Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Can you customize Startup options?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Beans
    25

    Can you customize Startup options?

    Hello all. I am seeking help for an elderly person. I have installed Ubuntu alongside win10 for him but after power on he will have only 10 seconds to choose the windows side as the default is automatically set on booting to Ubuntu. Is there any way to increase that 10 seconds or have the default boot to windows instead of Ubuntu please? Thanks.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    33.4N -112.1W
    Beans
    2,497
    Distro
    Ubuntu Budgie

    Re: Can you customize Startup options?

    You can do what you requested with the grub-customizer application:
    https://packages.ubuntu.com/search?k...rub-customizer

    Instructions for use:
    https://itsfoss.com/grub-customizer-ubuntu/
    /path/to/Truth

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Beans
    3,946
    Distro
    Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish

    Re: Can you customize Startup options?

    Just to add a little caveat - Grub-customizer can bring extra complications to the boot process.

    Please do a little investigation before deciding to use it.

    Here is some info https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspo...ustomizer.html

    It would probably be easier to configure Grub2 to do what you want.

    Here is mine, which gives a 10 second delay.

    Code:
    GRUB_DEFAULT=0 Can be changed for a different default i.e. 1 or 2 or 3 etc
    GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=menu
    GRUB_TIMEOUT=10 Can be changed to 30 or 35 or 40 etc
    GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
    GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
    GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""
    You can only change the file with sudo privileges
    Code:
    sudo nano /etc/default/grub
    After you have edited the file, please remember to update Grub with
    Code:
    sudo update-grub

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Beans
    25

    Re: Can you customize Startup options?

    Thanks guys, I am not a programmer so I will need to see if I can do this. Meantime, is there a way to disable the timer to make things easier for the person please?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    U.K.
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish

    Re: Can you customize Startup options?

    Another option is to create a customised Ubuntu ISO for installation via LiveUSB
    using Cubic to customise functionality.

    Incidentally, although rEFInd is not necessary to install in EFI partition (alongside grub)
    I have found that you can then create your own custom GUI through configuring refind.conf.

    Thus you could greet the elder at login with customised messages, even changing content (tips) daily.

    You can disable all the technical links like memtest and firmware testing.

    Just an option.
    Last edited by dragonfly41; April 30th, 2021 at 12:18 PM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Beans
    3,946
    Distro
    Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish

    Re: Can you customize Startup options?

    Quote Originally Posted by mike431 View Post
    Thanks guys, I am not a programmer so I will need to see if I can do this. Meantime, is there a way to disable the timer to make things easier for the person please?
    I assume that you want the grub menu to always appear and the user will then have unlimited time to decide which OS to use?
    You will still have to edit /etc/default/grub with admin privileges.

    Code:
    GRUB_DEFAULT=0 
    GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=menu
    GRUB_TIMEOUT=-1 Change to -1 (i.e. minus 1)
    GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
    GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
    GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Beans
    18

    Re: Can you customize Startup options?

    Quote Originally Posted by tea for one View Post
    Just to add a little caveat - Grub-customizer can bring extra complications to the boot process.

    Please do a little investigation before deciding to use it.

    Here is some info https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspo...ustomizer.html

    It would probably be easier to configure Grub2 to do what you want.

    Here is mine, which gives a 10 second delay.

    Code:
    GRUB_DEFAULT=0 Can be changed for a different default i.e. 1 or 2 or 3 etc
    GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=menu
    GRUB_TIMEOUT=10 Can be changed to 30 or 35 or 40 etc
    GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
    GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
    GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""
    You can only change the file with sudo privileges
    Code:
    sudo nano /etc/default/grub
    After you have edited the file, please remember to update Grub with
    Code:
    sudo update-grub
    What do you think of the Boot-Repair application https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair ?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    London, England
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Ubuntu Development Release

    Re: Can you customize Startup options?

    There is something you can do that no one has yet mentioned. It is a very simple thing to do. Tell your friend to press the space key when the boot menu appears. Then the 10 second count down will stop. If he then wants to load Ubuntu he just presses Enter because Ubuntu will be at the top of the list. If he wants to load Windows he uses the down arrow key to move the selection down to the line that says Windows and then he presses Enter.

    If you edit the Grub configuration file to put Windows at the top he will still have to follow the above method to stop the count down, load Windows or load Ubuntu.

    I think that when we install Linux/Ubuntu on someone else's machine we take upon ourselves the responsibility of training the person to at least be able to keep the OS up to date. When he updates Windows he may find the he can no longer load Ubuntu. Do you know how to fix that? Does he know how to fix that?

    Oh, by the way. I became 73 last month. I believe that the more I keep thinking, learning and studying the less likely it will be that I shall lose the ability to think and to learn. Help your friend to figuratively walk upright on his own two feet. Introduce him to this forum. Show him how he can get help to fix problems.

    Regards
    Last edited by grahammechanical; May 21st, 2021 at 01:37 PM.
    It is a machine. It is more stupid than we are. It will not stop us from doing stupid things.
    Ubuntu user #33,200. Linux user #530,530


Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •