Unable to install Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and 16.10 with Ubiquity on system with 8 GB free space

[Norbert]

Steps to reproduce:
1. Download latest 16.10 cdimage (for example this - e5bbe3a90fb7aaf98b0371effc008d3b *yakkety-desktop-i386.iso) or 16.04 LTS final image (610c4a399df39a78866f9236b8c658da *ubuntu-16.04-desktop-i386.iso).
2. Insert 8 Gb SD card (or USB flash - /dev/sdd) into computer.
3. Try to install 16.10 on SD/USB memory with kvm (sudo kvm -m 1024 -vga std -hda /dev/sdd -cdrom yakkety-desktop-i386.iso -boot d)
4. Select "Install Ubuntu" in boot menu, select language and click "Continue" in the installer.
5. Get message
"You need at least 8.4 GB disk space to install Ubuntu.
This computer has only 8.1 GB.".
- so I can't install Ubuntu 16.10.

Expected results
1. User can install Ubuntu on 8 GB free space.

Actual results:
1. User can't install Ubuntu on 8 GB free space.

Note:
I'll test previous versions of Ubuntu. I can't remember any problems installing them on small disk drives.
   I checked this:
   * Ubuntu 12.04.5 LTS i386 may be installed on my 8 GB flash (it reports that this computer: "has at least 4.6 GB available drive space").
   * Ubuntu 14.04.4 LTS i386 may be installed on my 8 GB flash (it reports that this computer: "has at least 6.5 GB available drive space").
   * Ubuntu 16.04 LTS i386 may not be installed on my 8 GB flash (it reports that this computer: "You need at least 8.4 GB disk space to install Ubuntu.
This computer has only 8.1 GB"). So I can't install Ubuntu 16.04 LTS.

I do not think that 8 GB is not enough for installation of modern Ubuntu. Ubiquity should calculate needed space more accurately.
My friends and I like to install modern Ubuntu versions for testing on our old flash drives. And very often these flash drives are not bigger than 8 GB. We have no swap partition here.
Using alternate/net install CD is not a good option.
So I think that Ubuntu should fit to 8 GB free space.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.10
Package: ubiquity 16.10.3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-30.49-generic 4.4.13
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-30-generic i686
ApportVersion: 2.20.2-0ubuntu1
Architecture: i386
CasperVersion: 1.376
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Sun Jul 10 12:21:26 2016
InstallCmdLine: file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper initrd=/casper/initrd.lz quiet splash ---
LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 16.10 "Yakkety Yak" - Alpha i386 (20160710)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm-256color
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: ubiquity
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[dino99 (9d9)]

This is indeed expected in such a case with the 'full' image.
The solution is to start with the 'mini.iso' and then install what you need (after purging the meta packages of course; aka (x/k/ubuntu-destop , xorg-input-all & xorg-video-all)

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/MinimalCD

[Norbert (nrbrtx)]

I installed Ubuntu 16.10 from mini.iso (http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/yakkety/main/installer-i386/current/images/netboot/mini.iso, 2016-07-03 09:58).

At first this installation is not user-friendly (not for newbies).

At second I selected ubuntu-desktop task during installation and after that I have 2.8 Gb free on 8 Gb flash (but there is no swap partition).

So really Ubuntu 16.10 does not need 8.4 Gb. With 1.5 Gb swap it may be placed on 8 Gb flash. I reopen bug.

[Alexander Stohr (alexander-stohr)]

reproducecible for me / i am affected.

[Alexander Stohr (alexander-stohr)]

default/automatic partitioning sounds like it has a chance to fail.
with custom/expert partitioning the space limitations can be addressed for sure.