Installer should strongly suggest testing integrity of cd before beginning installation

[Pablo Quirós]

I tried to install Dapper Flight 5. When installing the base system some errors apperared related to checksum, and I couldn't complete the installation. As a result, I had formatted my linux partition and grub was broken, so I couldn't even use Windows.

I think the installation program should strongly suggest to test the integrity of the cd before doing anything else.

I had another issue when trying to install: i'm using a Dell laptop, and I've got a partition with something like 'Dell system rescue' that was already there when I bought the laptop. The installation told me that this partition was broken, as it was fat16 and clusters has 1 byte instead of 2 (or 2 instead of 1, don't remember!). Nothing was broken, but the message was alarming. I've read in the forums someone experiencing the same issue, also in a Dell laptop.

I hope it helps,

Pablo

[Bill Smith (bsmith1051)]

Is three years long enough to wait before doing something about this? I understand it's a Wishlist item now but it's also still a general issue.

Maybe the forthcoming 9.04 can include better error-handling during install, i.e., fail gracefully (rather than hanging) and bounce the user back to the "Check Media" menu? There's usually no reason to run this test each time (as the OP seems to be suggesting) but clearly the installer could be more resilient and robust.

P.S. I've just submitted a related bug, https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+bug/322873

[Matthew Paul Thomas (mpt)]

In bug 715953, Ubiquity crashed while copying files because of a problem with the CD drive. If Ubiquity had checked the CD first, the drive error may have turned up before any files were written.

[Phillip Susi (psusi)]

The overwhelming majority of the time there is nothing wrong with the cd, so strongly suggesting that everyone preemptively check it isn't a good idea.