[Bug 896647] [NEW] Ubuntu Boot halts if a windows partition is hibernated

[fig_wright]

Public bug reported:

When booting Ubuntu 11.04, if there is an NTFS partition in the
/etc/fstab file set to automount during boot, and if there is a
hibernated windows system on that partition... then the boot will halt
permanently, waiting for user input to a question about proceeding.

Why is this a bug? It is a bug because so many users now do not have
functioning visuals during boot due to the complexities of Plymouth - in
one way or another many users have blank or unresponsive screens during
boot - until the GDM screen comes up. These users will not be able to
see the prompt for their input to resolve an issue that does not
actually need any input to resolve. Any user in this situation will have
an essentially dead system that will not boot - they they do not know
that a simple key-press can save their system.

At the very least the prompt should have a 60 second time-out so that if
there is no user input (for example if the user cant see the text and
therefore does not know that input is being expected) then the default
choice should be made. This will allow the PC to boot to a usable state,
which the user may be able to find out the problem from.

In the event of a hibernated system on a peripheral NTFS partition, then
the default action should be simply to not bother mounting the
partition. The user will discover soon enough that the partition is
missing and that something it up with it (it has a hibernated system on
it) - there is no need to halt the boot for an issue like this.

** Affects: plymouth (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New


** Tags: boot hiberate ntfs plymouth

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/896647

Title:
  Ubuntu Boot halts if a windows partition is hibernated

Status in “plymouth” package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  When booting Ubuntu 11.04, if there is an NTFS partition in the
  /etc/fstab file set to automount during boot, and if there is a
  hibernated windows system on that partition... then the boot will halt
  permanently, waiting for user input to a question about proceeding.

  Why is this a bug? It is a bug because so many users now do not have
  functioning visuals during boot due to the complexities of Plymouth -
  in one way or another many users have blank or unresponsive screens
  during boot - until the GDM screen comes up. These users will not be
  able to see the prompt for their input to resolve an issue that does
  not actually need any input to resolve. Any user in this situation
  will have an essentially dead system that will not boot - they they do
  not know that a simple key-press can save their system.

  At the very least the prompt should have a 60 second time-out so that
  if there is no user input (for example if the user cant see the text
  and therefore does not know that input is being expected) then the
  default choice should be made. This will allow the PC to boot to a
  usable state, which the user may be able to find out the problem from.

  In the event of a hibernated system on a peripheral NTFS partition,
  then the default action should be simply to not bother mounting the
  partition. The user will discover soon enough that the partition is
  missing and that something it up with it (it has a hibernated system
  on it) - there is no need to halt the boot for an issue like this.

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