[Bug 1296071] Re: install over existing does not delete old - result in corrupt install

[codeslinger]

yes, it is doing exactly what I suspected it was doing...   instead of
ERASING everything the way that it is supposed to do it attempts to do a
RESTORE instead.

I think the number of partitions that you have is irrelevant.  But for
this repro I had 4 linux partitions and one swap partition.  Only one
partition was used, the others were left empty.

The following was done in virtualbox

1) Install Ubuntustudio 12.04 64 bit, reboot etc.

2) Boot from the 14.04 Beta 2 64 bit .iso     Run Interactivly

3) Probably irrelevant, but using file manager mount the partition with
the previously installed os

4) Run the Installer

5) probably irrelevant, but when asked if you want to unmount the
partition say No to keep it mounted

6) (x) Something Else

7) Choose to install over the top of the existing OS and do NOT format
the disk

"the file system ... has not been marked for formatting... (/etc, /lib,
/usr, /var...) ... will be deleted during the install"

8) that is exactly what we want it to do.... [continue]

9) let'er rip...  come back later.

result:
progress meter shows it copied files to about 85% then stopped and put up an error message
"Error restoring installed applications", "An error occurred while restoring previously-installed applications...."

In other words, It tries to do a restore over the top of the existing
os, instead of erasing the existing files and doing a fresh install.

The reason I got further the first time is because the os versions were
almost identical.  For this repro I deliberatly chose an older os to
ensure that they would be incompatible.


** Attachment added: "screenshot of error - shows that it did not install properly but did a restore"
   https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+bug/1296071/+attachment/4063626/+files/install-does-a-restore-instead.png

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1296071

Title:
  install over existing does not delete old - result in corrupt install

Status in “ubiquity” package in Ubuntu:
  Incomplete

Bug description:
  when you do a manual install and choose a partition which already has an os on it.
  then you get warned that the os will be erased...  good that is what I want...
  but then it does not actually erase the old os instead it adds files to it and the result is unbootable.

  steps to reproduce:
  1) on an empty partition install an os such as 14.04
  2) do all the ususal stuff... such as installing updates, fini

  now decide to start over with a clean version of the os
  3) manually install a new os, select the partition that was used before
  4) see the nice warning about how the old files will be erased.... ok
  5) watch as it ~appears~ to make an inventory of all the files already present on the partition huh?
  6) watch as it ~appears~ to selectivly add files and or overwrite existing files
  7) fini, attempt to boot the newly installed os

  result: fails to boot, os is corrupt

  expected: it should have erased the relevant directories, basically
  everything except home...  before adding new files.

  now, confirm problem by manually erasing everything from the partition
  and reinstalling and then everything works.

  Note: your actualy milage will vary depending on what os you are
  installing on top of what os.  for instance if you instal the same
  bits on top of the same bits, then your os will work and you won't
  notice the problem.  you have to have oses that are similar but not
  quite compatibile in order for this failure to become apparent.

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