxboot_0.97-5_i386.deb

then we're going to move the message

sudo cp message.suse /boot/grub/ # the suse can be replaced by the one you downloaded

Then edit your menu.lst



sudo cp /boot/grub/menu.lst /boot/grub/menu.lst_backup
sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
and make it use gfxboot

gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.suse # the suse can be replaced


Then do :
sudo grub

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hdx,y) # this will be the output
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdx)

-- Howto make you own theme --



mkdir /home/name/whatever
cpio -i < /boot/grub/message.suse # replace it by the name of you message
edit the pictures
sudo ls . |cpio -o > /boot/grub/message.new

Reboot and enjoy ;)
Thanks to Quasar_freak and kno

here are some themes posted in this thread ;) ( ty :KS )

Light Green generic theme [message.gobo] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1214274&postcount=12) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12251&d=1152089288)
Dark Brown (Dapper look) generic theme [message.new] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1239724&postcount=55) | Screenshot (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12549&d=1152600544)
Medium blue kubuntu theme [message.kubuntu] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1234300&postcount=54) | Screenshot (http://files.upl.silentwhisper.net/upload5/gfxboot.jpg)
Dark grey ubuntu theme [message.ubugrey] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1251236&postcount=61) | Screenshot (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12875&d=1153129717)
Medium brown ubuntu theme [message.ububrown] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1252317&postcount=63) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12874&d=1153129657)
Light orange ubuntu theme [message.ubu] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1254642&postcount=64) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12873&d=1153128852)
Red ubuntu theme [message.new] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1265601&postcount=65) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12870&d=1153128852)
Fuzzy blue and black ubuntu theme [message.bluspash] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1272301&postcount=71) | Screenshot (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12947&d=1153265746)
White / Grey Snowish generic theme [message.snow] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1292317&postcount=84) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=13161&d=1153730506)
Linspire-style blue kubuntu theme [message.kubu] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1294120&postcount=86) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=13176&d=1153757390)
Old- Grub style dark blue and light blue [message.kubu] | Link (http://mitglied.lycos.de/atoth/ubuntuusers/message.napo) | Screenshot (http://mitglied.lycos.de/atoth/ubuntuusers/screenshot_message_napo.png)
Light blue / grey Xubuntu theme [message.xubu] | Link (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1297486&postcount=97) | Screenshot (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=13211&d=1153828350)


Grtz PingunZ[/QUOTE]

maybe this is a n00b question, but may I use the other "message" files instead of message.suse and just replace the respective phrase in menu.lst ?
(instead of "How to make own theme" ? )

[Average Joe]

Grtz PingunZ

maybe this is a n00b question, but may I use the other "message" files instead of message.suse and just replace the respective phrase in menu.lst ?
(instead of "How to make own theme" ? )

Of course. That is what they are for.

[Najand]

I did exactly as explained but still have the old non grapgical Grub menu. Did I made a mistake?

[NewbieLearnLinux]

Thank you, it works like a charm!

But the message.ubu gave me a warning : "You are about to install a 32-bit app on 64-bit machine" or something like that... whilst the others are fine. And the Ubuntu icon of message.ubu is not animated either -_- , though its colors are very eye-candy to me...


@Najand: what are your steps ? Remember to move/copy the message.xyz to /boot/grub and add the line "gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.xyz" at the top of the file menu.lst (/boot/grub/menu.lst) AFTER installing successfully GFXgrub.

[ciscosurfer]

@Najand,
Try following my post insead of the OP: http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1426798&postcount=153

[Najand]

Maybe the reason is that I have two Linux Systems with grub on my computer. I saw your howto , too, ciscosurfer.
Well, didn't find anything wrong with my installation. I am giving up.

[silent_scream]

well, thnx for the how-to.
the images are very nice!

