Ubuntu 12.04 installer fails on (some) AMD systems with an "unrecoverable error" at start of slideshow

[Philipp Spitzer]

I'm opening this bug report so that the problem discussion and solution of the following thread can be found in the bug database: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1966588

Summary: On quite a lot old AMD platforms the installation process of 12.04 quits after the screen where you can enter the user information and password with the message box

"Installation failed

The installer encountered an unrecoverable error. A desktop session will now be run so that you may investigate the problem or try installing again. "

The desktop session is started successfully in turn. This message is independent on whether the installation program was started from the boot manager or from the live system.

The relevant lines of the syslog are:
Jun 8 09:37:37 ubuntu install.py: Exception during installation:
Jun 8 09:37:37 ubuntu install.py: Traceback (most recent call last):
Jun 8 09:37:37 ubuntu install.py: File "/usr/share/ubiquity/install.py", line 689, in <module>
Jun 8 09:37:37 ubuntu install.py: install.run()
Jun 8 09:37:37 ubuntu install.py: File "/usr/share/ubiquity/install.py", line 102, in run
Jun 8 09:37:37 ubuntu install.py: self.db.progress('START', self.start, self.end, 'ubiquity/install/title')
Jun 8 09:37:37 ubuntu install.py: File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/debconf.py", line 60, in <lambda>
Jun 8 09:37:37 ubuntu install.py: lambda *args, **kw: self.command(command, *args, **kw))
Jun 8 09:37:37 ubuntu install.py: File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/debconf.py", line 65, in command
Jun 8 09:37:37 ubuntu install.py: self.write.flush()
Jun 8 09:37:37 ubuntu install.py: IOError: [Errno 32] Broken pipe
Jun 8 09:37:37 ubuntu install.py:

The solution is to uninstall the package ubiquity-slideshow-ubuntu before running the installer with
sudo apt-get remove ubiquity-slideshow-ubuntu

A related bug seems to be #985066 however as there seem to be two problems reported in one bug report and the title referns to the beta version of the installer (whereas the problem still exists in the final installer) I decided to create a new one.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[namtetawekim (namretawekim)]

I also get this message:

Problem in ubiquity

The problem cannot be reported:

You have some obsolete package versions installed. Please upgrade the
following packages and check if the problem still occurs:

dmsetup, grub-common, libapt-inst1.4, libapt-pkg4.12,
libdevmapper1.02.1, libgcrypt11, libglib2.0-0, libpolkit-gobject-1-0,
libssl1.0.0, libtasn1-3, libxml2, sudo, upstart

--------------------------------------------

I too am installing on an older AMD machine. As a newcomer to Ubuntu this is really disappointing. I don't know how to uninstall from a disk, nor do I know how to deal with obsolete packages. I guess I will put my tail between my legs and go on home to Windows. It really is too bad, because I like a lot of what I see of Ubuntu.

<email address hidden>

[Mossroy (mossroy)]

I mark this bug as a duplicate of https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+bug/968216 because it seems to be the exact same issue

namtetawekim, I send you an email : I'd be glad to help you on that. The workaround is simple to apply

[Jonathan Price (price-jrp)]

Seems that this problem still exists with the 12.10 standard installer - can't use the alternate because I now have no means of burning another DVD. Using an old AMD Athlon system. Am trying the workaround.