| Author |
Message |
|
|
Post subject: Hidden Winxp boot choice
 Posted: Sep 06, 2006 - 01:17 PM
|
|
Joined: Oct 26, 2005
Posts: 146
Location: Out There
|
|
Hello.....I am using a dual-boot system, WinXP/Kanotix. Is it possible to comment out in /boot/grub/menu.lst the lines for booting into WinXP so that when computer boots up to the Kanotix splash screen, the choice for WinXP is not there, BUT I still can type a command in the splash screen area where you type cheat codes to boot into winxp? I rarely use windows but on occasion need to for work stuff. I would just like to hide the choice in menu.lst, but still be able to boot into winxp by using whatever command there is by typing it in the area on splash screen. Pls advise!  |
_________________
"Kanotix....what, me worry?!"
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Sep 06, 2006 - 02:39 PM
|
|
Team Member
Joined: Apr 04, 2006
Posts: 153
Location: Melbourne, Australia
|
|
hhhhhmmmm my P4 is dual boot.. the grub is set to autoboot kanotix,, unless i sit there and arrow down to XP (and ii have 5 seconds to choose XP if thats what i want to boot up)
maybe just alter the grub to have XP last
here is a truncated look at my menu.lst
## blah blah
# timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 5
## blah blah
title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.16.16-kanotix-1 Default
root (hd0,6)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda7 ro ramdisk_size=100000 lang=us apm=power-off nomce vga=791
initrd /boot/initrd.img
boot
### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
title Windows 2K/XP/2003 (hda1)
chainloader (hd0,0)+1
(there are no more ## blah blah entries,,, it just ends with chainloader (hd0,0)+1)
the ""title Windows 2K/XP/2003 (hda1)
chainloader (hd0,0)+1"" means that XP is last and never booted by default,, I have to choose it , by an arrow down |
_________________
Kanotix Easter RC4 on a dual boot P4 and a production box Desktop KDE::
Kanotix 2006 Easter RC4 on a P2 and Production Box , Desktop KDE::
Kanotix EasterRC4 on a MMX 199Mhz lappy
and a Production Box, Desktop ICEWM::
Last edited by bluewater on Sep 06, 2006 - 02:56 PM; edited 1 time in total
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post subject: Boot choice
Posted: Sep 06, 2006 - 02:54 PM
|
|
Joined: Oct 26, 2005
Posts: 146
Location: Out There
|
|
Hi Bluewater....maybe I did not explain my problem clear enough. I just want to HIDE my WinXP choice on the Kanotix splash screen. I can do that by putting "##" in front of the appropriate lines in menu.lst.
That comments out the reference to Winxp so when I boot computer, when it comes to the Kanotix splash screen where you can pick your choice (in my case) of either Kanotix or Winxp, the Winxp choice is not there. Thats as far as I got.....But what I want to know is, on the Kanotix splash screen there is a field area where you can type in boot options. I would think I should be able to boot into Winxp using whatever code I need to type in that area. So what I am trying to do is hide my Winxp choice in the splash screen, but still be able to boot into windows using a command to do so in the area where you can type in boot options.
I am sure there is a command and someone in here must know how to boot from another OS using a command.  |
_________________
"Kanotix....what, me worry?!"
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Sep 06, 2006 - 03:03 PM
|
|
Team Member
Joined: Apr 04, 2006
Posts: 153
Location: Melbourne, Australia
|
|
grins,, you are being sneaky hehe
A # out will work so it wont show on the GRUB screen , (i have never seen the options on a splash screen,, then again i get buggered if i know whether its background or wallpaper either)
i am sure that some one knows the cmd to type in the grub line at the grub screen to get XP up if XP chainloader is # out,, ( and its not me,, grins)
its probably something like:
chainloader (hd0,0)+1 |
_________________
Kanotix Easter RC4 on a dual boot P4 and a production box Desktop KDE::
Kanotix 2006 Easter RC4 on a P2 and Production Box , Desktop KDE::
Kanotix EasterRC4 on a MMX 199Mhz lappy
and a Production Box, Desktop ICEWM::
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Sep 06, 2006 - 07:21 PM
|
|
Joined: Mar 12, 2005
Posts: 1005
|
|
w1av - all you have to do to hide it is change the title in /boot/grub/menu.lst from say: windows xp
to something like: experimental kernel 2.6.18-rc7-slh
the title is just words
You could also make it just: . |
_________________
Read more on dist-upgrades using du-fixes-h2.sh script.