BUT! I also have a prob...
when grub appears, i see the image,
if i select to boot on ubuntu that's ok,
if i choose to boot in windows it takes me back to grub!!

and when i login to ubuntu, it doesn't mount the windows partition!!
any ideas???

it shows a message:


silent@MetallicA:~$ sudo mount /dev/sda1 /media/sda1/ -t ntfs -o umask=0222
Password:
mount: wrong fs type, bad option, bad superblock on /dev/sda1,
missing codepage or other error
In some cases useful info is found in syslog - try
dmesg | tail or so

my dmesg | tail :


[17179838.500000] NTFS-fs warning (device sda1): is_boot_sector_ntfs(): Invalid boot sector checksum.
[17179838.500000] NTFS-fs error (device sda1): read_ntfs_boot_sector(): Primary boot sector is invalid.
[17179838.500000] NTFS-fs error (device sda1): read_ntfs_boot_sector(): Mount option errors=recover not used. Aborting without trying to recover.
[17179838.500000] NTFS-fs error (device sda1): ntfs_fill_super(): Not an NTFS volume.
[17179864.724000] atkbd.c: Unknown key released (translated set 2, code 0x81 on isa0060/serio0).
[17179864.724000] atkbd.c: Use 'setkeycodes e001 <keycode>' to make it known.
[17179866.748000] atkbd.c: Unknown key pressed (translated set 2, code 0xd9 on isa0060/serio0).
[17179866.748000] atkbd.c: Use 'setkeycodes e059 <keycode>' to make it known.
[17179877.628000] atkbd.c: Unknown key pressed (translated set 2, code 0xd9 on isa0060/serio0).
[17179877.628000] atkbd.c: Use 'setkeycodes e059 <keycode>' to make it known.




any ideas?
it's driving me crazy... :(

[gabrielmenini]

I wans't able to get Grub to load the image located at /boot/grub/message.ubugrey

Grub says can't find the file but the file exists in the correct location and have root:root permission....

What am I doing wrong?

T.I.A.

[NoWhereMan]

maybe yoy have to chmod /boot/grub/message.ubugrey ?
but I can't say :)

bye

[veloct]

No matter what I try I can't get it to work. I've tried all suggestions in this thread and nothing. I get the message that the "message.<filename> is not in /boot/grub" but it's there. I dunno.

[granjerox]

can I use it in edgy?

[granjerox]

Nobody has tried to install it in edgy?, I had it in dapper and liked so much, but i'm not an expert so I don't dare to do it by myself.

[sorcererx84]

I have it working in Edgy. No problems so far.

[mhueting]

Ok, now I'm screwed. I just booted my pc with this gfxmenu config, and I just get a grub prompt. No selection whatsoever anymore. Now what should I enter to just boot my pc? To ubuntu?

Thanks a lot, and I'll try to sort this gfxmenu thing out, because it looks so much better than the consolestyle.

[Buhmann]

Hi, I followed the instructions on page 1, but absolute nothing happens. I got no errors and nothing looked wrong, but my grub is still looking like before. Has anyone an idea what to do? (I'm absolutely new to linux so please don't ask too much of me.

[EDIT]
In fact, there was a little problem:
The command "sudo echo gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.suse > /boot/grub/menu.lst" (posted on the 2nd site of this thread) deleted my entire menu.lst, so i had to use my backup and edit it on my own. But I can't imagine that this could be a reason for grub not to use the gfxboot ...

[linuxnewbie946]

Hi, I am a Kubuntu Edgy user and however hard I try, I cannot make a "valid" theme for gfxboot. Can anyone tell me why? Here are the facts:

I did this.

cpio -i < message.new
Did NOT edit the pictures, and did this.

sudo rm -rf message.new
sudo ls . |cpio -o > message.new
And the file ended up larger than the original and is no longer bootable. Why?

[sag47]

Another theme, this time based on this wallpaper (http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=32429). Again, decompress and stick in /boot/grub then change the first line of /boot/grub/menu.lst to
gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.ububrown and reboot.

Again, if someone could do a virtual session for the screenie :) (thanks Kno)

Could you please post the full source of your message compiling. I'm having trouble editing the SuSE boot source. It keeps getting errors and the message file won't boot right.
Thanks,
SAM

[kvonb]

Took me a while to get it working on Edgy. This is why:


sudo grub

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hdx,y) # this will be the output
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdx)...is wrong, it should be:


sudo grub

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hdx,y) # this will be the output
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdn)..where n=a for first hard disk, b for second, c for third etc'!

