Grub Problem

**Code9** · June 3rd, 2012

I tried to modify grub to change the names of the menu entries, but seemed to have made a mess. Whenever I run grub-update, it always gives me an error

Code:

/etc/grub.d/40_custom: 22: /etc/grub.d/40_custom: function: not found
/etc/grub.d/40_custom: 25: /etc/grub.d/40_custom: save_env: not found
/etc/grub.d/40_custom: 27: /etc/grub.d/40_custom: Syntax error: "}" unexpected

The 40_custom and /boot/grub/grub.cfg are now the same file. How do I restore the 40_custom to its original and change the boot entry string to whatever I want? Thanks for any help.

**drs305** · June 3rd, 2012

Change the 40_custom file to contain on the following. Save the file and run update-grub as root.

#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.

I recommend you install Grub Customizer to make your changes. It is a GUI app that allows quite a few customizations. Click the "Customizer" link in my signature line.

**idoitprone** · June 3rd, 2012

Originally Posted by Code9

I tried to modify grub to change the names of the menu entries, but seemed to have made a mess. Whenever I run grub-update, it always gives me an error

Code:

/etc/grub.d/40_custom: 22: /etc/grub.d/40_custom: function: not found
/etc/grub.d/40_custom: 25: /etc/grub.d/40_custom: save_env: not found
/etc/grub.d/40_custom: 27: /etc/grub.d/40_custom: Syntax error: "}" unexpected

The 40_custom and /boot/grub/grub.cfg are now the same file. How do I restore the 40_custom to its original and change the boot entry string to whatever I want? Thanks for any help.

its orginal state should be disabled unless someone changed that

Code:

sudo chmod -x /etc/grub.d/40_custom

just print the contents of the file for a forum member to debug that script

or go to here for details

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2/CustomMenus

**Code9** · June 3rd, 2012

Originally Posted by drs305

Change the 40_custom file to contain on the following. Save the file and run update-grub as root.

I recommend you install Grub Customizer to make your changes. It is a GUI app that allows quite a few customizations. Click the "Customizer" link in my signature line.

That did the trick. I appreciate the GUI solution, but I am trying my best to stick with purely CLI solutions. I haven't used Linux in a while.

Originally Posted by idoitprone

its orginal state should be disabled unless someone changed that

Code:

sudo chmod -x /etc/grub.d/40_custom

just print the contents of the file for a forum member to debug that script

or go to here for details

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2/CustomMenus

CHMOD changes the permissions of the file right? I did a cp and overwrote the original 40_custom, so that's why it was allowed. I will post the contents anyway, just in case it is not optimal. Thanks for looking at it

Code:

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#



#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  set have_grubenv=true
  load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
  set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
    saved_entry="${chosen}"
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}

function recordfail {
  set recordfail=1
  if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}

function load_video {
  insmod vbe
  insmod vga
  insmod video_bochs
  insmod video_cirrus
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=auto
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
  insmod part_msdos
  insmod ext2
  set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626
  set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
  set lang=en_US
  insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
  set timeout=-1
else
  set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
if background_color 44,0,30; then
  clear
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
	set gfxpayload="${1}"
	if [ "${1}" = "keep" ]; then
		set vt_handoff=vt.handoff=7
	else
		set vt_handoff=
	fi
}
if [ "${recordfail}" != 1 ]; then
  if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
    if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
      if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
        set linux_gfx_mode=keep
      else
        set linux_gfx_mode=text
      fi
    else
      set linux_gfx_mode=text
    fi
  else
    set linux_gfx_mode=keep
  fi
else
  set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
if [ "${linux_gfx_mode}" != "text" ]; then load_video; fi
menuentry 'Ubuntu' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
	insmod gzio
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic root=UUID=8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626 ro   quiet splash $vt_handoff
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-24-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod gzio
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626
	echo	'Loading Linux 3.2.0-24-generic ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic root=UUID=8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626 ro recovery nomodeset 
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-24-generic
}

### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626
	linux16	/boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626
	linux16	/boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7" --class windows --class os {
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ntfs
	set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root EC5A15F45A15BBF0
	chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Gentoo Linux" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 43bcd58b-d7bd-4e01-b432-41dae537f1da
	linux /boot/kernel-genkernel-x86-3.2.1-gentoo-r2 real_root=/dev/sda3
	initrd /boot/initramfs-genkernel-x86-3.2.1-gentoo-r2
}
menuentry "Windows 7" --class windows --class os {
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ntfs
	set root='(hd1,msdos1)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 705269035268CF80
	chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f  $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
  source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###

**idoitprone** · June 3rd, 2012

Originally Posted by Code9

That did the trick. I appreciate the GUI solution, but I am trying my best to stick with purely CLI solutions. I haven't used Linux in a while.

