You must run this as root!

After giving that error grub customizer goes away. I am unable to run it as root.

sudo gksu grub-customizer

makes no sense at all. sudo is used to run tings with elevated access, gksu is ALSO for this but is to run graphical apps with elevated access. SO you should run:

sudo grub-customizer
or
gksu grub-customizer
Not
sudo gksu grub-customizer

It doesn't appear to be an official app. Where did you get it from?

FYI.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=10340183

The PPA seems to add an item in the system menu. Try using that.

The primary message of this error is, that grub-mkconfig couldn't be executed successfully (but as you'll always get this message, if you don't run grub customizer as root, I thought this is a good hint).

Please try to run

`sudo grub-mkconfig` from the terminal.

mkconfig can be used after a reinstall or repair attempt of Grub. Actually it's ok to run update-grub.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#/boot/grub/grub.cfg

@Sam_: Grub Customizer uses the command "grub-mkconfig" to fetch the output of the actual configuration (which operating systems are generated by the scripts…). The content of the file /boot/grub/grub.cfg is not necessary.

If Grub Customizer says that this command couldn't be executed - after running it as root - then this is because of a broken grub2 environment. So it would be helpful to see, *why* this command fails (error message), when it's executed from the command line

Hello All,
actionparsnip - I had already tried sudo grub-customizer and gksu grub-customizer before trying out sudo gksu grub-customizer(Out of frustration, I was trying various command combinations to see if anything works.)

Daniel Richter, Thank You for that beautiful command `sudo grub-mkconfig` from the terminal. It actually worked. A very BIG THANKS Daniel. Your command showed all the entries on terminal but was not launching the grub customizer. I was unable to edit those entries though. After running your command, I did sudo update-grub which also completed its task without any errors.
My problem with terminal not running as root is over.(I restarted my system and none of my ubuntutweak edits or sudo update grub or synaptic removal of linux image is replicated on grub manager. I still have 18 entries.It is a different problem all together.)

Sam, thanks for those links, I have tried out most of the things there and I have an active thread on my grub problem there. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1724549

The question is how do I launch my GC window so that I can edit the entries there? I have almost 18 entries shown on my grub manager. I am using Natty.

I said you should run the grub-mkconfig command to let us see some error messages (it doesn't solve any problems)… but you say, it works… hmm seems to be more difficult then I thought.

I'll look about that this afternoon.

But in general, grub customizer works fine with natty…

I did sudo grub-mkconfig, Got the following output:

vinu@vinu-desktop:~$ gpg --fingerprint
vinu@vinu-desktop:~$ sudo grub-mkconfig
[sudo] password for vinu:
Generating grub.cfg ...
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  set have_grubenv=true
  load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
  set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
    saved_entry="${chosen}"
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}

function recordfail {
  set recordfail=1
  if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}

function load_video {
  insmod vbe
  insmod vga
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=640x480
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
  set timeout=-1
else
  set timeout=20
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
 recordfail
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5 ro splash vga=789 quiet splash
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
 recordfail
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-25-generic ...'
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5 ro single splash vga=789
 echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux.bak ###
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
 recordfail
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5 ro splash vga=789 quiet splash
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
 recordfail
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-25-generic ...'
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5 ro single splash vga=789
 echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux.bak ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/12_os-prober ###
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ntfs
 set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 04328e64328e5b16
 chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/12_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ntfs
 set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 04328e64328e5b16
 chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober.bak ###
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ntfs
 set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 04328e64328e5b16
 chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober.bak ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
/etc/grub.d/40_custom: 1: menuentry: not found
/etc/grub.d/40_custom: 2: Syntax error: "(" unexpected

I did sudo update-grub.Output is as follows.

vinu@vinu-desktop:~$ sudo update-grub
[sudo] password for vinu:
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
/etc/grub.d/40_custom: 1: menuentry: not found
/etc/grub.d/40_custom: 2: Syntax error: "(" unexpected

