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Old 03-25-2005, 09:48 AM   #1
earth.hero
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Exclamation anyone know how to edit the /boot/grub/menu.lst? plzz help


I cannot edit the /boot/grub/menu.lst.I just want to change sumthing.plzz help me
 
Old 03-25-2005, 09:53 AM   #2
batard
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Why can't you edit it? Are you logged in as root? What message do you get when you try to edit it?
 
Old 03-25-2005, 09:54 AM   #3
TigerOC
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Why? You need to be the root user to do this. Become root, then edit it. When you save the file it should be automatically written to the mbr.
 
Old 03-25-2005, 10:51 AM   #4
visaris
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Not to be as a$$, but I just wanted to correct TigerOC slightly. When the grub config file is saved, no data is actually written to the mbr. Grub has the ability to read ext2 filesystems, and will mount/read the menu/config/etc file directly. This is why you don't need to do anything other than save the file for the changes to take effect.
 
Old 03-25-2005, 10:53 AM   #5
TigerOC
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Beg pardon but with Debian it does - don't know about other distros.
Ok I follow - sorry I did not know the menu.lst was read by grub but thought it was written to the mbr. No matter - the end result is the same.

Last edited by TigerOC; 03-25-2005 at 10:59 AM.
 
Old 03-25-2005, 11:06 AM   #6
visaris
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I suppose what you say is possible, but I don't beleive it.

From: http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/l...de/ch-grub.htm
Quote:
GRUB's configuration file is read from the disk every time the system boots, preventing the user from having to write over the MBR every time a change the boot options is made. Most boot loaders are not sophisticated enough to read configuration files and use them to set up boot options. For example, to change a LILO boot configuration, such as changing the default operating system to boot, users must change a LILO configuration file and run a command that overwrites the system's MBR with the new configuration data. This is more risky than GRUB's method, because a misconfigured MBR would leave the system unbootable. With GRUB, if the configuration file is erroneously configured and rebooted, it will simply default to a command line and allow the user to manually type commands that will launch the operating system. The MBR is not touched except to update the Stage 1, Stage 2, or menu configuration file locations, and this is rarely necessary.

Last edited by visaris; 03-25-2005 at 11:08 AM.
 
Old 03-25-2005, 11:19 AM   #7
TigerOC
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This is an interesting one because Debian does not have such a configuration file. I see it mentioned in regard to other distros but there isn't one in Debian i.e. no /etc/grub
 
Old 03-25-2005, 11:22 AM   #8
drowbot
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Some versions use grub.conf instead of menu.lst.
 
Old 03-25-2005, 11:36 AM   #9
TigerOC
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OK just clarify the whole process which can be read here .

Grub installs stage1 to the mbr which then reads stage2 (containing the menu directives) which links to menu.lst or grubconf which ever the distro uses.
 
Old 03-25-2005, 10:09 PM   #10
earth.hero
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hi

Im just start using Linux, so i know little bout it.
Can u tell me how to log on as root?
plz
 
Old 03-25-2005, 10:32 PM   #11
veerain
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root logon explained

In the username just type root
in the password just type your root password.
It's that simple.


My site Veera's
 
Old 03-25-2005, 10:35 PM   #12
earth.hero
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sry man.
I just found out how to do it.
But thanx
 
Old 03-25-2005, 10:41 PM   #13
perfect_circle
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Quote:
Originally posted by TigerOC
This is an interesting one because Debian does not have such a configuration file. I see it mentioned in regard to other distros but there isn't one in Debian i.e. no /etc/grub
the most common place for grub config files is /boot/grub/
 
Old 03-25-2005, 10:48 PM   #14
earth.hero
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im really sorry but I still cant edit that file.
I tried to log on as root but sum how it's not working.
Can any1 plz show me how to do it?
 
Old 03-25-2005, 10:49 PM   #15
syg00
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Re: hi

Quote:
Originally posted by earth.hero
Im just start using Linux, so i know little bout it.
Can u tell me how to log on as root?
plz
Damn, just finished an answer

To the discussion re grub - that Redhat link is useful, but don't treat it as gospel.
As an aside the code looks for menu.lst. Lots of distros symlink this to grub.conf, some patch the code to look for grub.conf.
Some flip-flop between the two - the Gentoo guys can look at the patch set that comes down with the emerge of a new version of grub. Changes from one to the next.
Makes it difficult to offer good advice on sites like this that have a mix of user competence, and a mix of distros.
The OP in this case hasn't told us what distro (s)he uses.
 
  


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