CHMOD changes the permissions of the file right? I did a cp and overwrote the original 40_custom, so that's why it was allowed. I will post the contents anyway, just in case it is not optimal. Thanks for looking at it

Code:

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#



#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  set have_grubenv=true
  load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
  set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
    saved_entry="${chosen}"
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}

function recordfail {
  set recordfail=1
  if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}

function load_video {
  insmod vbe
  insmod vga
  insmod video_bochs
  insmod video_cirrus
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=auto
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
  insmod part_msdos
  insmod ext2
  set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626
  set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
  set lang=en_US
  insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
  set timeout=-1
else
  set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
if background_color 44,0,30; then
  clear
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
    set gfxpayload="${1}"
    if [ "${1}" = "keep" ]; then
        set vt_handoff=vt.handoff=7
    else
        set vt_handoff=
    fi
}
if [ "${recordfail}" != 1 ]; then
  if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
    if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
      if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
        set linux_gfx_mode=keep
      else
        set linux_gfx_mode=text
      fi
    else
      set linux_gfx_mode=text
    fi
  else
    set linux_gfx_mode=keep
  fi
else
  set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
if [ "${linux_gfx_mode}" != "text" ]; then load_video; fi
menuentry 'Ubuntu' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
    insmod gzio
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic root=UUID=8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626 ro   quiet splash $vt_handoff
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-24-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    insmod gzio
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626
    echo    'Loading Linux 3.2.0-24-generic ...'
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic root=UUID=8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626 ro recovery nomodeset 
    echo    'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-24-generic
}

### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626
    linux16    /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626
    linux16    /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7" --class windows --class os {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ntfs
    set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root EC5A15F45A15BBF0
    chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Gentoo Linux" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 43bcd58b-d7bd-4e01-b432-41dae537f1da
    linux /boot/kernel-genkernel-x86-3.2.1-gentoo-r2 real_root=/dev/sda3
    initrd /boot/initramfs-genkernel-x86-3.2.1-gentoo-r2
}
menuentry "Windows 7" --class windows --class os {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ntfs
    set root='(hd1,msdos1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 705269035268CF80
    chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f  $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
  source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###

do what drs305 say to do

what he said is basically the fix since you saved over 40_custom
gksudo gedit /etc/grub.d/40_custom

**drs305** · June 3rd, 2012

#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.

menuentry 'Ubuntu' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic root=UUID=8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626 ro quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-24-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626
echo 'Loading Linux 3.2.0-24-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic root=UUID=8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626 ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-24-generic
}

menuentry "Windows 7" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root EC5A15F45A15BBF0
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Gentoo Linux" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 43bcd58b-d7bd-4e01-b432-41dae537f1da
linux /boot/kernel-genkernel-x86-3.2.1-gentoo-r2 real_root=/dev/sda3
initrd /boot/initramfs-genkernel-x86-3.2.1-gentoo-r2
}
menuentry "Windows 7" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd1,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 705269035268CF80
chainloader +1
}

The above is what you could have 40_custom look like. You can edit the items in bold without impacting anything but the title.

If you want these items to appear first, rename the file 06_custom and make it executable.

You can remove any of the items you don't want.

For the Ubuntu items, if you always want it to boot the most current kernel, change the menuentry to:

menuentry 'Ubuntu' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626
linux /vmlinuz root=UUID=8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626 ro quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd /initrd.img
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626
echo 'Loading Linux 3.2.0-24-generic ...'
linux /vmlinuz root=UUID=8bcdf389-deba-479e-a678-17fbfc7d6626 ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initrd.img
}

It replaces the specific kernel/initrd references in /boot with the symlinks located in /.

If you don't want the original items to appear you can make 10_linux unexecutable. For 30_os-prober, I'd turn if off in /etc/default/grub with GRUB_DISABLE_OS-PROBER="true" it you don't want duplicates.

Another way to tweak the titles other than custom menus or Grub Customizer is to view my Tweaks link - but it's guaranteed to make your head hurt.

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