So on my system, where I have only 1 hard disk:


sudo grub

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hd0,4) # this is my output
grub> root (hd0,4)
grub> setup (hda)You might want to change the original instructions to save a lot of problems.

All I need now is a nice standard theme for Edgy.

Regards, Kev :)

[Malac]

All I need now is a nice standard theme for Edgy.

Regards, Kev :)
You can have mine if you want.
Nothing fancy, just says Ubuntu Edgy 6.10. :)
19736

[n3Cre0]

After some struggling and like 7 reboots I got it to work. Thnx looks much nicer now

[kvonb]

Malac (http://ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=84076): Thanks, I tried it but I just get rubbish text in a text box in the top left corner of the screen! The background picture is there, but nothing else.

[Malac]

Malac (http://ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=84076): Thanks, I tried it but I just get rubbish text in a text box in the top left corner of the screen! The background picture is there, but nothing else.
Sorry kvonb, I've been playing with mine and uploaded one with the permissions set wrong or something.
I have uploaded one that definitely works on mine to my previous post with a screenie.
Hope this helps and sorry again.

[Footissimo]

Could you please post the full source of your message compiling. I'm having trouble editing the SuSE boot source. It keeps getting errors and the message file won't boot right.
Thanks,
SAM

Hi

I didn't edit the source code - just fiddled with the images within the compressed file until I got what I wanted..sorry. Early in this thread there are links to a couple of people who have though.

[Malac]

Also my ice-cold look one.
:)
19741

[kvonb]

Thanks Malac, that one works well :)

[Malac]

Thanks Malac, that one works well :)
You're Most Welcome. :)

[OrganicPanda]

... snipped ...



sudo grub

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hd0,4) # this is my output
grub> root (hd0,4)
grub> setup (hda)



... snipped ...


I'm running edgy and I have tried all the instructions I can find and I'm still seeing the normal grub screen, no errors, nothing atall. I even tried the above suggestion but when in 'sudo grub' if I give it 'setup (hda)' like the example says to It returns an error, I don't know what's wrong here I've followed all instructions without fault and with 3 different message themes. Any suggestions?

[zammi]

Took me a while to get it working on Edgy. This is why:


sudo grub

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hdx,y) # this will be the output
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdx)...is wrong, it should be:


sudo grub

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hdx,y) # this will be the output
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdn)..where n=a for first hard disk, b for second, c for third etc'!

So on my system, where I have only 1 hard disk:


sudo grub

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hd0,4) # this is my output
grub> root (hd0,4)
grub> setup (hda)You might want to change the original instructions to save a lot of problems.

All I need now is a nice standard theme for Edgy.

Regards, Kev :)


I'm on edgy but this method is giving me errors.

Grub setup of the original method on first post working fine but nothing happens at grub screen (Same old black screen). No error though. I've tried 4 theme files so far without success.

[zammi]

At last managed to get this run on my PC. :-)

I think one important step is missing on the howto on first post.

** Once I installed the new grub packages, I had to run:

grub-install /dev/hdb1 (Where my Edgy installation was on hdb1).

Then followed the main thread for rest of the tasks. Everything working fine now.

[WishMaster]

Can anyone provide a WORKING Edgy how-to ?

[n3Cre0]

I did it on edgy. Works fine

[Malac]

Okay as a couple of people seem to be getting things mixed up. Here are my commands, this works 100% on Edgy with my theme at post # 194.

sudo su (do not sudo grub)
grub
grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hd0,1) # this is my output, yours may be different, you may even get multiples if you've lots of versions of linux.
grub> root (hd0,1)
grub> setup (hd0,1)
grub> quitBack at Normal Prompt do this as well.

grub-install /dev/hda2Okay the bold bits are where people seem to be getting mixed up.
If you already have a Master Boot Record written, say you have Windows on /dev/hda (hd0) then /dev/hda1 (hd0,1) will not overwrite /dev/hda (hd0) therefore you will still get your old boot.
/dev/hda or hd0 without a number after it will write GRUB to the MBR.
With a number after it, grub will write itself to that partition which needs to be active/bootable to work, use the following tables to check you have the right numbers/letters.

Drives
Grub Dev
hd0 hda
hd1 hdb
hd2 hdc
........ Partitions
Grub Dev
,0 1
,1 2
,2 3
.................Hope this helps.

[iGama]

How to worked with me on Edgy and Dapper.
Thanks

[pavel_kbc]

grub> grub-install /dev/hda

Error 27: Unrecognized command

grub> grub-install hd0

Error 27: Unrecognized command

grub> grub-install /dev/dha9

Error 27: Unrecognized command

grub> grub-install /dev/dha2

Error 27: Unrecognized command

grub> grub-install /dev/dha1

Error 27: Unrecognized command

[pavel_kbc]

whatever i am using edgy and its works for me thank you everyone

[lepre]

grub> grub-install /dev/hda

Error 27: Unrecognized command

grub> grub-install hd0

Error 27: Unrecognized command

grub> grub-install /dev/dha9

Error 27: Unrecognized command

grub> grub-install /dev/dha2

Error 27: Unrecognized command

grub> grub-install /dev/dha1

Error 27: Unrecognized command

if you change the parameters to an Unrecognized command it still remains an Unrecognized command. try setup instead.

[Malac]

if you change the parameters to an Unrecognized command it still remains an Unrecognized command. try setup instead.
I think he misread my post:
Back at Normal Prompt do this as well.

grub-install /dev/hda2

[Sprite1990]

Downloaded the file to my desktop, then:



dan@DanLinux:~$ sudo dpkg -i grub-gfxboot_0.97-5_i386.deb
dpkg: error processing grub-gfxboot_0.97-5_i386.deb (--install):
cannot access archive: No such file or directory
Errors were encountered while processing:
grub-gfxboot_0.97-5_i386.deb

](*,)

[WishMaster]

Downloaded the file to my desktop, then:


dan@DanLinux:~$ sudo dpkg -i grub-gfxboot_0.97-5_i386.deb
dpkg: error processing grub-gfxboot_0.97-5_i386.deb (--install):
cannot access archive: No such file or directory
Errors were encountered while processing:
grub-gfxboot_0.97-5_i386.deb](*,)

The file is on your desktop,
in your console, you are in your home-folder.

Type first: cd ~/Desktop
then sudo dpkg -i ....
Or just dubble click the file on your desktop. A graphical installer will take over

[WishMaster]

Step1:
download http://quasarfreak.googlepages.com/grub-gfxboot_0.97-5_i386.deb

Step2:
Download a 'theme'. See the first post (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1212505&postcount=1) for this.

Step3:
Remove the old GRUB.
Open a terminal and type:
sudo apt-get remove grub

Step4:
Install gfxboot. Find the downloaded .deb and dubbleclick it. A graphical installer will take over.

Step5:
We are going to move the 'theme' we just downloaded.
Open a terminal, cd to the folder where you downloaded the theme and type:
sudo cp message.suse /boot/grub/
Offcourse "message.suse" can be replaced by the one you downloaded

Step6:
Backup menu.lst and edit the original to use gfxboot.
sudo cp /boot/grub/menu.lst /boot/grub/menu.lst_backup
sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
This will open up a textfile.
Insert a new first line that says:
gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.suse
Once again: the message.suse can be replaced

Step7:
sudo su
grub
Now you are in the "grub-console".
grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hd0,1) # this is my output, yours may be different, you may even get multiples if you've lots of versions of linux.
grub> root (hd0,1)
grub> setup (hd0,1)
grub> quit

Now we are back in the normal console.
Just 1 more command to go...
take a look at the output. it has the form: (hdx,y)
the x:
0 =a
1 = b
2 = c
....

grub-install /dev/hdxy

An example:
*) if your output was (hd0,1) then what you have to type is: grub-install /dev/hda1
*) if your output was (hd1,6) then what you have to type is: grub-install /dev/hdb6

Get the idea?

