get error running update-grub

[John Hupp]

On 7/8/2014 4:43 PM, Bob wrote:
> I updated /etc/defaults/grub to add "GRUB_RECORDFAIL_TIMEOUT=10" so that a
> beboot after a failure will not stop waiting for someone to press a key.  I
> want all boots to complete without intervention even after a power failure.
>
> Running "update-grub" I get the following error:
>
> bob1 at Jupiter:~$ sudo update-grub
> Generating grub configuration file ...
> Warning: Setting GRUB_TIMEOUT to a non-zero value when GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT is
> set is no longer supported.
> Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-30-generic
> Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-30-generic
> Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-29-generic
> Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-29-generic
> Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-27-generic
> Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-27-generic
> Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-24-generic
> Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-24-generic
> Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.11.0-20-generic
> Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.11.0-20-generic
> Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-32-generic
> Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.8.0-32-generic
> Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-27-generic
> Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-27-generic
> Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.elf
> Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
> done
> bob1 at Jupiter:~$
>
>
> My question is what should the values be for /etc/default/grub since the real
> defaults are not completely correct?
>
>
>
> /etc/default/grub
>
> # If you change this file, run 'update-grub' afterwards to update
> # /boot/grub/grub.cfg.
> # For full documentation of the options in this file, see:
> #   info -f grub -n 'Simple configuration'
>
> GRUB_DEFAULT=0
> GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0
> GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true
> GRUB_TIMEOUT=10
> GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
> GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
> GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""
> GRUB_RECORDFAIL_TIMEOUT=10
>
> # Uncomment to enable BadRAM filtering, modify to suit your needs
> # This works with Linux (no patch required) and with any kernel that obtains
> # the memory map information from GRUB (GNU Mach, kernel of FreeBSD ...)
> #GRUB_BADRAM="0x01234567,0xfefefefe,0x89abcdef,0xefefefef"
>
> # Uncomment to disable graphical terminal (grub-pc only)
> #GRUB_TERMINAL=console
>
> # The resolution used on graphical terminal
> # note that you can use only modes which your graphic card supports via VBE
> # you can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo'
> #GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480
>
> # Uncomment if you don't want GRUB to pass "root=UUID=xxx" parameter to Linux
> #GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_UUID=true
>
> # Uncomment to disable generation of recovery mode menu entries
> #GRUB_DISABLE_RECOVERY="true"
>
> # Uncomment to get a beep at grub start
> #GRUB_INIT_TUNE="480 440 1"
>

If GRUB_RECORDFAIL_TIMEOUT=10 gives you the behavior you want and you 
are only concerned about the error, then I would say don't be. The error 
is expected and is not a problem.

For a default installation of Ubuntu, in /etc/default/grub we have enabled
     GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0

With the above setting from a default Ubuntu install, sudo update-grub 
output includes:
     Warning: Setting GRUB_TIMEOUT to a non-zero value when 
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT is set is no longer supported.
It objects even when G_H_T is set to a zero value!  It will cease 
objecting only if it is disabled.

But, setting #GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0 has the effect of showing the 
default menu for the timeout period.  In a default single-OS Ubuntu 
installation, no menu displays, but it is the violation of the above 
warning that causes no menu to display!!