[ncolug] Re: A different Ubuntu Question.

  • From: Mike Goracke <mgoracke@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: ncolug@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:45:40 -0500

Linux Journal has a great video tutorial concerning Grub2 ...

Configuring Grub 2 <http://www.linuxjournal.com/video/configuring-grub-2>

MikeG



cstickelman@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:
Jim,

The Ubuntu updates include new Linux kernel packages.  Every time you install a 
new kernel package an entry is added to you Grub configuration.  This is, of 
course, a good thing, most users don't understand the specifics of how Linux 
boots and how a new kernel package changes the state of the system.

Fortunately un-installing the same packages removes entries in Grub's 
configuration.  (This is also a good thing...)

The one thing that the Ubuntu updates will not do is to auto-magically delete 
any kernel packages.  (You may want those packages installed, and who is Ubuntu 
to say otherwise...)

The solution is for you to launch a package manager, such as Synaptic, and 
remove the Linux kernel packages that you don't want.  Which ones are those?  
That's a hard call from our perspective...  I ALWAYS keep at least one 
known-good version installed, just in case the new one has issues.

Tutorial:
1) Launch Synaptic (System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager)
2) Authenticate with your current user's password (Ubuntu gives the install 
user superuser access via sudo...)
3) Perform a Quick Search for "linux-image"
4) Deselect the kernel packages you no longer want installed on your system.  
(NOTE:  You MUST keep at least one Linux kernel installed, it's best to have 
two: the most current and the second most current version.)
5) Reboot if you have installed a new kernel or want to test that everything 
worked as planned.  (Always have an alternative mechanism for booting Linux if 
you are not TOTALLY sure that your new configuration is going to boot w/o 
problems.)


GRUB/GRUB2 are topics that we could/should present at a meeting.  GRUB2 is very 
different than the original GRUB that we have all been using for years...)

I hope this helps!
Chuck

---- Aidan Artos MacTyre <wolfson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
As a Linux/Ubuntu novice, I've been noticing that almost every security update to Ubuntu is adding a new entry to my Grub Startup Menu for OS booting. Ubuntu 9.xx.xx.x, etc. over and over down through the versions then "Other OS" then the Windows XP that came with the machine and was setup for multi-boot with Ubuntu Linux. As of this point, the Windows XP and Dell Utility options are listed only after scrolling past the first screen of choices.

Where do I go to remove extraneous old version entries from the Grub boot loader menu? And are there any versions I should keep for recovery purposes after my initial install of Ubuntu Linux last June? Oh, and are there any other considerations, cleanup procedures that need to be dealt with to make this a clean efficient solution and avoid potential future issues that may result from removing any Ubuntu boot points from my system? Lastly, how should I approach removing no longer needed files related to older versions removed from the menu?

How's that sound for a tutorial request?

Jim.

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