Step8:
reboot and enjoy your gfxboot :)

[touchlikefire]

Even though I've followed the initial directions about 4 times, and the modified directions found in the replies another 4 times, I still cannot get gfxboot at the boot screen. Instead, I'm left with the old grub plaintext boot experience.

I've read through page 16 of this forum, and I haven't come across anything that has helped my problem. I could be wrong, but from my analysis it seems the problem is with the menu.lst configuration. Since there are a lot of us out there with this problem, and I think it would be helpful to devote some time to figuring it out, and then posting the fix once it is solved.

To be clear, the line gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.wxyz is what I think is the culprit. I've placed it all around menu.lst and it has had no effect. But...maybe it's not the problem? I don't know. I'm still a novice, so someone please help me.

Here is my 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 saved

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
#timeout 8

## 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=2f041292-5ad0-4af3-aa8e-4a7af2bac539 ro

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

## 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 resume=/dev/hda5

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

## 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=true

## ## End Default Options ##

##splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.snow
default saved
timeout 8

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-10-generic
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.17-10-generic root=UUID=2f041292-5ad0-4af3-aa8e-4a7af2bac539 ro quiet splash resume=/dev/hda5
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.17-10-generic
savedefault
boot

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-10-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.17-10-generic root=UUID=2f041292-5ad0-4af3-aa8e-4a7af2bac539 ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.17-10-generic
boot

title Ubuntu, memtest86+
root (hd0,0)
kernel /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/hda5
title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root (hd0,1)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1
Oh, and my grub is on hda1, not the MBR.

[WishMaster]

put "gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.snow" as the very first line in menu.lst

[Malac]

touchlikefire
As WishMaster says,

gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.snowshould be the very first line before the

# 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/.Then in terminal

sudo su
grubAt GRUB prompt

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hd0,0) # this will be your output.
grub> root (hd0,0)
grub> setup (hd0,0)
grub> quitThen back at Terminal prompt :

grub-install /dev/hda1If this doesn't work then you have overwritten your MBR without realising, in which case you need to switch/recover it.
I see you are running XP on the other partition so run Windows Recovery Console or live with the MBR being GRUB and change the last command to :

grub-install /dev/hda

[touchlikefire]

Thanks, I got the grub installation portion to proceed without errors; I don't know why I got something different when I tried it myself.

However, when I rebooted I got a grub prompt and nothing else (so I root (hd0,0) and setup (hd0,0) again) and now whenever I reboot I get the message "gfx failed to load image, cannot find /boot/grub/message.snow" even tho I checked and it's in there.

Thoughts?

[Malac]

Thanks, I got the grub installation portion to proceed without errors; I don't know why I got something different when I tried it myself.

However, when I rebooted I got a grub prompt and nothing else (so I root (hd0,0) and setup (hd0,0) again) and now whenever I reboot I get the message "gfx failed to load image, cannot find /boot/grub/message.snow" even tho I checked and it's in there.

Thoughts?
This may mean the image file is too big for your system or the main file is corrupt.
Try downloading a simple known good file and use that one, like the plain message.suse one, for now until you've got it working.

[touchlikefire]

If you've followed all the steps in this tutorial properly, yet when you reboot your system you receive an error stating "cannot find image /boot/grub/message.wxyz press any key to continue...", do this:

Open /boot/grub/menu.lst in your favorite text editor and replace the line
gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.wxyz with
gfxmenu (hdq,p)/grub/message.wxyz where message.wxyz is the name of the image file (eg - message.suse) and 'q' and 'p' are the hard drive a partition location, in grub format (eg - (hd0,0) for first hdd, partition 1).

[jsteve54302]

Then edit your menu.lst

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lstand make it use gfxboot

gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.suseok how do I do that?

tlaloc@aztlan:~$ gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.suse
bash: gfxmenu: command not found
tlaloc@aztlan:~$

do I missing something here?

Ok... don't know why nobody seems to have answered this... Here goes:

The instructions were, well, a bit vague (technically, you did follow them to the letter :) )
Instead of typing the line starting with "gfxmenu" on the command line, you need type it in the first line of the text editor brought up by the command starting with "sudo gedit" and press enter so that that's the only thing on that line. Then save and exit. the text editor.

