Linux Desktop Hacks

Jazz Up Your Debian System Boot #8

Chapter 1, Booting Linux

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23

HACK

Use your favorite editor to modify your /etc/apt/sources.list file to include the

following line:

deb http://www.bootsplash.de/files/debian unstable main

Then update the package database and install the necessary files:

# apt-get update

# apt-get install sysv-rc-bootsplash

# apt-get install bootsplash bootsplash-theme-newlinux

If you are running a Debian-based distribution instead of

true-blue Debian, you will probably have problems install-

ing these packages. You must convert your Debian-based

distribution into a true Debian system for these instructions

to work. This process isn’t difficult, but it is different for

each Debian-based product, and an explanation of the neces-

sary steps is beyond the scope of this book.

When Debian installs the bootsplash package, the installation dialog pre-

sents a list of existing initrd images it finds, and it asks you to make a choice

about your initrd file. If you created an initrd file called initrd.img-2.6.8.1,as

in the previous example, select that file from the list. In this case, the instal-

lation program will append the boot splash information to your existing

initrd file.

If you do not have or need an initrd file for this kernel, select

none from the

list. In this latter case, the configuration program creates an initrd file for

you called initrd.splash.

Set Up Your Bootloader

Most people ...