bootloader timeout

**rrfish72** · 07-12-2004, 06:16 AM

How do you change the timeout time in the linux/debian bootloader. Now it is set for 3 seconds and that is not enough time.

Is it this 'edit or kedit /etc/lilo.conf' ?

Is this run from the shell console?

**slycordinator** · 07-12-2004, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by rrfish72

How do you change the timeout time in the linux/debian bootloader. Now it is set for 3 seconds and that is not enough time.

Is it this 'edit or kedit /etc/lilo.conf' ?

Is this run from the shell console?

run "kedit /etc/lilo.conf" from a shell. This will open up a graphical editor and will open the file "/etc/lilo.conf" for editing.

edit: but you don't have to use kedit. You can use any text editor of your choosing.

**Markus** · 07-12-2004, 09:20 AM

You need to be root for this. Open a shell/terminal and do:

Code:

kdesu kedit /etc/lilo.conf (type in root passwd, make the changes and save&quit)
su (to become root)
lilo -v (to run lilo, needs to be done or it won't boot)
ctrl-d (to exit from superuser mode)

**rrfish72** · 07-14-2004, 05:01 AM

Still cannot get that to work. Gives me an error message about application*.

This is what I get 'MUTEX DESTRIY FAILUE: DEVICE OR RESOURCE BUSY'

And an error box that says 'Command 'Kedit' not found'.

I can see the lilo.conf file but I can't open to edit. How do I edit the file??

**kelmo** · 07-14-2004, 09:08 AM

kedit is not present in Knoppix 3.4

Try kwrite instead . . .

**Markus** · 07-14-2004, 08:02 PM

Sorry for the wrong info. As said, any editor present on the system will do.

**rrfish72** · 07-15-2004, 07:12 PM

I used emacs and that worked. Also got in with vi.

**rrfish72** · 07-16-2004, 07:34 AM

I still cannot get the timeout to change. I changed the delay to 1000 and still nothing. I did lilo -v after edit and no results. Any Ideas?

**Markus** · 07-16-2004, 07:40 AM

You need to change the timeout instead. This will give you a 5 sec timeout:

# Specifies the number of _tenths_ of a second LILO should
# wait before booting the first image. LILO
# doesn't wait if DELAY is omitted or if DELAY is set to zero.
delay=20

# Prompt to use certaing image. If prompt is specified without timeout,
# boot will not take place unless you hit RETURN
prompt
timeout=50

**DuckDodgers** · 07-17-2004, 01:28 AM

If you comment out timeout (see below) boot will not take place until you hit Enter.

# Specifies the number of _tenths_ of a second LILO should
# wait before booting the first image. LILO
# doesn't wait if DELAY is omitted or if DELAY is set to zero.
delay=20

# Prompt to use certaing image. If prompt is specified without timeout,
# boot will not take place unless you hit RETURN
prompt
# timeout=50