Oh, and a note to everyone: If the program you're using doesn't stay in the terminal you launch it from, please use gksudo instead of sudo. Using sudo for the wrong GUI program can break your system if it breaks the pipe when it asks for your password (say, when you put '&' at the end of a command to create a new program thread and therefore be able to continue using the terminal). Esp. when messing around with things like boot loader configs... Thank you... <edit>For Kubuntu users: Use kdesu instead of gksudo</edit>

[jsteve54302]

Originally Posted by touchlikefire http://ubuntuforums.org/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=1850115#post1850115)

Thanks, I got the grub installation portion to proceed without errors; I don't know why I got something different when I tried it myself.

However, when I rebooted I got a grub prompt and nothing else (so I root (hd0,0) and setup (hd0,0) again) and now whenever I reboot I get the message "gfx failed to load image, cannot find /boot/grub/message.snow" even tho I checked and it's in there.

Thoughts?

This may mean the image file is too big for your system or the main file is corrupt.
Try downloading a simple known good file and use that one, like the plain message.suse one, for now until you've got it working.
This may mean the image file is too big for your system or the main file is corrupt.
Try downloading a simple known good file and use that one, like the plain message.suse one, for now until you've got it working.

This may just be the location of your message.wxyz file(s). Another poster earlier (I believe it was Bohboh) pointed out that, if you're /boot is actually a seperate partition mounted on a /boot directory, rather than a simple directory, you may have to remove /boot from the gfxboot path (i.e.,


gfxboot /grub/message.snowinstead of

gfxboot /boot/grub/snow). This is the case on my system, which has /dev/sdb1 mounted on the /boot directory in /dev/sdb5. This is because the /boot directory does not actually exist on the boot partition - the boot files are in the / directory, and the grub files in /grub. Hope this helps :)

[jsteve54302]

I have been trying to get this tutorial to work for me for a while now. I've done and redone each step of the tutorial many times. The only thing I think that I may be doing wrong is putting the line "gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.blusplash" in the wrong place in my menu.lst file. <snip>



Two ideas:
1: My gfxboot refuses to even look for a message file unless unless the gfxboot line is the very first one in menu.lst (i.e., it goes straight to standard grub with no errors). before any automagic lines/comments.
2: If grub/gfxboot tells you it can't find the message file, check my last post (post #227, on page#23).

[Zeek00]

when you type


sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

What should you edit if anything at all?

When I go onto the next step, and type


gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.ubugrey

I get this error kicked back to me...


bash: gfxmenu command not found.

[Malac]

@Zeek00

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lstThen whilst you are in the file menu.lst in gedit insert the line;

gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.ubugreyat the top of that file not in the terminal.

[hvdhvd]

well, thnx for the how-to.
the images are very nice!

BUT! I also have a prob...
when grub appears, i see the image,
if i select to boot on ubuntu that's ok,
if i choose to boot in windows it takes me back to grub!!

and when i login to ubuntu, it doesn't mount the windows partition!!
any ideas???

it shows a message:


silent@MetallicA:~$ sudo mount /dev/sda1 /media/sda1/ -t ntfs -o umask=0222
Password:
mount: wrong fs type, bad option, bad superblock on /dev/sda1,
missing codepage or other error
In some cases useful info is found in syslog - try
dmesg | tail or so

my dmesg | tail :


[17179838.500000] NTFS-fs warning (device sda1): is_boot_sector_ntfs(): Invalid boot sector checksum.
[17179838.500000] NTFS-fs error (device sda1): read_ntfs_boot_sector(): Primary boot sector is invalid.
[17179838.500000] NTFS-fs error (device sda1): read_ntfs_boot_sector(): Mount option errors=recover not used. Aborting without trying to recover.
[17179838.500000] NTFS-fs error (device sda1): ntfs_fill_super(): Not an NTFS volume.
[17179864.724000] atkbd.c: Unknown key released (translated set 2, code 0x81 on isa0060/serio0).
[17179864.724000] atkbd.c: Use 'setkeycodes e001 <keycode>' to make it known.
[17179866.748000] atkbd.c: Unknown key pressed (translated set 2, code 0xd9 on isa0060/serio0).
[17179866.748000] atkbd.c: Use 'setkeycodes e059 <keycode>' to make it known.
[17179877.628000] atkbd.c: Unknown key pressed (translated set 2, code 0xd9 on isa0060/serio0).
[17179877.628000] atkbd.c: Use 'setkeycodes e059 <keycode>' to make it known.




