[Bug 173216] Re: Ubuntu installer should workaround harddisk tattooing

[YannUbuntu]

Hello
Here is a Ubiquity addon (~patch) that automatically creates a backup of the MBR before installation: https://launchpad.net/clean-ubiquity
If the MBR was tatooed, the backup can be restored in 1 click via https://launchpad.net/boot-repair
Hope this helps.

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/173216

Title:
  Ubuntu installer should workaround harddisk tattooing

Status in “ubiquity” package in Ubuntu:
  Triaged

Bug description:
  As you may know unfortunately it's not uncommon to encounter computers
  (especially laptops) that uses the first bytes of the MBR to identify
  the computer in order to make sure that the original OS (Windows) is
  running on the owner's computer. These bytes are also used when
  reinstalling Windows OS.

  Ubiquity should do one of these two solution :

  __always use original bootloader (ntdlr, etc.) if present__
  if ubiquity sees that ntdlr or other supportable bootloader is present, it should install GRUB not in the MBR (hd0) but at the beginning of the Linux partition (hd0,1)
  then it should do the following :
  1) mount the first partition (using ntfs-3g)
  2) sudo dd if=/dev/sda2 of=/media/windows/grub.bs bs=512 count=1
  3) add the following in the boot menu of the original loader (example for ntdlr) : C:\grub.bs="Ubuntu Linux (GRUB bootloader)"
  (the user could be prompted at some point if he wants to do these changes)

  __only use original bootloader (ntdlr, etc.) if present AND harddisk is tattooed_
  This would work the same way as above, but first ubiquity would detect the tatooing by greping the results of 
  sudo dd if=/dev/hda count=63 | hexdump -C
  for the presence of "WINXP", etc.
  If this is detected the user can be prompted to retain the tattoing of his PC

  This would make Ubuntu installable along Windows without expert
  intervention on a lot more machines.

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