Grub: How to actually set the menu timeout

[RaggedRat]

I'm used to Lilo. All I wish to do in grub is set the menu timeout to -1 (i.e. wait for me). What sequence of commands do I need to do to achieve this?

[Rexilion]

I think you need to edit either:

/etc/default/grub

and then do:

update-grub or grub-update

OR:

directly edit /boot/grub/grub.cfg

The first sequence of commands rebuilds the latter. This will make your changes persistent.

[oz]

Hello and welcome!

You would need to edit your /etc/default/grub file to change the timeout using your favorite text editor (root or sudo required), then generate a new grub.cfg file, the method of which would depend on which distro you are running. I run Arch and for me the grub.cfg generation command is:

# grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

edit: Rexilion beat me to it. I think the command he gave above works for Ubuntu and probably many others. When using CRUX, I've always had to manually edit the /boot/grub/grub.cfg file to make desired changes.

[Rexilion]

Oz's suggestion might work as well. A closer inspection of both Ubuntu packages seems they both contain grub-mkconfig as well.

I think that /usr/sbin/update-grub will actually run 'grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg'. It's just somewhat more user friendly.

These instructions apply to all distributions using GRUB2 I guess.

[oz]

I think that /usr/sbin/update-grub will actually run 'grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg'. It's just somewhat more user friendly.

These instructions apply to all distributions using GRUB2 I guess.

Arch doesn't have an update-grub command:

# /usr/sbin/update-grub
bash: /usr/sbin/update-grub: No such file or directory

# update-grub
bash: update-grub: command not found

The last time I installed CRUX, I don't remember it having one either, and I had to manually create/edit the grub.cfg file because the grub-mkconfig wasn't working properly. However, CRUX does specify that grub-mkconfig should be used:

CRUX | Main / Handbook2-8-Appendix

Not sure why neither of them include the much simpler update-grub command...

[devils casper]

I'm used to Lilo. All I wish to do in grub is set the menu timeout to -1 (i.e. wait for me). What sequence of commands do I need to do to achieve this?

Hi and Welcome !

Which GRUB version are you using?
If its Legacy GRUB then set timeout=-1 in /boot/grub/grub.conf or menu.lst (whichever file is present in your system).

In case your are using latest version, GRUB2, open /etc/default/grub file and set GRUB_TIMEOUT=-1. Save file and execute update-grub command.

[oz]

Hello, RaggedRat... since you are new to GRUB, here are a couple of good tutorials that should help you to get a better understanding of how it works:

GRUB Legacy bootloader - Full tutorial

GRUB 2 bootloader - Full tutorial