any ideas?
it's driving me crazy... :(


i have this exactly problem, what to do?? any help please

[Malac]

i have this exactly problem, what to do?? any help please
Sounds like you've both blown the boot record for sda1. It may help to run fixboot and/or fixmbr from Windows Recovery Console.

[hvdhvd]

Sounds like you've both blown the boot record for sda1. It may help to run fixboot and/or fixmbr from Windows Recovery Console.

didnt help, couldnt find ntldr etc. so
i got the important data from it with Getdataback and got rid of the M$ at all, now installing ubuntu on the whole disk. thx for trying to help

[Ben Sprinkle]

Cool, it possible to make your own themes from png wallpapers?

[ptitpoul]

I posted on the french Ubuntu forum some tips to modify colors and languages of gfxboot themes : http://forum.ubuntu-fr.org/viewtopic.php?pid=625301#p625301. I haven't seen these tips on this forum, so if someone find this interesting I (or someone else) can traduce the main thing.

[Gurgeh]

Guys, remember that if you have a SATA HD to run:

grub-install sda (in my case)

Had me bloody stumped for ages...

[se0siris]

Is there any way to disable the 64bit check?

I'm running on a 32bit system, but each time GfxBoot loads on boot I get an annoying dialog telling me I'm trying to install 32bit software on a 64bit system. Which I'm not, but the dialog goes away and lets me choose an entry fine if I hit enter.

But I don't want to have to hit enter. I'd like to be able to leave my computer start up without hanging around to press buttons to make it boot :-/

[Abaddon]

I usually have my Grub menu hidden by default - with the hiddenmenu option, so unless I hit escape during startup, my computer will automatically load Ubuntu.

Does this work with GFX grub? ie - press escape to show GRUB then brings up the graphic screen?

This would be very nice.

Cheers,

[Rinzwind]

I did everything in de 1st post plus a
sudo grub-install hd0

Used message.ubugrey

and changed 1 thing extra in the menu:
the text ' (recovery mode)' I changed into ' recovery' so the text isn't cut off.

It all worked 100% perfectly.

Thanks :)

[deki999]

it's not working for me!!!

[Jarn]

Does the package 'gfxboot' that can be apt-get do this? Or if not, what is that? And removing grub won't be bad, will it? It will keep my menu.lst file and stuff? And where in menu.lst do I put the line for the gfxmenu?

[Jarn]

I followed the instructions, but it didn't seem to work. I still have the normal grub menu. And I did add the gfxmenu line into my menu.lst. Maybe I didn't put it in the right place? I didn't know where to put it so I put it at the very top.

[Malac]

I followed the instructions, but it didn't seem to work. I still have the normal grub menu. And I did add the gfxmenu line into my menu.lst. Maybe I didn't put it in the right place? I didn't know where to put it so I put it at the very top.

sudo grubThen at grub prompt:

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1copy+paste the results here.

And in normal terminal the results of
df

[Jarn]

sudo grubThen at grub prompt:

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1copy+paste the results here.

And in normal terminal the results of
df

(hd0,2)

And.

Filesystem 1K-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/hda3 41540528 31222812 8207580 80% /
varrun 517776 144 517632 1% /var/run
varlock 517776 4 517772 1% /var/lock
procbususb 10240 128 10112 2% /proc/bus/usb
udev 10240 128 10112 2% /dev
devshm 517776 0 517776 0% /dev/shm
lrm 517776 17580 500196 4% /lib/modules/2.6.17-10-generic/volatile

[TrendyDark]

I've done all the steps listed, but when I reboot I just see the normal Grub screen. . .

