Need Help - Ubuntu Splash Screen

[johnodon]

Calling all Linux geeks...I know there are lots here. 

 

I am on the very last step of turning an x86 system into a Retropie appliance.  It is essentially Ubuntu Server 17.10.1 x64 with Openbox as the window manager and Retropie installed (yes...you can run the Retropie setup script on Ubuntu).  I borrowed a lot of work that was already done but then wanted to hide all of the background (gnome terminal window, mouse pointer, etc.).  Normally coming in and out of a game you would see the mouse pointer and a the gray gnome terminal window with a light blue title bar.

 

Here is the *almost* finished product if anyone is interested (I will write-up a full how-to):  

 

 

Where I am stuck is hiding the usual Ubuntu boot dialog.  I really want to use a fancier splash screen using Plymouth, but, I can't get even get the standard splash screens to work.  I was hoping it would be as easy as turning it back on in the grub config (shown below) and updating grub...

 

GRUB_DEFAULT=0
#GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true
GRUB_TIMEOUT=2
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="splash"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""
 

 

but it hangs at the following:

 

And then eventually this...

 

I have tried on a VM in unRAID and two different physical hardware.  I even tried Ubuntu Server 16.04.4 with the same result.

 

Can anyone help?!?!?!

 

[johnodon]

I'm having much better luck on 18.04.  However, in order for the splash screen to work, I have to append the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX line.  Appending the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT has no impact (at least not for me).

 

If this works satisfactorily, I run through my entire Retropie setup process on 18.04.

 

John

[johnodon]

I think I confirmed that the same is true for 17.10.1.  Testing now.