ELILO timeout not working

aragorn2101 · 07-18-2016, 06:28 AM

Hi,

I am using Slackware 14.1 and I successfully dual boot with Windows 10 on a laptop. Until now I have been using GRUB, which works pretty well. I just wanted to try ELILO to get the experience of both bootloaders. Below is my elilo.conf:

Code:

prompt
chooser = textmenu
timeout = 50

# sets the boot entry selected by default
default = Slackware14.1

# files containing text message to display
message = textmenu-message.msg

# files to load when corresponding Fn key is pressed
f1 = general.msg
f2 = params.msg

image = vmlinuz-generic-3.10.17
  initrd = initrd-3.10.17.gz
  label = Slackware
  description = "Slackware 14.1 with kernel 3.10.17"
  read-only
  append="root=/dev/sda12 vga=normal ro"

image = /EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi
  label = Windoze
  description = "Windoze"
  read-only

ELILO works. It boots both Slackware and Windows 10 without a problem. But there is no timeout. When I boot, it can remain idle the whole day on the ELILO boot screen but the timeout does not work. It does not boot the Slackware after 5 seconds as it would have in the past with LILO.

Did anyone out there have a similar issue?

Didier Spaier · 07-18-2016, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aragorn2101

Hi,

I am using Slackware 14.1 and I successfully dual boot with Windows 10 on a laptop. Until now I have been using GRUB, which works pretty well. I just wanted to try ELILO to get the experience of both bootloaders. Below is my elilo.conf:

Code:

prompt
chooser = textmenu
timeout = 50

# sets the boot entry selected by default
default = Slackware14.1

# files containing text message to display
message = textmenu-message.msg

# files to load when corresponding Fn key is pressed
f1 = general.msg
f2 = params.msg

image = vmlinuz-generic-3.10.17
  initrd = initrd-3.10.17.gz
  label = Slackware
  description = "Slackware 14.1 with kernel 3.10.17"
  read-only
  append="root=/dev/sda12 vga=normal ro"

image = /EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi
  label = Windoze
  description = "Windoze"
  read-only

ELILO works. It boots both Slackware and Windows 10 without a problem. But there is no timeout. When I boot, it can remain idle the whole day on the ELILO boot screen but the timeout does not work. It does not boot the Slackware after 5 seconds as it would have in the past with LILO.

Did anyone out there have a similar issue?

Try adding:

Code:

delay = 50

But alas, IIRC those settings actually work only if you have

Code:

chooser = simple

That's why George Vlahavas ended up using "chooser = simple" in the installer for Salix 14.2.

Of course the major inconvenience of not being able to set a delay is if one needs to boot remotely.

Reading /usr/doc/elilo-3.16/README I thought I could get a delay (or timeout) working even with chooser = textmenu, but no luck so far.

laprjns · 07-18-2016, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aragorn2101

Code:

.
.
# sets the boot entry selected by default
default = Slackware14.1
.
.
  label = Slackware

The value for "default" needs to be the same as the "Label". in this case "Slackware"

aragorn2101 · 07-19-2016, 12:27 AM

Thank you for your replies.

I corrected the default parameter to make it match the label "Slackware", but it didn't work.

I tried putting delay, then I tried both delay and timeout. Nothing worked. And yes, I confirm that it works when chooser = simple. It's a shame we cannot get that to work with the textmenu.

Thanks Didier. I also tried your package with elilo-3.16 as your .msg files seemed more complete.

The textmenu can be customized so beautifully. I hope someone out there will try to mend this timeout issue.