[Bug 943891] [NEW] do-release-upgrade fails with confusing (gnu screen) message "Press x to destroy or r to resurrect window"

Thu Mar 1 10:12:09 UTC 2012

Public bug reported:

If do-release-update finds gnu screen installed, it will use it.
However, if do-release-upgrade using screen fails, the screen shows:

    == Command terminated with exit status 1 (<date>) ==

If you press any key, we then get the truly bizarre message:

    Press x to destroy or r to resurrect window

I used gnu screen for quite a few years before moving to tmux and had
never seen that message before. It is very unclear at this stage what is
going on (aside from the fact the upgrade failed somehow) and what the
correct response should be. In fact, initially, the assumption is that
the message above is coming from do-release-upgrade itself which
confuses further:

- Does 'r' imply the failed upgrade will be retried?
- What will 'x' destroy exactly? The window? The screen managed process? The upgrade attempt? My system?

Is there some way we can avoid this rather scary message appearing, or
atleast customize it to explain in simple terms what choices the user
has I wonder?

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: update-manager-core 1:0.156.6
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-16.25-generic-pae 3.2.6
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-16-generic-pae i686
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 1.93-0ubuntu2
Aptdaemon:
 Mar  1 08:45:36 azul AptDaemon: INFO: Quitting due to inactivity
 Mar  1 08:45:36 azul AptDaemon: INFO: Quitting was requested
Architecture: i386
Date: Thu Mar  1 10:02:30 2012
DpkgHistoryLog.txt:
 Start-Date: 2012-03-01  08:45:01
 Commandline: apt-get -y dist-upgrade
 Upgrade: libncurses-ruby1.8:i386 (1.2.4-4, 1.2.4-4build1), ruby-ncurses:i386 (1.2.4-4, 1.2.4-4build1), libasound2:i386 (1.0.25-1ubuntu6, 1.0.25-1ubuntu7), libncurses-ruby:i386 (1.2.4-4, 1.2.4-4build1), libasound2-dev:i386 (1.0.25-1ubuntu6, 1.0.25-1ubuntu7)
 End-Date: 2012-03-01  08:45:36
GsettingsChanges:
 com.ubuntu.update-manager first-run false
 com.ubuntu.update-manager launch-time 1325929900
 com.ubuntu.update-manager show-details true
 com.ubuntu.update-manager window-height 600
 com.ubuntu.update-manager window-width 600
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.10 "Maverick Meerkat" - Release i386 (20101007)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: update-manager
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-01-12 (48 days ago)

** Affects: update-manager (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

** Tags: apport-bug i386 precise

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/943891

Title:
  do-release-upgrade fails with confusing (gnu screen) message "Press x
  to destroy or r to resurrect window"

Status in “update-manager” package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  If do-release-update finds gnu screen installed, it will use it.
  However, if do-release-upgrade using screen fails, the screen shows:

      == Command terminated with exit status 1 (<date>) ==

  If you press any key, we then get the truly bizarre message:

      Press x to destroy or r to resurrect window

  I used gnu screen for quite a few years before moving to tmux and had
  never seen that message before. It is very unclear at this stage what
  is going on (aside from the fact the upgrade failed somehow) and what
  the correct response should be. In fact, initially, the assumption is
  that the message above is coming from do-release-upgrade itself which
  confuses further:

  - Does 'r' imply the failed upgrade will be retried?
  - What will 'x' destroy exactly? The window? The screen managed process? The upgrade attempt? My system?

  Is there some way we can avoid this rather scary message appearing, or
  atleast customize it to explain in simple terms what choices the user
  has I wonder?

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
  Package: update-manager-core 1:0.156.6
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-16.25-generic-pae 3.2.6
  Uname: Linux 3.2.0-16-generic-pae i686
  NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
  ApportVersion: 1.93-0ubuntu2
  Aptdaemon:
   Mar  1 08:45:36 azul AptDaemon: INFO: Quitting due to inactivity
   Mar  1 08:45:36 azul AptDaemon: INFO: Quitting was requested
  Architecture: i386
  Date: Thu Mar  1 10:02:30 2012
  DpkgHistoryLog.txt:
   Start-Date: 2012-03-01  08:45:01
   Commandline: apt-get -y dist-upgrade
   Upgrade: libncurses-ruby1.8:i386 (1.2.4-4, 1.2.4-4build1), ruby-ncurses:i386 (1.2.4-4, 1.2.4-4build1), libasound2:i386 (1.0.25-1ubuntu6, 1.0.25-1ubuntu7), libncurses-ruby:i386 (1.2.4-4, 1.2.4-4build1), libasound2-dev:i386 (1.0.25-1ubuntu6, 1.0.25-1ubuntu7)
   End-Date: 2012-03-01  08:45:36
  GsettingsChanges:
   com.ubuntu.update-manager first-run false
   com.ubuntu.update-manager launch-time 1325929900
   com.ubuntu.update-manager show-details true
   com.ubuntu.update-manager window-height 600
   com.ubuntu.update-manager window-width 600
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.10 "Maverick Meerkat" - Release i386 (20101007)
  ProcEnviron:
   TERM=xterm
   PATH=(custom, user)
   LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
   SHELL=/bin/bash
  SourcePackage: update-manager
  UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-01-12 (48 days ago)

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