grub2
Installing Ubuntu 10.10 I get the GRUB2 boot manager. By default is does instant booting of the first entry, i.e. you have to hold the Shift key while booting when you want to enter the menu.
How can I disable this behavior? I mean, how can I configure GRUB2 such that it always displays its menu and uses perhaps a timeout of 5 seconds for the first entry?
I think that I found a simpler resolution. Modify the following lines in the file /etc/default/grub :
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0.0
GRUB_TIMEOUT=0.0
Of course we finally run an update-grub. It works on my PC.
You need to make:
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=5
GRUB_TIMEOUT=0
Then, when you switch the computer on, pres ESC to enter to the boot menu, otherwise, the computer will boot in the default selection.
For sake of simplicity, you can change those values easily with Grub Customizer
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:danielrichter2007/grub-customizer
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install grub-customizer
In the tab General, click on advanced settings, then, select active the following keys and update the values to:
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT = 5
GRUB_TIMEOUT = 0
Optional, to display a counter showing the remaining seconds while you can press ESC, set:
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET = false
Best Answer
Check out the extremely detailed and well-written Wiki entry for Grub2. The setting
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUTshould be what you are looking for. But pay attention to the instructions on how to change settings.