Computer Problem -- Too many things on my boot screen

Factual Questions
1

Data: I dual-boot Kubuntu 8.04 and Windows XP Home Edition. I think that is all that applies in this situation.

Problem: My boot screen (that thing that appears when I turn the computer on and lets me chose which operation system to use) is crowded. When I first got Kubuntu 7.14, it only mentioned


Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-14-generic
Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-14-generic (recovery mode)
Ubuntu 8.04 memtest86+
Other operation systems:
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Embeded

I’m not sure if the numbers after the kernel are right…
However, after updating to 8.04, it added another two lines. Since then, every major update or so, it has added another two lines.
It now looks like this:



Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic
Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic (recovery mode)
Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-18-generic
Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-18-generic (recovery mode)
Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-17-generic
Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-17-generic (recovery mode)
Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic
Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic (recovery mode)
Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-14-generic
Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-14-generic (recovery mode)
Ubuntu 8.04 memtest86+
Other operation systems:
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Embeded

There are way to many thingys. I’ve tried loading some of them, and they are all seemingly identical. Same files, same settings, same everything. I want to know how to get rid of them.
I think I know how to clear them from the boot screen, but I’m not sure if they (whatever they are) are taking up memory, or processing power, or what.
I didn’t ask Google, because I didn’t have the slightest idea how to turn this into a query, so I am asking here.

If something didn’t make sense, just ask, and I will try to clarify.

I hope you can help.

2

All you need to do is open Synaptics Package Manager in Ubuntu, search for linux-image and delete the older versions of the kernel package(unfortunately, I don’t know what the kernel packages are called).

Whenever you update the kernel, you should boot into the new one, check that it works properly, and then you can delete the old kernel package to unclutter your boot menu.

3

Assuming your installation is using GRUB as its bootloader, boot into Linux and edit /boot/grub/menu.lst (as root). You’ll see a number of entries that look like this:



title Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic 
      root (hd0,2)        
      kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19 root=/dev/hda1 ro 3
      initrd /boot/initrd.img

and so on for each kernel image you have installed. Obviously your root partitions and filenames may be slightly different.

The most recent ones are near the top, so keep those and delete the redundant ones underneath. (You might want to save a copy of your grub.lst before you tweak it.)

4

Sorry, this is for Ubuntu, not Kubuntu. Happily, it seems that I have the same issue. As soon as I work out how to fix it I’ll let you know.

5

This did it. I used the Adept Package Manger instead of Synaptics, but it worked all the same.
Two new questions. What is a kernel, and how can I tell if one works?

6

The kernel is the set of core operating system files without which your computer is a doorstop. If your system boots and runs, the kernel is working.

7

Another thanks!

8

:smack:

The problem with being a kernel programmer is that it never occurs to you to explain such things. QED has it right: if you can boot the computer and use it, the new kernel is working.

9

Cool. I guess it’s working then :slight_smile: