edit boot.msg or use bootsplash?

**mithereal** · 06-09-2005, 10:01 AM

i would like to know how ubuntu did their bootloader i think its grub and uses bootsplash but i can find no info on this also i cant install bootsplash on knoppix for some reason i either wanna do tat or change the name in boot.msg and be able to use cheatcodes instead of knoppix2 i would type someothername2.

**UnderScore** · 06-09-2005, 06:08 PM

You may be confusing 2 types of bootloaders. First there is SYSLINUX http://syslinux.zytor.com/ and and it's sub-project ISOLINUX. It is a bootloader that is typically used to boot from CD. Then there is grub or the GRand Unified Bootloader which is typically used to boot from hard drive. Most live CDs used SYSLINU/ISOLINUX to boot from CD. Some use grub to boot from CD. Both SYSLinux/ISOLINUX and grub provide their own different methods of a boot-time logo.

If you intend to change the boot logo of a ISOLINUX Live CD like Knoppix then you must follow the steps outlined here http://www.knoppix.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19054. As for grub a good place for grub boot logo info is http://ruslug.rutgers.edu/~mcgrof/grub-images/.

boot.msg is the file that displays the text at the bottom of a Knoppix boot screen:"Press keys F2 or F3 for help and boot options."

If you want to change
knoppix dma screen=1024x768
into
my-live-cd dma screen=1024x768
Then you must edit isolinux.cfg and change "knoppix" to "my-live-cd"

I checked the Ubuntu 5.04 live cd and it too uses syslinux/isolinux to display a boot logo.

I hope this helps.
James

**mithereal** · 06-09-2005, 11:11 PM

ok well ill stick with isolinux but what about using bootsplash? i wanna hide all the startup texxt behind a graphic like gentoo. when i try to edit boot.msg or isolinux.cfg gives me readonly file even if i edit as root

**firnsy** · 06-10-2005, 01:28 AM

Originally Posted by mithereal

ok well ill stick with isolinux but what about using bootsplash? i wanna hide all the startup texxt behind a graphic like gentoo. when i try to edit boot.msg or isolinux.cfg gives me readonly file even if i edit as root

That is fine that's because it only has read attributes set on the file (it makes sense when you realise it was copied from a CD which traditionally was read only). If you are editing in vi just force the write with "w!" and you'll be ok.

As for bootsplash i've been playing with it a little and it requires a fair degree of work (kernel rebuild, startup script mods, etc) to run, it can also limit the "boot on any hardware" capability that I like about knoppix.

**UnderScore** · 06-10-2005, 03:12 AM

firnsy is right on both accounts. Force it with vi or chmod u+w boot.msg. then make the change & chmod u-w boot.msg.

As for bootsplash, it requires a kernel rebuild. Building a knoppix kernel then adding bootsplash is not a trivial endeavor.