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Asked: 2024-09-25T10:48:27+05:30 In:

How can I adjust the GRUB timeout duration and select the default boot entry in Ubuntu?

I’ve been diving into some Linux stuff lately, mostly Ubuntu, and I hit a bit of a snag. Maybe you all can help me out here.

So, I’m trying to figure out how to adjust the GRUB timeout duration—basically, the amount of time it takes for the boot menu to show up before automatically selecting a default entry. I’ve got a few different kernels and a Windows dual-boot setup, and honestly, it feels like the timeout is way too short. I barely have time to read what’s going on before it just boots into the latest kernel, and sometimes I need to boot into an older one.

Also, while we’re at it, I’d love to set my preferred boot entry as the default. Right now, it just defaults to the most recently installed kernel, which is fine most of the time, but there are occasions when I really need to switch back to a stable version. I’ve tried a few things on my own, like poking around in the GRUB configuration file, but I’m not sure I’m on the right track.

I’m a bit worried about messing things up—like, I really don’t want to end up with a system that won’t boot at all. If anyone has gone through this or has some tips, I’d love to hear from you. What files do I need to edit? Is there a specific command to run, or a GUI tool you recommend? And how do I make sure I’m being careful enough so I don’t break anything?

Any insights or step-by-step guides would be super helpful! I want to make this work without having a meltdown every time I need to change my boot options. Thanks in advance for your help!

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    1. GRUB Timeout and Default Entry Adjustment

      Adjusting GRUB Timeout and Default Entry

      Sounds like you’re in a bit of a sticky situation, but don’t worry—it’s not too complicated! Here’s what you can do:

      Step 1: Edit the GRUB Configuration File

      First, you’ll want to open your terminal. You can use your favorite text editor (like nano or gedit) to edit the GRUB config file. Just run: 

      sudo nano /etc/default/grub

      Step 2: Adjust the Timeout

      Look for the line that says GRUB_TIMEOUT=. Change the number to how many seconds you want. For example, if you want it to wait for 10 seconds, make it: 

      GRUB_TIMEOUT=10

      Step 3: Set the Default Entry

      Below that, you’ll find GRUB_DEFAULT=. You can set this to the specific entry you want. If you know the entry number (counting starts from 0), just change it like this: 

      GRUB_DEFAULT=0

      Or if you want to set it by name, it would look like this:

      GRUB_DEFAULT="Advanced options for Ubuntu>Ubuntu, with Linux 5.4.0-42-generic"

      Step 4: Update GRUB

      After making the changes, save the file (if you’re using nano, it’s CTRL + O to save, then CTRL + X to exit). Now, you need to update GRUB to apply the changes: 

      sudo update-grub

      Step 5: Reboot

      Go ahead and reboot your system. You should now see that the timeout is longer, and your preferred boot option should be selected by default!

      Extra Tips

      • Back up the original grub file before editing, just in case:
        sudo cp /etc/default/grub /etc/default/grub.bak
      • If your system doesn’t boot properly, you can recover by using the backup file.

      Be careful while editing files, but you’ve got this! Just follow these steps, and you’ll be able to customize your GRUB in no time. Good luck!



    2. To adjust the GRUB timeout duration on your Ubuntu system, you’ll need to edit the GRUB configuration file located at `/etc/default/grub`. Open a terminal and execute the command sudo nano /etc/default/grub to edit the file. Look for the line that says GRUB_TIMEOUT=. You can set this to your desired number of seconds (e.g., GRUB_TIMEOUT=10 will give you 10 seconds to make your selection). After making your changes, save the file and then update GRUB by running sudo update-grub. This will ensure that your changes are applied the next time you boot your system.

      If you want to set a specific boot entry as the default, you can specify this by changing the GRUB_DEFAULT= line in the same configuration file. You can set it to the name of the menuentry you want as default (e.g., GRUB_DEFAULT="Advanced options for Ubuntu>Ubuntu, with Linux 5.4.0-42-generic" for a specific kernel version) or set it to a numerical value indicating the index in the GRUB menu (e.g., GRUB_DEFAULT=0 for the first entry). Finally, remember to run sudo update-grub again after making these adjustments. To avoid any potential boot issues, it’s advisable to create a backup of the GRUB configuration file before making changes. You can do this by running sudo cp /etc/default/grub /etc/default/grub.bak, allowing you to restore it if needed.


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