Install GRUB2 Splash Image in Ubuntu

One of the major highlights in Ubuntu 9.10(Karmic Koala) its the new GRUB2 boot loader which allows high-resolution images to be used as backgrounds in the boot screen. However, after installing Karmic you will realise that the background image is disabled by default and what you get is a simple black background.

Installing a splash image for GRUB2 is very simple. All you have to do is follow the steps given below:

Download the images

Open a command window, copy-paste the following text and press Enter:

sudo apt-get install grub2-splashimages


This will install a number of images (in TGA format) in the /usr/share/images/grub folder. Open this folder to view the images you downloaded.

Install a splash image

Lets install Lake_mapourika_NZ.tga as the splash image.

Type the following in a command window:

sudo gedit /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme


This will open up the file /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme in gedit text editor with root priviledges.

Find the line:

for i in {/boot/grub,/usr/share/images/desktop-base}/moreblue-orbit-grub.{png,tga} ; do


Replace it with:

for i in {/boot/grub,/usr/share/images/desktop-base,/usr/share/images/grub}/Lake_mapourika_NZ.{png,tga} ; do


Save the file and exit.

Update your grub.cfg using the following command:

sudo update-grub


Thats it. Reboot your machine and enjoy the new boot screen.

Notes:

1) The line:

for i in {/boot/grub,/usr/share/images/desktop-base,/usr/share/images/grub}/Moraine_Lake_17092005.{png,tga} ;


tells grub to look for Moraine_Lake_17092005 (in PNG or TGA format) in the following locations:

/boot/grub
/usr/share/images/desktop-base
/usr/share/images/grub


You can use any image in PNG or TGA format as the splash image by simply copying the image to any of these folders and changing the line as described above. You can also specify some other folder of your choice. Always remember to run sudo update-grub after editing the line otherwise your changes will not be saved.

2) The images that you get by installing the grub2-splashimages package are extremely boring (screenshot below).

You can download a number of high-resolution wallpapers from the following site and use them as the splash image.

http://www.desktopnexus.com/tag/ubuntu/

3) The default resolution for the boot screen is very low (640×480). If the image you use is larger than 640×480 pixels, then it will be cropped and the boot screen will look a little weird. You can increase the resolution to 1024×768 for better results.

Type the following in a command window:

$sudo gedit /etc/default/grub


This will open up the file /etc/default/grub in gedit text editor with root priviledges.

Find the line:

#GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480


Replace it with:

GRUB_GFXMODE=1024x768


Save the file and reboot.

4) Your graphics card supports a very limited number of video modes during boot time. Make sure that you are using a supported resolution. To see the video modes available at boot time, reboot your machine, press C at the boot screen and type vbeinfo

5) The syntax for editing the GRUB2 configuration files can be found on the following page:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Grub2

How to install Picasa in Ubuntu

Add Google’s software repository to your system.

Go to System->Administration->Software Sources.
In the Third-Party Software tab click Add.
Copy/Paste the following line and click Add Source.

deb http://dl.google.com/linux/deb/ stable non-free main

Install Google’s public keys

Download Google’s public key file from here:

https://dl-ssl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub

Go to System->Administration->Software Sources.
In the Authentication tab click Import Key File…
Import the key file that you downloaded earlier.

Install picasa

Now open a terminal window and type the following

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install picasa


That it. Picasa will be downloaded and installed. You will find the Picasa under Applications->Graphics.

Note: Google is using wine to run Picasa under Linux. So the program will look a little ugly (screenshot below).

You can remove Picasa using the following line:

sudo apt-get remove picasa