every kernel-update breaks my installation

[ZIYAD A. M. AL-BATLY]

WARNING:
    Always back-up the file "/boot/grub/menu.lst" before editing it.  A
    broken file may prevent you from using your system at all!

On Wed, 2005-09-28 at 09:49 -0400, 'Forum Post wrote:
> 1. When I do a kernel update on our dual-boot laptop the Windows option
> (which is set as default for my yet-to-be-converted wife) disappears. I
> have to remember to edit /boot/grub/menu.lst before shutdown or face
> domestic upnpleasantness.
At the end of the file and *after* the line "### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC
KERNELS LIST" add the following two lines:
    title    Windows XP
    root     (WINDOWS_ROOT)
Obviously, change 'WINDOWS_ROOT' to an appropriate value.

> 
> 2. When I do a kernel update on my linux-only desktop the vital
> 'noapic' switch disappears. Again, I have to remember to edit
> /boot/grub/menu.lst before shutdown or face a boot failure.
Find the lines that start with '# kopt=' and '# altoptions=' and add to
them at the end 'noapic'.

> 
> Neither of these options appears in the AUTOMAGIC area, so I can't
> automate these edits as you suggest.
You can.  Just back-up your file first, and edit the file as described
above and hope for the best.

> 
> I agree with Horst that update-grub needs to be a lot cleverer and only
> change what needs to be changed.
A third voice here as well.  As I said in my previous post, I don't know
why it's like this!  LILO on Debian doesn't have this issue.

> 
> -- 
> 8oluf7
> 
Ziyad.