Wrong message "no operating system" in graphical installer

[Martin Zuther]

Binary package hint: ubiquity

Hi!

When I did a fresh install of Ubuntu Jaunty, there was a message in "Prepare disk space" (step 4) of the graphical installer stating "This computer has no operating systems on it". This is definitely incorrect, and the installer is aware of it, as there is a warning "This will delete Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Ubuntu 8.10 (8.10) and install Ubuntu 9.04" directly underneath the option "use entire disk" when /dev/sda is selected. This definitely confuses users new to Ubuntu.

I guess this has to do with the fact that I have two hard disks, one (/dev/sda) with all the operating systems and backups, and another one (/dev/sbd) with /home and other data. Here's the (edited) output from "mount -l":

/dev/sda2 on / type ext3
/dev/sda6 on /mnt/backup type ext3

/dev/sdb1 on /mnt/audio type fuseblk
/dev/sdb5 on /home type ext3
/dev/sdb6 on /mnt/musiksammlung type fuseblk
/dev/sdb7 on /mnt/daten type fuseblk
/dev/sdb8 on /media/exchange type vfat

When I run the Ubuntu graphical installer, my second drive (/dev/sdb) is automatically selected and the "no operating systems" message is displayed. I think you should either make clear that this message is only valid for this drive (i.e. "The selected drive has no operating systems on it") or get rid of the message and show all drives instead.

Finally, it would be nice if you could add a label such as "/dev/sdb" to the graphical representation of the drive. That's not necessary for professional users, but it would help novices.

Thanks,

Martin

[Martin Pool (mbp)]

I get the same message on a machine with two Ubuntu root filesystems, both in an lvm pv on top of dmcrypt. I'm running Ubiquity from the Jaunty lv and want to install into another lv.

[David Tombs (dgtombs)]

I have the same issue (ubiquity 1.12.12). The text changes depending on the drive you have selected. I'm attaching two screenshots to demonstrate.

My drive layout is:

/dev/sda1 - ntfs personal files
/dev/sda2 - uxisting Ubuntu /home
/dev/sda3 - junk ext3 partition

/dev/sdb1 - Vista
/dev/sdb2 - existing Ubuntu 9.04
/dev/sdb5 - existing swap

[Daniele Dellafiore (ildella)]

I also have a similar problem with 9.10 alpha 5. As you can see in the screenshot, installer does not see any other operating system installed and gparted show the disk to be completely unallocated.

I have a windows NTFS installation and a Ubuntu 9.04 on ext4 on my disk.

[David Tombs (dgtombs)]

You have only one disk? If so, that's a different issue.

[Daniele Dellafiore (ildella)]

yep only one disk.
well... actually I am installing from USB stick so there are two disk...
what do you think?
should I open a new report?

On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 4:17 PM, David Tombs <email address hidden> wrote:

> You have only one disk? If so, that's a different issue.
>
> --
> Wrong message "no operating system" in graphical installer
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/370395
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

--
Daniele Dellafiore
http://blog.ildella.net
http://twitter.com/ildella

[David Tombs (dgtombs)]

Yeah, it's not the same issue since the disk selected in your screenshot actually has the systems on it. With the reported issue, Ubiquity detects the OS's, but only on the disk you have selected.

[notFinishedYet (ronnieward)]

I confirm the bug of the graphical installer stating "This computer has no operating systems on it" (sda has XP on it, sdb has no OS on it). I'd like to add that the option to "Specify partitions manually (advanced)" is confusing, too. Ubuntu 9.10 default is to split drive two (sdb) into two (roughly) equal sized partitions, which can be adjusted using the slider. No radio button is needed next to the msg "Specify partitions manually". Instead, the radio button should be labeled "Advanced" and displayed below the graphic showing the default partitioning.

[Phillip Susi (psusi)]

I am not able to reproduce this on 13.10, can you?

[Martin Zuther (mzuther)]

I have moved on to another GNU/Linux distribution, but maybe someone else can confirm this.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for ubiquity (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]