Next I tried the command gksu gedit /etc/fstab, it opensfstab/gedit.
I am not exactly sure what to put it in there. Is there any Linux image entries and windows loader entry? I have saved some entries on text editor. I did not do anything to fstab until I get expert opinion.
I had used grub customizer before(guess in Jan). Found it quite user friendly, but these days, I am unable to make the GC windows Launch.

hmm

There are the following lines at the end of your grub-mkconfig output:

/etc/grub.d/40_custom: 1: menuentry: not found
/etc/grub.d/40_custom: 2: Syntax error: "(" unexpected

This may be the reason why grub-mkconfig returns other values than 0(?) - which is detected as error by Grub Customizer.

Please fix this problem (by editing the file /etc/grub.d/40_custom) or post its content here to let me say what's wrong with it.

Here is the contents of 40_custom:

menuentry "Custom Menu"{
  set root=(hd0,5)
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
        configfile /boot/grub/custom_menu.cfg
        }

Ah, this is the reason!

All the files in /etc/grub.d are shell scripts. So you have to preserve the default lines (at least the 2 lines on top of this file), if you want to use it as a static configuration.

Please add theese lines to the begin of this file:

#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.

I tried typing and saving the below lines

#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
menuentry "Custom Menu"{
  set root=(hd0,5)
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
        configfile /boot/grub/custom_menu.cfg
        }

Getting error message:

"Could not save the file /etc/grub.d/40_custom.
You do not have the permissions necessary to save the file. Please check that you typed the location correctly and try again."

I could save that to desktop, and when I try copy pasting it to grub.d, the paste option doesn't work.

This file is owned by root, so in order to save changes to it, you should edit it as root. Press Alt+F2, type this into the text box, and press enter:

gksu gedit /etc/grub.d/40_custom

I am able to open it and I added the following entries. Now does this look good?

#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux.bak ###
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
 recordfail
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5 ro quiet splash
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
 recordfail
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-25-generic ...'
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5 ro single
 echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux.bak ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ntfs
 set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 04328e64328e5b16
 chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Custom Menu"{
  set root=(hd0,5)
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
        configfile /boot/grub/custom_menu.cfg
        }

No, please simply add the

#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0

header - nothing else (like in your first try).

Ok. Thanks. After that when I restarted, I could see another custom menu with the entries that I just added :).
So I deleted and added only the following.

#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
menuentry "Custom Menu"{
  set root=(hd0,5)
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
        configfile /boot/grub/custom_menu.cfg
        }

ok, and now try to run Grub Customizer!

Also Daniel, someone in ubuntuforums had asked me to uninstall and reinstall grub customizer,
So I run the following commands
sudo apt-get purge grub-customizer
sudo apt-get install grub-customizer
Got the results below: How can I reinstall grub customizer?

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  hwinfo libhd16
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  grub-customizer*
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 1 not upgraded.
After this operation, 946kB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
(Reading database ... 158266 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing grub-customizer ...
Processing triggers for python-gmenu ...
Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/desktop.en_IN.cache...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils ...
Processing triggers for hicolor-icon-theme ...
Processing triggers for man-db ...
Processing triggers for python-support ...
vinu@vinu-desktop:~$ sudo apt-get install grub-customizer
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package grub-customizer
vinu@vinu-desktop:~$

Maybe, you have removed the PPA…

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:danielrichter2007/grub-customizer
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install grub-customizer

