Linux Lite Forums

General => Suggestions and Feedback => Topic started by: leandrocm86 on June 08, 2022, 07:45:35 PM

Title: Suggestion about grub
Post by: leandrocm86 on June 08, 2022, 07:45:35 PM
As a non-advanced linux user, I always miss an easy grub editing tool out-of-the-box.
Think about it: grub is the first thing we see after installing linux. And in this very first contact, even in Linux Lite, we have to choose between "Ubuntu", "Windows" and other weird options.
And it's not just in the first contact. This is what is shown every single time we turn on the computer.
I know there are already some GUI tools to edit grub available, so why not make use of them as an option on the Control Panel?
A regular "windows user" has never heard about grub, and wouldn't know how to find those tools. Plus, when we google "grub edit", many of the first results are non-friendly command-line instructions.


Title: Re: Suggestion about grub
Post by: Jerry on June 10, 2022, 08:01:13 PM
Thanks for the suggestion. I wonder how many people are actually dual booting vs single boot. I'm worried about including a powerful tool like this as part of the system because it's so easy to mess up your installation. Some people will get curious and tinker with it even if they don't need to. I'd seriously consider adding this tool to Lite Software to make it optional.

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Title: Re: Suggestion about grub
Post by: firenice03 on June 10, 2022, 10:26:21 PM
My thoughts....

Choose between "Ubuntu" Windows and any other Linux system in a dual/triple boot or more???
- Something to set the name to Linux Lite?? ?

OR is it more.. grub being displayed anyway .. Maybe a 'Grub Duration Selector' say a 0 for none or 5 seconds or preferred??
Setting to 0 would bypass all together and if needed it could be reset to something longer for a subsequent boot should grub need to be accessed....
- This would work for both Dual booted and LL primary ...
Title: Re: Suggestion about grub
Post by: trinidad on June 11, 2022, 07:55:11 AM
Quote
I wonder how many people are actually dual booting vs single boot
Probably a substantial percentage of the people still using Windows 7.
As far as any tool it should be limited to: name changing to Linux Lite, which system boots first, hide or show grub. Going beyond that would definitely lead to minor and major problems for new uninitiated users. 
TC
Title: Re: Suggestion about grub
Post by: vint on June 13, 2022, 12:30:34 PM
As a new Linux user and one who dual boots Windows 7 home premium and Linux Lite 5.8 on a Compaq Presario CQ56 that is 11 years old I have zero problems with the grub menu.  The boot time from hitting restart in Windows to Linux Lite is 2:56, start up into Linux Lite is 1:30 but this just might be my machine and the age as I really have nothing to compare it to.  I am very used to the menu now and I like how it works, and it worked right from the download of Linux Lite 5.4 to install.  I appreciate all of the hard work that goes into Linux Lite to make it easy for those like me to keep using my favorite laptop for as long as I can, I use Linux Lite for almost everything I do everyday and find it disappointing when I have to use Windows as it is so slow compared to LL. 

Thanks to all
God Bless Texas
Title: Re: Suggestion about grub
Post by: Şerban S. on September 21, 2022, 08:36:46 AM
Thanks for the suggestion. I wonder how many people are actually dual booting vs single boot.

Hi, Jerry! :)
It is very difficult to know. Afterall, Linux Lite aims, among others, to help people moving from Win to Linux, in an agreeable manner.
As for me, I had Linux in dual boot with Win 98SE... Win 7, for some 10 years... :)

I'm worried about including a powerful tool like this as part of the system because it's so easy to mess up your installation.

I totally agree!

In fact, I've been using Daniel Richter's GRUB Customizer and I found it interesting, mostly when I wanted multiboot configuration. At some point in time, I tested lots of distros so I made use of multiboot. GRUB Customizer proved useful.
It is risky though, even if you're familiar with low-level backups. If something breaks, it takes time to restore everything. And you have to know well enough what you're doing...
There is a solution though: Boot-Repair-Disk. I used it many times when I was distro-hopping and it proved to be reliable.
Still, even with this kind of practice, I am very reluctant to the idea of including such a powerful tool in the default ISO.
Friyng a storage, is the last thing one would like to get to...

So, as I see it, if anyone wants to tinker with that, there are other ways to do it, without the need to have such tools included in the ISO. Maybe it would worth mentioning the available software in a section of the LL manual, which I find enough help on this matter.

Some people will get curious and tinker with it even if they don't need to. I'd seriously consider adding this tool to Lite Software to make it optional.

This sounds far better than making it available through Control Panel!
Freedom of choice will be respected, but included as a default option, might lead to endless suport hours on the forums. I hate to say this, but I know how things turn out in such cases.
Here is a sample:
The PPA crashes (The Update issue).
I think there are at least a couple of hundred posts on the very same subject. I sometime answer myself to some. Still, there is a section in the LL Manual that explains how to deal with PPAs. Yet... :(

Best regards! :)