Lubuntu live customization issues, can't remove the install or try menu

Lounge
1

Hello

I am in the process of creating a custom live image of lubuntu

I downloaded an iso of lubuntu 24.04.3 on an ubuntu system, on which I installed cubic 2026.02.102

Things went pretty well, I was able to update / install / remove the components I wanted to.

However I stumbled upon a couple of issues I couldn’t manage to sort out, so here I am …

First, I absolutely want to remove the first screen asking to make a choice between install and try,

so I went uninstalling ubiquity as per seen after a few searches on the web, but it didn’t changed anything

Then I tried to edit /etc/calamares/settings.conf and declare the prompt install parameter to false, but it didn’t worked either.

I looked for some parameters passed to the kernel with grub, using the grub menu in cubic as the grub boot of the iso and the grub boot of an installed image are two different things, but no luck, again

Second, not related matter is that I would like to put some files on the desktop of the lubuntu user, but in I couldn’t find the /home/lubuntu/Desktop directory in the root console offered by Cubic.

There has to be something I miss, for the creation of this directory path seems to occur after the boot is complete, but how / where can I add some files along with the ones which come by default ?

So if anyone has hints or suggestions to help me get thru this, I’ll be truly gratefull.

With regards,

1 Like
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Lubuntu last used ubiquity in their Lubuntu 18.04 LTS release, and it was the installer only found on the primary ISO (it wasn’t even used in on 18.04 alternate ISO). It’s not there, as you mention a much newer 24.04 release.

You’re use of an older ISO has me wonder; 24.04.3 used a kernel no longer supported by Ubuntu (backported from 25.04 release which is now EOL), with that ISO being replaced with a newer 24.04.4 ISO (with kernel backported from 25.10 thus still gets updates). Lubuntu released ISOs with the GA kernel (still supported), and HWE kernel ISOs (.2 & later) get replaced every 6 months during the 3 years of support.

I’ve not used Cubic, so I can’t help there, I’ve only commented on the outdated detail in your post

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I have not had much luck using Cubic and because my time was limited I didn’t really pursue it too much.

Might I suggest you browse the GitHub issues section and perhaps open one yourself if you do not find an answer there:

Good luck with your project.

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Hi, thanks for your kind answer.

Keeping on struggling, I made an attempt to kill plymouth by removing the quiet and splash options on the grub entry : no luck

The I removed calamares and now the install or try screen shows up no more (finally, but I’ll have to dig in calamares config to do something maybye fancier than removing it entirely).

However now I have a login screen, in which I just have to hit enter to get onto the desktop

image
image1280×800 89 KB

Would you have any idea on how to get rid off this ultimate annoyance ?

5

I started the live system up to the time this dialog is shown, went to virtual console and viewed the end of the process list. So you are searching for lubuntu-installer-prompt from the package of the same name.

I think the »live session user« is created at every start. I don’t know your aim. Either you are looking for »persistence« – a special mode of creating the stick. On the other hand you could store your file under /etc/skel; that is the template for all user accounts. But remember that a folder »Desktop« is not used in every language.

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this was very good help, thanks

I am still confused about how the user environment is built and why removing calamares prevents the /etc/sddm.conf file from being proprely completed with session information

This leads to the useles login windows I pasted hereabove

I’ll have to see as well where are stored / declared the .desktop files that show onto the lubuntu user’s desktop, for I’d like to remove some and create some others (I’d just chmod -s /usr/bin/lubuntu-install prompt to kill the install or try screen), let calamares on the system so I’d get a normal autologin, and suppress the .desktop for installation which I do not want my users want to try)

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Dear all,

I am still trying to achieve a satisfactoru=y customization of LUBUNTU 24.04.2

What I want :
An lubuntu ISO, because it has to fit onto a DVD, as I want to boot in a strictly read-only environment.

The Lunbuntu has to offer some extra features.

  • without gub boot options
  • without the Try or Install menu,
  • lubuntu user autologin,
  • removal of the install option onto the desktop
  • and some custom .desktop files / applications onto the Desktop

What I’ve done so far

  • got the difference between the GRUB boot sequence between an installed machine and a live iso, by setting the options I want in the Cubic environment
  • managed to start lubuntu under Cubic and perform any required additional software installation, define a custom background, and a custom keyboard map
  • managed to remove the try or install option by setting /usr/bin/lubuntu-installer-prompt rights to no execute
  • explored a bit the consequences of removing Calamares, in order to suppress the install desktop app
    • this works, but it also has the consequence of getting an incomplete /etc/sddm.conf file, and therefore makes a login banner appearing

What I’m now looking for

  • any input to help me understanding the process that builds the lubuntu user at time the live image is booted
  • any input to help me deal with .desktop apps that appear on the lubuntu user desktop
    • I want to remove the user manual and install apps
    • I want to create some xtra apps to enable launch of custom installed software straight from the desktop

Any hint will be greatly appreciated, thanks all in advance

Regards

8

Merged with previous topic and moved to the lounge.

1 Like
9

Cubic has a -Calamares bug-on it.

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for autologin, edit /etc/sddm.conf

[Autologin]
User=john