Hi !

I have a
Style-Note P641RF-6700 with Linux Ubuntu 16.04

As I got no grub boot menu
I did:
--- * ---
gksu gedit /etc/default/grub &

GRUB_DEFAULT=0
#GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0 # comment here opens the grub boot meny.
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true
GRUB_TIMEOUT=10
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""

sudo update-grub

That works on another computer. (and also on this computer sometimes)

--- * ---

Sometimes it happens I get a screen with "Style Note" when I start the computer.
I those cases it works with
F2 for Grub-bootmeny and
F7 for possibility to select for example an Live-USB-stick.
or else the Grub boot meny is visible.

If I do a shutdown and start again the screen is black and after a while the login-screen is opened.
There is no way to use F2, F7 and the Grub boot menu is not opening.
The login menu is opened after a while so I can log into my OS.

Why isn't the "Style Note"-screen visible every time I start the Computer ?

It seems to be very random.

The problem is:
Why do I not get the "Style Note"-screen every time ?

What you describe seems like a Bios thing and it's immaterial what OS you have.

The Bios will load the wakeup Screen (Mine says Samsung), and then start in on the 1st sector of the selected disk. I would check the boot order in the bios. Get network boot out of there if it's in, and make sure your cdrom is empty. But I suspect your problem is a manufacturer issue. It's looking for an edge trigger (0 --> 1)and not reacting to a level (= 1).

There's also probably a way in the kernel to do this. But it probably requires a patch. You could, however trawl through existing kernel options to see whether you can pass something that makes it rescan the usb. This would go in the grub line

kernel <your_kernel> root=<somewhere> <usb_rescan_option>

Thank you for the answer.

Yesterday the computer started with the "wakeup Screen" so I could open the Bios.
One or two times more it started with "wakeup Screen" and then the grub boot menu as it should.
After that it start up again every time without any "wakeup Screen" and no possibilities to chose another thing than the OS.

I don't understand why it works as it should only very seldom now and then but in most cases not at all.

My plan is to have a live-USB plugged in when I start the computer and if the "wakeup Screen" pops up I will
install one more OS and see what happens.

(Both my old and new stationary computers works fine with grub boot menus and possibilities to load live-OS).

Are you powering ff fully and powering down completely? On a standard pc, that's the only way to get at the usb boot option.

Hya,

I am not sure if my problem I had the other day is related.

With one old laptop, bios setting was set so that initial bios screen WAS skipped. (phenix bios) I had to fiddle with many keys to get bios boot screen (not bios menu).

Another thing I do not know is whether laptops have battery(es) - button, 1/2AA or whatever. With non-laptops, when batteries go empty, situation like this happens.

cheers

There's usually a lithium battery in there. There has to be to keep the memory of the settings. But again they usually warn you about it running low.

Hi !

In the Shut down menu "Suspend, Restart, Cancel, Shut Down"
I select the "Shut Down" button.

(I will probably be needed to have Ubuntu on that Laptop the rest of its lifetime.
I hope I never need to use rescue mode or something else).

I usually use suspend or hibernate and it automatically mounts any connected external disks configured in /etc/fstab. That way I don't have the same wait during powering up.

Most variations on the Phoenix BIOS will allow you to enable/disable the 'wake-up' screen. My old Compaq desktop PC permits me to do just this...


Mike.

just for reference, it's this device:
http://www.ggsdata.se/laptops/p641rf6700.php
all search results were somehow scandinavian.

Hi !

I got help from someone that checked my laptop and found this:
If a display is connected to the hdmi-port or one op the Display Ports the grub-boot menu is visible on that screen
and different things can be selected as usual (setup Bios or boot from USB-memory and so on...).
If the Hard drive (M2) is removed it seems be possible to open the Bios with the laptop-display.
If Bios is reset it works until the Hard drive (M2) is installed again.

My conclusion: It is something corrupt on boot-things on the Hard Drive (M2). Maybe it disappear if I install a new OS and let it create a new "boot".
For me is it OK as it is. I know how to do if needed.