New: rdiff-backup script
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post subject: hidden winxp choice in grub screen
Posted: Sep 08, 2006 - 01:03 PM
|
|
Joined: Oct 26, 2005
Posts: 146
Location: Out There
|
|
Ahhh...well I guess it cannot be done the way I thought. I can hide the windows choice by commenting the lines out in menu.lst but you cant type in any command to boot windows in the space there because your selections in grub only give you the other choices you had on there. So no matter what you type to boot into windows it will either start Kanotix or hang. I suppose h2's example is the only other option.
But if anyone knows how to boot into windows on dual boot system from the grub screen without a windows boot choice  let me know. |
_________________
"Kanotix....what, me worry?!"
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post subject: hidden winxp choice in grub screen
Posted: Sep 08, 2006 - 04:25 PM
|
|
Joined: Oct 12, 2005
Posts: 41
|
|
Hello w1av,
you could create a second menu.lst (for exampe /boot/grub/secret-menu.lst) which inculdes the windows option and set a password for it.
So enter "grub-md5-crypt" in the console and create your md5-string, then write the following in your menu.lst:
Code:
password --md5 <your-md5-string> /boot/grub/secret-menu.lst
Now the Windows-Option should only be visible, when you enter your password. I hope there is no mistake in my guide 
Kimble |
Last edited by Kimble on Sep 09, 2006 - 04:52 PM; edited 1 time in total
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post subject: grub menu
Posted: Sep 08, 2006 - 06:51 PM
|
|
Joined: Oct 26, 2005
Posts: 146
Location: Out There
|
|
| Hi Kimble....I am not sure what an "md5 string" is or how to make one. You have a cool idea ....But how does GRUB differentiate between the 2 menu.lst files? For example if I make a "secret_menu.lst" , how does grub know which one to load? Either the default one or the new one. Please explain in more detail...I like the sound of it. There's nothing secret about it, I just want to do this just for the heck of it. I don't use Windows all that much anymore and want to see if it was possible to still boot into Winxp using commands instead of highlighting the choice in GRUB. thanks |
_________________
"Kanotix....what, me worry?!"
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post subject: grub menu
Posted: Sep 08, 2006 - 07:18 PM
|
|
Joined: Oct 12, 2005
Posts: 41
|
|
Grub always loads your default menu.list, but with the line
Code:
password --md5 <your-md5-string> /boot/grub/menu2.lst
it loads another one after entering the password. The second menu.lst could contain the windows entry for example.
You could also use
Code:
password <Your Password> /boot/grub/secret-menu.lst
but it's safer to use an encrypted password here.
To create an encrypted password for the part <your-md5-string> you have to use the command "grub-md5-crypt" in console. |
Last edited by Kimble on Sep 09, 2006 - 04:52 PM; edited 1 time in total
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post subject: Working good now
Posted: Sep 09, 2006 - 03:55 PM
|
|
Joined: Oct 26, 2005
Posts: 146
Location: Out There
|
|
OK Kimble, I wrestled with this last night an my problem was the command "-md5".....it should have been preceeded by 2 dashes like this: "--md5".
I did get my md5 string all set, and now when I boot up at GRUB screen I am offered (via password) a choice to boot into Windows if I want to. Pretty cool. So Windows is outta sight, outta mind until I need it! Thanks |
_________________
"Kanotix....what, me worry?!"
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Sep 11, 2006 - 07:30 PM
|
|
Joined: Nov 02, 2005
Posts: 127
|
|
Grub aint half clever innit.....
I would have tried a blank title or something like that...... i dont have windows installed to be ashamed of tho hehe |
_________________
Linux user 403389 and Herbaholic Trichopath
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Sep 12, 2006 - 12:40 AM
|
|
Joined: Dec 05, 2005
Posts: 414
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
|
|
| You can also go to a grub prompt and pass the right boot parameters for it to boot an existing kernel not mentioned in grub. Try it with an existing one and see what I mean ... the boot parameters are already in grub's menu.lst. |
_________________
Linux is evolution, not intelligent design - Linus Torvalds
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
