DSL Ideas and Suggestions :: Boot parameters in HD install



The HD install doesn't allow the user to enter boot parameters on startup. How about adding this and even allowing even allowing the user to save these permanently?

So on bootup you would get the boot line for 3 seconds or so:

boot:

Say you altered the boot parameters in some way it would prompt:

boot: noacpi
Save boot parameters? y/n:

On next boot the line would read:

boot: noacpi

After 3 seconds it would boot with the parameter you entered.
If you're using lilo I think you can add the following towards the top of /etc/lilo.conf:

prompt
timeout = 30

Remember to rerun lilo for the new setting to take effect. You can also add an append line in the config file (this is an example I found by googling, your parameters will be different):

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.18
       label=linux
       initrd=/boot/initrd-scsi-2.4.18
       read-only
       append="noacpi"

I guess there are similar options in grub.
Grub does allow for boot commands on startup. I don't have it installed here, but there are instructions at the bottom of the GRUB boot splash screen to enter a boot command prompt where you can add your boot commands. I think its crtl-c or maybe just "c". I don't remember for sure. If you are happy with the result, then just edit /boot/grub/menu.lst
I think you are asking for more automation or prompting?
In Grub, press "e" to change the selected system, press "e" again to edit the selected line, press "enter" to accept changes, then press "b" to boot with the current options.  This changes only the current session, and will revert when you reboot.
If you like the change, do as doobit said.

I think what you're asking for is the modification of Grub itself.  While this would not be out of the question, it seems that DSL development attempts to use applications without code modificcations as much as possible.  As far as I can tell, this makes it much easier to deal with the GPL licence, since there is little custom code that would need to be made available.  I might be way off here, but that's what it seems like to me.

original here.