How to Change your GRUB background pic

[Adeswas]

I was monkeying around, trying to change my grub screen graphic.  After playing around a bit, it became apparent that I could not find a simple tool to do so.  So after a bit of reading and trial and error, I found a pretty easy way to do it for the KDE version.  I hope this helps someone.
I'm writing this for newbs like myself, so please don't think I'm trying to insult your intelligence.

1) Find the pic you want to use and open it in gwenview, or gimp.  Using the Image>scale command, scale the pic to 800x600 and save it as a .jpg  to your desktop (or wherever you like).

2) While still on your desktop, right click and select create new > folder and name it gfxtest

3) Open your file manager...dolphin, konqueror, or whatever you use (I'm keeping the command line out as much as I can...) and navigate to root/boot.  You'll see a file named gfxmenu.  Copy it to your clipboard and paste it into the folder you made on your desktop (gfxtest).  Close file manager, simply to keep things neat.

4) Open a terminal window (this part isn't hard, just copy the commands I write and paste them in your terminal...don't copy the press enter part...you don't even have to type anything....) and  beside the prompt paste:

cd Desktop/gfxtest    then press enter

cpio -i < gfxmenu   press enter

Close the terminal

5) Open the gfxtest folder on your desktop and you'll see lots of little files appear. Find the gfxmenu file and delete it.  Next find the back.jpg file and delete it. Minimize the window.

6) Remember the pic you saved way back at the beginning? (the one that you want to be the pic for the GRUB background) Find it and copy it to the clipboard.

7) Maximize the gfxtest window again and paste the pic from your clipboard in the gfxtest folder.

8 Rename the pic to back.jpg , and close the window   WE'RE ALMOST THERE!!!!

9) Open up a terminal window again (last time) and paste this command

ls . | cpio -o > gfxmenu

   

press enter and close the command line (phew, that's done!!)

10) go back into the gfxtest folder on your desktop and find the file named gfxmenu, copy that file to your clipboard

11) Open your file manager as root (if you're unsure how to do this, open the file manager, right click on it, click on root options and click open as root)

12) Navigate to the root/boot folder, find the file named gfxmenu and change it's name to gfxmenu.old (right click > rename), then paste the gfxmenu file from your clipboard to the folder.
 
13) Lastly, close any  open windows that may be left, delete the gfxtest folder from your desktop, reboot and enjoy your new GRUB pic.

These steps worked for me, I hope they help you, too.
A

[Socratea]

I was monkeying around, trying to change my grub screen graphic.  After playing around a bit, it became apparent that I could not find a simple tool to do so.  So after a bit of reading and trial and error, I found a pretty easy way to do it for the KDE version.  I hope this helps someone.
I'm writing this for newbs like myself, so please don't think I'm trying to insult your intelligence.

These steps worked for me, I hope they help you, too.
A

Wow, awesome thank you. Cant wait to try this out! So how does your grub look like now?

[Neal ManBear]

Grub images should be 800x600.

This has been posted before on the forum, by Sproggy, if I remember correctly.

EDIT: It was timeth! My bad memory!

[longtom]

Thanks Andeswas

Grub images should be 800x600.

This has been posted before on the forum, by Sproggy, if I remember correctly.

Pity it is lost ...

[timeth]

Tutorial for all screens during the boot up sequence is here > http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,54157.msg617345.html#msg617345

[Neal ManBear]

Tutorial for all screens during the boot up sequence is here > http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,54157.msg617345.html#msg617345

Oops! Sorry, Tim. I've edited my previous post.

[Linuzoid]

I gave it a try and it worked only the command, 'cpio _i < gfxtest' didn't work I had to use a hyphen instead if a underslash as so 'cpio -i < gfxtest. When I shrunk the background and saved it, I needed a 800x600, and I had to choose under advanced options in GIMP to make it the smallest file 2x2,1x1,1x1(smallest file).

[Neal ManBear]

To extract a cpio file, use this command --

Code:

cpio -iv < cpio_file

To create a cpio file, use this command --

Code:

ls | cpio -ov > cpio_file

Replace cpio_file with the actual name of the file, such as gfxmenu.

[Archie]

Yo, Neal.... did't we work together on this before? I distinctly remember doing this very same thing with you a couple of years back. Wow, how time flies.

Anyway, I have been putting theme sets together - GRUB background, KDM, KSplash and desktop wallpaper... sorry, these are just for KDE users ... and will share with the community my most recent two - PCLinuxOS Wet-Air and PCLinuxOS Fluorescence-World. Watch out the Art and Theme Request section.

Mental note... include instrutions!  

@Adeswas ... I'm certain that sharing your experience with the community will help others. Well done! And explore the magic a little bit more!

[Neal ManBear]

Yo, Neal.... did't we work together on this before? I distinctly remember doing this very same thing with you a couple of years back. Wow, how time flies.

Yep, we did. Flies time when they're having fun, eh?

Anyway, I have been putting theme sets together - GRUB background, KDM, KSplash and desktop wallpaper... sorry, these are just for KDE users ... and will share with the community my most recent two - PCLinuxOS Wet-Air and PCLinuxOS Fluorescence-World. Watch out the Art and Theme Request section.

Mental note... include instrutions!  

You could pack 'em up as RPMs. It isn't so hard to do.

@Adeswas ... I'm certain that sharing your experience with the community will help others. Well done! And explore the magic a little bit more!

The thread that timeth linked to has some very good tutorials, for a start. Also, there are lots of other types of info lying about just waiting to be picked up.

[Archie]

Also, there are lots of other types of info lying about just waiting to be picked up.

Certainly... most of us, myself included just have to search more. I missed that post plus longtom's Inkscape link.

[Adeswas]

I gave it a try and it worked only the command, 'cpio _i < gfxtest' didn't work I had to use a hyphen instead if a underslash as so 'cpio -i < gfxtest. When I shrunk the background and saved it, I needed a 800x600, and I had to choose under advanced options in GIMP to make it the smallest file 2x2,1x1,1x1(smallest file).

Linuzoid, you are absolutely right!  The code should read cpio -i < gfxmenu .  Sorry for that and the misinfo on the size of the pic,  I'll go back and edit the post.

If this is already posted I just didn't find it...
A

[Archie]

I gave it a try and it worked only the command, 'cpio _i < gfxtest' didn't work I had to use a hyphen instead if a underslash as so 'cpio -i < gfxtest. When I shrunk the background and saved it, I needed a 800x600, and I had to choose under advanced options in GIMP to make it the smallest file 2x2,1x1,1x1(smallest file).

Linuzoid, you are absolutely right!  The code should read cpio -i < gfxmenu .  Sorry for that and the misinfo on the size of the pic,  I'll go back and edit the post.

If this is already posted I just didn't find it...
A

LOL, Adewas. There's a lot of goodies and treasure in this forum that are hard to find. Let's just hope that our New Friends would find your post easily.