Getting error:

vinu@vinu-desktop:~$ sudo apt-add-repository ppa:danielrichter2007/grub-customizer
Executing: gpg --ignore-time-conflict --no-options --no-default-keyring --secret-keyring /etc/apt/secring.gpg --trustdb-name /etc/apt/trustdb.gpg --keyring /etc/apt/trusted.gpg --primary-keyring /etc/apt/trusted.gpg --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv 59DAD276B942642B1BBD0EACA8AA1FAA3F055C03
gpg: requesting key 3F055C03 from hkp server keyserver.ubuntu.com
gpg: key 3F055C03: "Launchpad PPA for Daniel Richter" not changed
gpg: Total number processed: 1
gpg: unchanged: 1
vinu@vinu-desktop:~$ sudo apt-get update
E: Type 'ielrichter2007/grub-customizer/ubuntu' is not known on line 2 in source list /etc/apt/sources.list.d/danielrichter2007-grub-customizer-maverick.list
E: The list of sources could not be read.
vinu@vinu-desktop:~$ sudo apt-get install grub-customizer
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package grub-customizer
vinu@vinu-desktop:~$

Can you give the output of:

gedit /etc/apt/sources.list.d/danielrichter2007-grub-customizer-maverick.list

Thanks

# deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/danielrichter2007/grub-customizer/ubuntu maverick main # disabled on upgrade to maverick
ielrichter2007/grub-customizer/ubuntu maverick main

I tried to add it from siftware sources but unable to.

Then I'd run:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/danielrichter2007-grub-customizer-maverick.list; sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get -y upgrade

May help

When tried to open synaptic, got the following error

"E: Type 'ielrichter2007/grub-customizer/ubuntu' is not known on line 2 in source list /etc/apt/sources.list.d/danielrichter2007-grub-customizer-maverick.list
E: The list of sources could not be read.
Go to the repository dialog to correct the problem.
E: _cache->open() failed, please report." and there is a close button and synaptic closes.

did you execute the commands proposed by actionparsnip before?

Yes Daniel Ritcher and got the following results.Since I am using natty, I had disabled maverick updates. Now when i try to enbale it from software centre, it wont open. Nor my synaptic does anything.

vinu@vinu-desktop:~$ sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/danielrichter2007-grub-customizer-maverick.list
rm: cannot remove `/etc/apt/sources.list.d/danielrichter2007-grub-customizer-maverick.list': No such file or directory
vinu@vinu-desktop:~$ sudo apt-add-repository ppa:danielrichter2007/grub-customizer
Executing: gpg --ignore-time-conflict --no-options --no-default-keyring --secret-keyring /etc/apt/secring.gpg --trustdb-name /etc/apt/trustdb.gpg --keyring /etc/apt/trusted.gpg --primary-keyring /etc/apt/trusted.gpg --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv 59DAD276B942642B1BBD0EACA8AA1FAA3F055C03
gpg: requesting key 3F055C03 from hkp server keyserver.ubuntu.com
gpg: key 3F055C03: "Launchpad PPA for Daniel Richter" not changed
gpg: Total number processed: 1
gpg: unchanged: 1
vinu@vinu-desktop:~$ sudo apt-get update
Get:1 http://dl.google.com stable Release.gpg [197B]
Get:2 http://ppa.launchpad.net maverick Release.gpg [316B]
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net/danielrichter2007/grub-customizer/ubuntu/ maverick/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net/danielrichter2007/grub-customizer/ubuntu/ maverick/main Translation-en_IN
Get:3 http://ppa.launchpad.net maverick Release.gpg [316B]
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net/mozillateam/firefox-stable/ubuntu/ maverick/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net/mozillateam/firefox-stable/ubuntu/ maverick/main Translation-en_IN
Get:4 http://ppa.launchpad.net maverick Release [9,784B]
Ign http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable/main Translation-en
Get:5 http://ppa.launchpad.net maverick Release [9,775B]
Get:6 http://ppa.launchpad.net maverick/main Sources [584B]
Get:7 http://ppa.launchpad.net maverick/main i386 Packages [794B]
Get:8 http://ppa.launchpad.net maverick/main Sources [18.2kB]
Get:9 http://ppa.launchpad.net maverick/main i386 Packages [15.4kB]
Ign http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable/main Translation-en_IN
Get:10 http://dl.google.com stable Release.gpg [197B]
Ign http://dl.google.com/linux/talkplugin/deb/ stable/main Translation-en
Ign http://dl.google.com/linux/talkplugin/deb/ stable/main Translation-en_IN
Get:11 http://dl.google.com stable Release [1,347B]
Get:12 http://dl.google.com stable Release [1,347B]
Get:13 http://dl.google.com stable/main i386 Packages [1,096B]
Get:14 http://dl.google.com stable/main i386 Packages [737B]
Fetched 60.0kB in 8s (7,395B/s)
Reading package lists... Done

I managed to reinstall grub customizer. It is there. But when I launch it, it asks for my admin password, I type it, GC window comes n disappears withut showing any error.