What's going on here?

I thought at first it wasn't working because the file had incorrect permissions, but after chmoding the file to 777, i still have no graphical grub screen.

[Malac]

(hd0,2)

And.

Filesystem 1K-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/hda3 41540528 31222812 8207580 80% /
varrun 517776 144 517632 1% /var/run
varlock 517776 4 517772 1% /var/lock
procbususb 10240 128 10112 2% /proc/bus/usb
udev 10240 128 10112 2% /dev
devshm 517776 0 517776 0% /dev/shm
lrm 517776 17580 500196 4% /lib/modules/2.6.17-10-generic/volatile

TRY:

sudo grubat the grub prompt

grub> root (hd0,2)
grub> setup (hd0,2)
grub> quitThen do the following command as well.

sudo grub-install /dev/hda3You may also like to check that /dev/hda3 is bootable/active.
You can use gparted or sudo fdisk -l to find this out.

Also make sure you have a theme file that you know hasn't got too large a graphic in it, etc.

Hope this helps.

[haani]

thanks!! works perfectly fine here also had to do sudo grub-install /dev/sda5 (where sda5 is the name of ur linux active drive)

[Jarn]

You may also like to check that /dev/hda3 is bootable/active.
You can use gparted or sudo fdisk -l to find this out.What part of the output of sudo fdisk -l tells me if it's bootable? Note, grub is on hda3 and it runs fine. Doesn't that mean it's bootable?

EDIT: Nvmd, after I did "sudo grub-install /dev/hda3" it works. Thanks!

[Malac]

What part of the output of sudo fdisk -l tells me if it's bootable?
For future reference here is my output, the * under Boot is next to the bootable partition.

Disk /dev/hda: 30.7 GB, 30735581184 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 3736 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 1 1567 12586896 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hda2 * 1568 3587 16225650 83 Linux
/dev/hda3 3588 3736 1196842+ 5 Extended
/dev/hda5 3588 3736 1196811 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/hdb: 203.9 GB, 203928109056 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 24792 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdb1 * 1 3961 31816701 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hdb2 3962 5266 10482412+ 83 Linux
/dev/hdb3 5267 8138 23069340 83 Linux
/dev/hdb4 8139 24792 133773255 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hdb5 8139 12315 33551721 b W95 FAT32
/dev/hdb6 12316 16492 33551721 b W95 FAT32
/dev/hdb7 16493 20669 33551721 b W95 FAT32
/dev/hdb8 20670 24585 31455238+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/hdb9 24586 24792 1662696 82 Linux swap / Solaris

[ESPOiG]

ok this seems to be common, it not working as it should and so... but this is how i did it everytime and everytime it worked fine



1. sudo apt-get remove grub
2. sudo dpkg -i gfxgrub-package.deb #this is the package that you download
3. sudo cp message.suse /boot/grub/message.suse
4. sudo nano /boot/grub/menu.lst
add this line "gfxmenu /boot/grub/message.suse" to the top
5. sudo grub
6. find /boot/grub/stage1
you should get output like this
(hdx,y)
7. quit
8. sudo grub-install /dev/hdx #this is from your output
9. sudo grub
10. root (hdx,y) #from your output


now reboot your computer and it should be there :D, this works for me everytime so i dunno why it would work for you, reply if it dont work for you

ESPOiG

[celettu]

Worked, but this didn't:


sudo grub

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hdx,y) # this will be the output
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdx)

Like many others I had to use grub-install.

[Malac]

Worked, but this didn't:


sudo grub

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hdx,y) # this will be the output
grub> root (hdx,y)
grub> setup (hdx)Like many others I had to use grub-install.
This wouldn't work unless your Ubuntu is on the first partition of (hdx).
The setup command should be the same as the root command in this case :

grub> setup (hdx,y).And of course grub to be run using
sudo grub

[ESPOiG]

just read how i did it and it will work fine :D promise ^ 3 posts up

[Nikron]

Thanks for the howto worked after I used the option

Default 0


and took the rest out 'cept the countdown and gfxmenu

Had to use grub-install too