[Bug 1265192] Re: Install/reinstall wipes out all/other partitions

[Colin Watson]

On Wed, Oct 29, 2014 at 05:58:31PM -0000, koen.h wrote:
> Hope this fix gets released soon because it just happened to me when I
> installed 14.10.

My fixes were released in 14.10.  Please file a new bug carefully
detailing your previous setup and the exact nature of the problems you
encountered, aiming if you can to make it possible for a developer to
replicate the problem, and mention the new bug number here; it's not
feasible for us to keep tracking a series of similar but slightly
different problems in this same bug report.

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1265192

Title:
  Install/reinstall wipes out all/other partitions

Status in elementary OS:
  Triaged
Status in “ubiquity” package in Ubuntu:
  Fix Released
Status in “ubiquity” source package in Trusty:
  In Progress

Bug description:
  [Impact] Serious data loss due to misleading UI in a variety of cases where the installer fails to accurately assess or describe the current partitioning layout.  This set of proposed changes fix the problem both narrowly (by fixing a specific detection failure) and broadly (by being more consistent and conservative about how automatic partitioning methods are described, and by always displaying a confirmation dialog; "are you sure?" dialogs are generally dubious, but in this case it supplies more specific information which is a justifiable last resort for an operation as potentially destructive as partitioning).  I have taken care to ensure that it has no impact on translations.
  [Test Case] Validating this ideally requires exploratory testing, but simple tests include setting up partitioning layouts that include deliberately-unrecognisable partitions and making sure that the installation process only removes those in response to options that explicitly state that they will erase the disk rather than merely erasing a single OS, and that a confirmation dialog is always displayed.
  [Regression Potential] This involves partitioning logic, so be careful.  I've tried to keep the changes as isolated as possible to the automatic partitioning page, although the confirmation dialog change also affects the manual partitioner.  It's worth checking that back/forward paths still work correctly, as this took me several goes to get right.

  Original report follows:

  Brand new Samsung laptop with UEFI. I had installed 13.04 Ubuntu but on reboot I never saw the 'grub' style menu. It just kept going into Windows 8.1.  So I got the 13.10 version (64 bit) and choose "Reinstall Ubuntu" (That may not be the exact text)
  It removed all the partiions including the recovery partitions. I do have a backup for the windows install, but I was very surprised that this happened.
  On a positive note I now have Ububtu up and running on my machine.
  This is not my first time with Ubuntu. I have installed Ubuntu alongside WinXp, Vista and Windows 7. I've used Ubuntu desktop for over 6 years.
  If you would like me to try something to replicate this. .. I could shrink my existing partion make another one - reinstall and see if it whacks that one. I can do this now .. I'm still moving into this laptop so starting over is not so bad.

  Steve Devine

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