Do you use Ubuntu? If “Yes”, you are familiar with such GRUB bootloader menu items as:

These additional menu items for older Linux kernels make available recover option in case of any accident with your current Linux kernel. It is right. We should to have at least 2 Linux kernels load options: current version and previous one. But with every Linux kernel update quant of such bootloader menu items grows. What to do with it? How to exclude unneeded Linux kernels from the bootloader menu? Yes, that’s possible and (don’t wonder) quite simple.

All recommendations you see here are tested with Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (the Lucid Lynx).
To exclude Linux old kernels from the boodloader menu – remove it with the help of Synaptic Package Manager (menu path: System->Administration->Synaptic Package Manager).

Make a quick search by “linux image 2.6.32 generic” search key, find unwanted old installed kernels in the opened list, mark for removing (context menu item “Mark for Removal”) and apply your changes with “Apply” button.
Removed kernel will dissappear from the bootloader menu automatically. Just reboot your system and you will get a new shorter bootloader menu.

Bonus. If don’t wish to see memory test menu items in your bootloader menu follow to this hint:
– go to the /etc/grub.d folder. Find 20_memtest86+ file there. Clear “executable” attribute for this file.
– Use sudo chmod -x '20_memtest86+' command for it.
– Reboot your system and get new bootloader menu without test memory options.

Tags: Linux

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 3rd, 2010 at 00:10 and is filed under Linux, Ubuntu. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.