Using GRUB 2

Installation and Configuration

The Ubuntu installer automatically installs GRUB 2. Thanks to the so-called "OS prober," GRUB independently recognizes the operating systems on the hard drive and creates entries for them. If you modify the /etc/default/grub [3] central configuration file (menu.lst no longer exists), the system has to read the settings in again, which – as mentioned earlier  – you accomplish with the sudo update-grub command. You can also use tools such as Grub Customizer [4] or GRUB 2 Editor for the same purpose.

GRUB 2 Splash Image

One way to customize GRUB 2 is with a splash image (Figure 2), but to ensure that no harm is done, secure the entire /etc/grub.d/ directory with administrator rights. The directory contains all scripts that define GRUB 2 behavior, so the bootloader starts properly in an alphanumeric sequence. In a pinch, grab the original configuration by starting an Ubuntu Live CD and mounting the external hard drive by double-clicking it in the file manager.

Figure 2: GRUB doesn't accept just any image as a splash image. You can install a few using a package.

Splash images have to meet certain criteria [5]. They must be in PNG, JPG/JPEG, or TGA format; consist of a maximum 256 RGB colors; and can't be indexed. Although you can set these criteria with GIMP, you have an easier way. To install a few sample images for GRUB 2, enter the command:

$ sudo apt-get install grub2-splashimages

Next, copy one of the images to the /boot/grub directory (e.g., an Apollo spaceship image):

$ sudo cp /usr/share/images/grub/Apollo_17_The_Last_Moon_Shot_Edit1.tga/boot/grub/

If GRUB finds multiple images, it takes the first one in alphanumeric order. To integrate the image permanently, use the command:

$ sudo update-grub

The image should appear as a splash image in the GRUB 2 screen output.