I am able to run gksu grub-mkconfig- it lists all the entries on terminal. Unable to launch or edit GC

contents of grub.d is
#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
menuentry "Custom Menu"{
  set root=(hd0,5)
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
        configfile /boot/grub/custom_menu.cfg
        }

When I try Launching GC via terminal, the GC window comes n disappears and this is what happens in the terminal.

vinu@vinu-desktop:~$ gksu grub-customizer
checking for the burg-mkconfig command…
checking for the grub-mkconfig command…
/usr/sbin/grub-mkconfig
checking for the update-grub command…
/usr/sbin/update-grub
checking for the grub-install command…
/usr/sbin/grub-install
checking for the grub-mkconfig command…
/usr/sbin/grub-mkconfig
checking for the update-grub command…
/usr/sbin/update-grub
checking for the grub-install command…
/usr/sbin/grub-install
running grub-mkconfig
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done

glibmm-ERROR **:
unhandled exception (type std::exception) in signal handler:
what: basic_string::substr

aborting...
vinu@vinu-desktop:~$ sudo grub-customizer
checking for the burg-mkconfig command…
sh: hwinfo: not found
checking for the grub-mkconfig command…
/usr/sbin/grub-mkconfig
checking for the update-grub command…
/usr/sbin/update-grub
checking for the grub-install command…
/usr/sbin/grub-install
checking for the grub-mkconfig command…
/usr/sbin/grub-mkconfig
checking for the update-grub command…
/usr/sbin/update-grub
checking for the grub-install command…
/usr/sbin/grub-install
running grub-mkconfig
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done

glibmm-ERROR **:
unhandled exception (type std::exception) in signal handler:
what: basic_string::substr

aborting...
Aborted (core dumped)
vinu@vinu-desktop:~$

Apport gave the following message when GC crashed

"The problem cannot be reported:

The program crashed on an assertion failure, but the message could not be retrieved. Apport does not support reporting these crashes."

What is the output of sudo grub-mkconfig now?

Have you contacted the developer to inform them of this issue? I suggest you email them this flow and they may be able to pitch in.

@actionparsnip

This way is ok for me ;-)

vinu@vinu-desktop:~$ sudo grub-mkconfig
[sudo] password for vinu:
Generating grub.cfg ...
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  set have_grubenv=true
  load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
  set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
    saved_entry="${chosen}"
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}

function recordfail {
  set recordfail=1
  if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}

function load_video {
  insmod vbe
  insmod vga
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=640x480
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
  set timeout=-1
else
  set timeout=20
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
 recordfail
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5 ro splash vga=789 quiet splash
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
 recordfail
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-25-generic ...'
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5 ro single splash vga=789
 echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux.bak ###
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
 recordfail
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5 ro splash vga=789 quiet splash
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
 recordfail
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-25-generic ...'
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5 ro single splash vga=789
 echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux.bak ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux_proxy ###
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25-generic" --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
 recordfail
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5 ro splash vga=789 quiet splash
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25-generic (recovery mode)" --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
 recordfail
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-25-generic ...'
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5 ro single splash vga=789
 echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux_proxy ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/11_memtest86+_proxy ###
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
### END /etc/grub.d/11_memtest86+_proxy ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/12_os-prober ###
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ntfs
 set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 04328e64328e5b16
 chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/12_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/13_custom_proxy ###
### END /etc/grub.d/13_custom_proxy ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/14_custom_proxy ###
### END /etc/grub.d/14_custom_proxy ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/15_custom_proxy ###
### END /etc/grub.d/15_custom_proxy ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/16_custom_proxy ###
### END /etc/grub.d/16_custom_proxy ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ntfs
 set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 04328e64328e5b16
 chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober.bak ###
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ntfs
 set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 04328e64328e5b16
 chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober.bak ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
menuentry "Custom Menu"{
  set root=(hd0,5)
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
        configfile /boot/grub/custom_menu.cfg
        }

### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
  source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
done
vinu@vinu-desktop:~$

I dont get GC winodw when I run sudo- grub-mkconfig

Since daniel said this is ok, no need to email I guess :)

I don't know if crash is because of this, but maybe…

Grub Customizer expects menuentries are closed with a single "}" - there shouldn't be other chars on this line. So please replace the contents of your 40_custom with this:

#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
menuentry "Custom Menu"{
    set root=(hd0,5)
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
    configfile /boot/grub/custom_menu.cfg
}

… and try again

Ok.. I replaced the contents of my 40_custom with teh above script which is
#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
menuentry "Custom Menu"{
    set root=(hd0,5)
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
    configfile /boot/grub/custom_menu.cfg
}

I save and exit.
Clicks on GC, It comes up, It loads the configuration and the window once again disappears . Apport tells me grub customizer closed unexpectedly and I try to report the problem, It gives the message

"The problem cannot be reported:

The program crashed on an assertion failure, but the message could not be retrieved. Apport does not support reporting these crashes."

Basicaly I am getting the following error on terminal when I type sudo grub-customizer. (GC window opens and disappears.)

glibmm-ERROR **:
unhandled exception (type std::exception) in signal handler:
what: basic_string::substr

aborting...
Aborted (core dumped)

is this some kind of bug?

Yes… maybe. Generally, exceptions shouldn't go out.

Got the following message for the above command You gave:

sudo rm -r /etc/grub.d/*.bak /etc/grub.d/*_proxy /etc/grub.d/bin /etc/grub.d/proxifiedScripts
rm: cannot remove `/etc/grub.d/*.bak': No such file or directory
rm: cannot remove `/etc/grub.d/*_proxy': No such file or directory
rm: cannot remove `/etc/grub.d/bin': No such file or directory
rm: cannot remove `/etc/grub.d/proxifiedScripts': No such file or directory

I open GC, Itloads entries and goes away :(.Same problem.

I was using karmic and then lucid lynx. Recently I changed my mother board and processor. Will that cause a problem for GC or ubuntu?

No, I don't think so.

Hmm… the output of grub-mkconfig contains some "_proxy" files. So I thought, there is something like this. What's the output of

ls -R /etc/grub.d

?

/etc/grub.d:
00_header 10_linux 20_linux_xen 30_os-prober 41_custom
05_debian_theme 12_os-prober 20_memtest86+ 40_custom README

 Readme in grub.d shows the following:

All executable files in this directory are processed in shell expansion order.

  00_*: Reserved for 00_header.
  10_*: Native boot entries.
  20_*: Third party apps (e.g. memtest86+).

The number namespace in-between is configurable by system installer and/or
administrator. For example, you can add an entry to boot another OS as
01_otheros, 11_otheros, etc, depending on the position you want it to occupy in
the menu; and then adjust the default setting via /etc/default/grub.

Do you want me to copy and paste the backup files back to grub.d?

hmm… and sudo grub-mkconfig does still gives you the same as posted above??

Backed up grub.d folder(before executing your rm-r command) contains bin, proxified scripts and some entries.

The entries are:00_header,05_debian theme,10_linux, 10_linux.bak,10-linux_proxy,11_memtest86+_proxy,12_os-prober,13_custom_proxy,14_custom_proxy,15_custom_proxy,16_custom_proxy,20_linux_xen,20_memtest86+,30_os-prober,30_os-prober.bak,40_custom, 41_custom, READ ME

bin contains- grubcfg_proxy
proxified scripts contain :custom, linux, memtest86+

Read me contains:

All executable files in this directory are processed in shell expansion order.

