[dvm5]

I enjoy using linux from time to time, I can't say I can do anything fancy, but I'm not really scared off by it anymore. A while back I found the iPod Linux project and thought ooh, that'll be fun.
And it was.
One part I really liked was how you decided which OS to start up with. If you were running the iPod's native OS, you simply restarted and held down one button to have linux magically appear. I liked this functionality a lot. Recently it has brought me to wish I could do the same on my home computer. I really don't like boot loaders. I'd much rather my computer simply booted one OS unless I pushed a button, and ideally, that which OS this was could be chosen.
Does anyone know of a similar capability on any distrobution of Linux? I would love to hear about any sort of non-standard boot loaders out there, or just something that would be less obtrusive than the usual wait 30sec menu at boot.
Thanks for any opinions, information, or support that can be offered!

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The spot Linux project site should have something along these lines. And if it doesn't they will know where you could get it.

[warriorscot]

The spot Linux project site should have something along these lines. And if it doesn't they will know where you could get it.

[dvm5]

I'm having trouble finding it.
Spot Linux Project, right? can't seem to find a reference.

[warriorscot]

It should read Ipod Linux project. lm trying out my new tablet and its still not picked up my handwriting 100%.

[dvm5]

Oh, I'm so jealous...
alas the poor college student cannot yet afford such toys...
Thanks though, I will poll that forum for any ideas on the subject.
If I find some information I'll be sure to post back though.
And hey, if somebody finds something somewhere that I might like, well, I'll certainly be checking back.

[warriorscot]

Wasn't an expensive tablet only £ 25 and its A4 size. The guys over there are the people to ask since they make it.

[dvm5]

Well I got one response from someone at the iPodLinux forum. I'm apparently not the only one who has searched for this before, though it would seem that others have given up on finding such a bootloader.

His or her suggestion was to set GRUB to load after 1second so that unless you hold the down key on startup the screen just flashes up for a second before loading your default OS.

That sounds alright, not quite what I was looking for.
I had an almost romantic notion of a sort of 'hidden' OS. You wouldn't know it was there unless you simply happened to be holding down the "G" key at startup. Or maybe remap one of the media keys on the keyboard to startup the secret system.

I did however find this little article which seems to have something like what I want to do. Now, since I have two harddrives, it would seem I could in theory use that method to use one of the harddrives for Win and the other for Linux. Though trying to keep my current system intact through this process would seem next to impossible, and the over 100 euro pricetag for DCPP seems a little out of my abilities at this time.

I'll keep searching, but if I get tired, I may simply have to settle for the 1sec menu

[warriorscot]

I thought you were just trying to get ipod linux to be the default OS on your Ipod, you want it on your home pc. Thats just a few tweaks to your grub loader, boot loaders though are essential in ANY OS there isn't an os in the world unless its hard-wired that doesn't need a boot loader.

You just alter the wait times and priorities in Grub set it to boot whatever you want as default and use a short wait time 5 seconds is about right and all you need to do is hit a key to cancel the wait in grub and can pick another OS its that simple for a quick fix you can have press key to view menu option as well but i cant remember the code for it http://www.gnu.org/s...anual/grub.html will have it thoughyou just have a press whatever key to see boot menu prompt similar to the delete to enter bios prompt. I don't use it that way because i switch between OSs fairly regularly i like the menu pop up for about 10 secs so i can pick.

[dvm5]

do you know what it looks like when the "hiddenmenu" command is used?

If it's a simple blank screen that should do nicely, and holding the down key should then stop the timer and allow me to show the menu if I wished for it.

There also seems to be the capability to create GRUB on a CD but this would seem to apply mostly for making a live CD, and not so much for making it boot straight to Linux if the CD was installed.
Any clue on how to alter this process to make it refer to a harddrive installation?

[warriorscot]

Yeah you can make grub on a CD or a floppy and use it like you would have an DOS disk itll let you boot any system installed however you would most likely need to know how to use the grub command line.

Hidden menu just shows a boot up sequence almost exactly as if you didnt have grub installed or only had one OS it'll boot the default unless you press escape before the wait time runs out the meu will then appear for you to chose your other OSs.

[dvm5]

I just noticed that your profile says you're running Ubuntu. I was thinking of installing either Kubuntu or Ubuntu onto this system. I belive they use Grub, do they not?
do you have any opinions about Kubuntu versus Ubuntu? Or suggestions for other distros?
and does one configure grub during install or does that occur once I've got everything installed and working?

[warriorscot]

Either works i generally install both gnome and KDE on ubuntu along with enlightenment so it doesn't really matter whichever you use, the only difference is one comes with KDE and the other gnome but you can download other desktop managers easily. Grub auto configures itself usually it picks up everything fine for me but i usually make some changes after install boot priorities and time-outs mostly.