"Single User mode" should be renamed
Affects | Status | Importance | Assigned to | Milestone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
grub (Ubuntu) |
Fix Released
|
Medium
|
Scott James Remnant (Canonical) |
Bug Description
I have been using Ubuntu since Hoary, so I am used to the general way that Ubuntu works. I was quite confused, however, when I installed Edgy (Knot 3) and reached the Grub menu.
After some thought on the matter, I decided that the top one was likely for me because it had been in every previous Ubuntu and there is usually a rescue mode in position two.
The reason that I was confused is that I use Ubuntu as a desktop OS and am the only user for my machine. My first interpretation of "Single User" was that it was optimised for installations like mine; one user using Ubuntu as a desktop. I have since found out that it is the "Rescue" or "Safe" mode.
I understand that there are reasons that "Single User" is used, but I personally would like to change the name to "Rescue Mode" to avoid other, less technical, people making the same misinterpretation that I fell prey to. This will especially affect desktop users because they will be the ones that think the second option best describes their situation.
The term "rescue mode" would be pretty confusing, as there's an entirely different "rescue mode" on the alternate install CD. I agree that "single user" is not necessarily the best term to use, though - it's technically accurate but (as you observe) confusing.