  00_*: Reserved for 00_header.
  10_*: Native boot entries.
  20_*: Third party apps (e.g. memtest86+).

The number namespace in-between is configurable by system installer and/or
administrator. For example, you can add an entry to boot another OS as
01_otheros, 11_otheros, etc, depending on the position you want it to occupy in
the menu; and then adjust the default setting via /etc/default/grub.

vinu@vinu-desktop:~$ sudo grub-mkconfig
[sudo] password for vinu:
Generating grub.cfg ...
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  set have_grubenv=true
  load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
  set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
    saved_entry="${chosen}"
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}

function recordfail {
  set recordfail=1
  if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}

function load_video {
  insmod vbe
  insmod vga
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=640x480
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
  set timeout=-1
else
  set timeout=20
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
 recordfail
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5 ro splash vga=789 quiet splash
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-25-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
 recordfail
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-25-generic ...'
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic root=UUID=85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5 ro single splash vga=789
 echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/12_os-prober ###
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ntfs
 set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 04328e64328e5b16
 chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/12_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ext2
 set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
 linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
 insmod part_msdos
 insmod ntfs
 set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 04328e64328e5b16
 chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
menuentry "Custom Menu"{
    set root=(hd0,5)
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 85a28086-45e8-476e-bd17-09e46e5ce2d5
    configfile /boot/grub/custom_menu.cfg
}

### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
  source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
done
vinu@vinu-desktop:~$

GC window doesnt come up

Did you run the rm command multiple times? The error messages said, that you there aren't files like this. And no, don't revert it, using the backup - it looks ok.

Anyway… another reason could be your /boot/grub/grub.cfg - Grub Customizer loads it to find out, if the saved configuration is up to date.

Please take a backup of the file (/boot/grub/grub.cfg) and then run sudo update-grub

Yes I did it 2 times. First I typed the command and asked for the pw it didn't do anything and then i retyped the command, it showed the results which I posted above.

vinu@vinu-desktop:~$ sudo update-grub
[sudo] password for vinu:
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-25-generic
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
done
vinu@vinu-desktop:~$

Hey Good new Daniel!

I just ran gksu grub-customizer. It launched teh GC window I editted the entries and saved it :) Un believable :)

Guess the update worked after all!

 Thanks a ton for being so patient and guiding me throughout the problem Daniel :)

My thanks to actionparsnip and Eliah kagan. Thanks for helping me out Guys!

That's great.

Ok, so the problem was the 40_custom because of the menu entry containing white spaces after the closing bracket. I'll fix this - gc really shouldn't crash because of a broken configuration!

(your problem using the rm command)
Please note: rm doesn't show any messages if everything goes well (as long as the "-v" isn't given) - so no need to run it again. This is the reason, you got error messages when running it again.

Next time I'll be careful in not running the same command twice :)..
So the space really matters in 40_custom!

Thanks Daniel Richter, that solved my question.

> I am using Natty

But this is Maverick kernel and not even the updated one, which is 2.6.35-28.50.
> Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-25-generic

Natty has 2.6.38x

Sam I had downloaded natty way back in first week of Jan. I had update problems since then. Now my system is not getting the natty updates due to pre release freeze. I had to reinstall my grub manager due to re installation of windows. So lots of issues with updates. Hope fully can fix it after 28th April.

I guess natty beta version has this kernal. I have to update it after its official release

Natty never had 2.6.35x.
- Quote -
Alpha 1 includes the 2.6.37-rc3 kernel which is based on the latest mainline release candidate kernel. This is a major update from the v2.6.35 in Maverick. The kernel is expected to roll forward over time to v2.6.38 for release.
- End -
http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/natty/alpha1
http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/natty/beta