adding a timeout to the isolinux bootloader of the iso?

ohnonot · 2017-05-21 16:42:27

i want to suggest a tiny change to the bunsenlabs .isos.

i recently had a little adventure with an old computer that i wanted to install bunsenlabs to.
my usb keyboard was not recognized during early boot, so i couldn't boot bunsenlabs!
i decided to un- and repack the iso to include a timeout and a default, as per e.g. this page:

default install
timeout 100

this would default to going straight into the text installer after 10s.
but:
- maybe it would be better to default to the live session?
- it worked for me, but definitely didn't wait 10s. maybe i did it wrong, maybe the specification has changed...

so anyhow, would the devs consider adding a timeout to the isolinux bootloader of the iso?

Head_on_a_Stick · 2017-05-21 16:48:58

I agree with this suggestion.

ohnonot wrote:

maybe it would be better to default to the live session?

I think the install option makes more sense simply because this modification would be for exactly the situation which you describe (I also encountered this with a touchscreen computer).

I've never actually used isolinux so I will have to fiddle with the image when I have a moment...

*cut to shot of ISO image looking slightly scared*

hhh · 2017-05-22 01:26:41

Good idea, ohnonot.

@johnraff, what do you think?

johnraff · 2017-05-22 02:30:07

@ohnonot: So once you were in the text installer the keys worked OK?

I think the isolinux settings will be ignored on an EFI boot though. Perhaps hardware that new will be sure to support usb keyboards anyway. @HoaS was your touchscreen problem on an EFI boot?

Choice of default boot option: as long as it's very easy for the user who had just gone off for a coffee to bail out of an unwanted install...

hhh · 2017-05-22 02:53:21

Backing out of the Debian installer is a tiny bit tricky. We'd need a forum sticky at least.

johnraff · 2017-05-22 03:39:06

^Right - there's no "cancel" option till you do a "go back".

Head_on_a_Stick · 2017-05-22 06:09:02

johnraff wrote:

@HoaS was your touchscreen problem on an EFI boot?

No, Legacy boot only.

I think we use systemd-boot (née gummiboot) for UEFI but I haven't actually checked properly.

Choice of default boot option: as long as it's very easy for the user who had just gone off for a coffee to bail out of an unwanted install...

The installer will only start when prompted and a hard power cycle is "safe" because the hard drives are not mounted at that point.

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2017-05-22 06:09:55)

ohnonot · 2017-05-22 07:12:30

johnraff wrote:

@ohnonot: So once you were in the text installer the keys worked OK?

yes.
it's a known deficiency of plop boot manager.

I think the isolinux settings will be ignored on an EFI boot though. Perhaps hardware that new will be sure to support usb keyboards anyway.

safe assumption, i'd say.

Choice of default boot option: as long as it's very easy for the user who had just gone off for a coffee to bail out of an unwanted install...

yes.
i guess the live session doesn't offer an install still?
it would be the safer default choice.

btw i think the timeout should be pretty large, like 1 minute or so.

johnraff · 2017-05-22 07:35:53

ohnonot wrote:

i guess the live session doesn't offer an install still?

and unlikely to any time soon. debian-installer-launcher is now orphaned, and the current wisdom seems to be to advise users to reboot and choose "install".

...it would be the safer default choice.

Indeed.

i think the timeout should be pretty large, like 1 minute or so.

Maybe so. That will need some work to find out why your 100 didn't translate to 10s as it should have.

#1 2017-05-21 16:42:27

adding a timeout to the isolinux bootloader of the iso?

#2 2017-05-21 16:48:58

Re: adding a timeout to the isolinux bootloader of the iso?

#3 2017-05-22 01:26:41

Re: adding a timeout to the isolinux bootloader of the iso?

#4 2017-05-22 02:30:07

Re: adding a timeout to the isolinux bootloader of the iso?

#5 2017-05-22 02:53:21

Re: adding a timeout to the isolinux bootloader of the iso?

#6 2017-05-22 03:39:06

Re: adding a timeout to the isolinux bootloader of the iso?

#7 2017-05-22 06:09:02

Re: adding a timeout to the isolinux bootloader of the iso?

#8 2017-05-22 07:12:30

Re: adding a timeout to the isolinux bootloader of the iso?

#9 2017-05-22 07:35:53

Re: adding a timeout to the isolinux bootloader of the iso?

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