[Lubuntu-comms] People do not understand the desktop installer

William wjckc79 at gmail.com
Thu Oct 24 21:49:20 UTC 2013


On 10/24/2013 04:03 PM, Colin Law wrote:
> On 24 October 2013 18:05, chris hermansen <clhermansen at gmail.com> wrote:
>> William, I am with you. But still "remove windows" leaves the would-be
>> ubuntu user to think that there may be a way to put it back later...
> It is some time since I did an install like that, but does it not warn
> with a message "Warning this will delete all files on the disk" or
> something similar before it starts the install?
>
> Colin
Colin, Look at the screen shot part way down this post, it clearly 
states: Warning: this will delete all your programs, documents, photos, 
music, and other files in both Windows 7 and Ubuntu 12.04.

http://amjjawad.blogspot.com/2013/10/ubiquity-and-installing-ubuntu-and-its.html

That seems pretty clear to me. Although since this is in fact happening, 
the suggestion made in the linked blog post should likely be 
implemented, but there should probably first also be an extra pop-up 
warning when people select this option. If they don't heed the warning 
the first time when they make their selection, oops. If they don't heed 
a second pop up warning, shame on them. But if they are so bad with 
computers that they still really truly don't understand what's 
happening, I agree with the blog post that they should be directed to a 
youtube video explaining everything.

We now live in an era where people who have absolutely no idea what they 
are doing with computers on a technical level want to install Linux. I 
call that a good thing and we should give them all the direction they need.

The history of MS Windows is laden with repetitive "are you sure" "are 
you sure you're sure" dialogs because apparently a lot of people 
actually need that. Perhaps the obviousness of the warning as it stands 
is something people like us take for granted because we are computer 
inclined and everyone else really is that... dense for lack of a better 
word. I suppose we need to help the masses on board by whatever means.
>
>
>> Perhaps "remove windows and all your files completely - they cannot be
>> recovered except possibly from whatever backup you have" would be better.
>>
>> On 2013-10-24 8:41 AM, "William" <wjckc79 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> On 10/24/2013 09:05 AM, Ali Linx (amjjawad) wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Oct 24, 2013 at 5:54 PM, Ali Linx (amjjawad) <amjjawad at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, Oct 24, 2013 at 5:44 PM, Nio Wiklund <nio.wiklund at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>> On 2013-10-24 15:31, Ali Linx (amjjawad) wrote:
>>>>>> On Thu, Oct 24, 2013 at 5:26 PM, Nio Wiklund <nio.wiklund at gmail.com
>>>>>> <mailto:nio.wiklund at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      Hi everybody,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      Today, there is another person, who misunderstood the partitioning
>>>>>>      dialogue of the desktop installer.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2183287
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      'When I went to install 13.10 I chose the option to remove windows
>>>>>> and
>>>>>>      replace with Ubuntu. I had two partitions when I chose this. One
>>>>>> with
>>>>>>      files I wanted to keep and the other being the windows 7
>>>>>> partition. When
>>>>>>      I chose to remove windows I assumed it would be placed on my C
>>>>>> drive and
>>>>>>      not my other one. But what actually ended up happening was all my
>>>>>>      partitions merged into one deleting everything. Now I only have
>>>>>> Ubuntu
>>>>>>      on my drive. I need help retrieving my files please!'
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      -o-
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      This is what I have been telling, when describing the One Button
>>>>>>      Installer
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      '...
>>>>>>      Case 1: Tool that is easy to use and just works
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      The normal linux installers that come with iso files are
>>>>>> complicated to
>>>>>>      use or freeze during the installation process, and you want a tool
>>>>>> that
>>>>>>      is easier to use and just works.
>>>>>>      ...
>>>>>>      a. The Desktop Installer is flexible and looks nice, and is
>>>>>> generally
>>>>>>      easy to understand, but the partitioning page can make people
>>>>>> confused.
>>>>>>      There are several threads at the Ubuntu Forums describing
>>>>>> installations,
>>>>>>      where a previous system has been overwritten by mistake. ...'
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      It is really too bad, and something that should be improved in
>>>>>> 14.04
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      Best regards
>>>>>>      Nio
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> All that can be solved in one two 'very' simple steps:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 1- Create a YouTube Video that explains in details HOWTO Install
>>>>>> Ubuntu
>>>>>> with all the possible cases
>>>>>> 2- Add a link for that YouTube Video right next to the Download Link
>>>>>> so
>>>>>> those who download Ubuntu or any flavour can 'watch' and 'learn' how
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> install the system
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Time is money and saving time is a very important factor in just 6
>>>>>> months cycle :)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Just a very quick thought!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Remember: "All of us are smarter than any one of us."
>>>>>> Best Regards,
>>>>>> amjjawad <https://wiki.ubuntu.com/amjjawad>
>>>>>> Areas of Involvement
>>>>>> <https://wiki.ubuntu.com/amjjawad/AreasOfInvolvement>
>>>>>> My Projects <https://wiki.ubuntu.com/amjjawad/Projects>
>>>>> 1. I do think it is important to improve the text in the installer
>>>>> itself
>>>>
>>>> Any suggestions? for someone who failed to backup his/her important data
>>>> before actually wiping his/her HDD, I'd only think he/she will not even
>>>> bother to read any text :)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> because those who might need the video might not play it.
>>>>
>>>> As I mentioned, the Link of that HOWTO Video must be posted right next to
>>>> the Download Link with a Note:
>>>>
>>>> "Please, see/watch this video BEFORE you install the system" :)
>>>>
>>>> Those who fail to 'read' any improved text or watch the video, can blame
>>>> no one but themselves.
>>>>
>>>> Backing up is the very first step. This must be mentioned clearly next to
>>>> each and every download link, IMHO :)
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> 2. I wrote that it should be improved in 14.04, which is an LTS version,
>>>>> so more than 6 months are involved.
>>>>>
>>>>> Best regards
>>>>> Nio
>>>>
>>>> Well, this is not for me to decide. This will go into so many discussions
>>>> and will take time. Why NOT save the time and just go for the easiest
>>>> solution rather than changing the whole thing just because 'some' users who
>>>> can't read nor backup their data?
>>>>
>>>> But YES, I am WITH any improvement that makes life easier. However, time
>>>> is the real challenge that we do have. While 6 months may look enough for
>>>> that, IMHO, each minute should be carefully considered :) that is just me
>>>> though!
>>>>
>>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>> Thanks a lot, Nio :D
>>>
>>> You have reminded me to add a very important note that I forgot to add!!!
>>>
>>> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuGNOME/GetUbuntuGNOME
>>>
>>> http://ubuntugnome.org/download
>>>
>>> Once my voice is back to normal (when this ugly flu leaves me alone), I
>>> might create a Video and Adding it to our Area on Ubuntu GNOME Website and
>>> Wiki Page :)
>>>
>>> Highly appreciate the inspiration :D
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Remember: "All of us are smarter than any one of us."
>>> Best Regards,
>>> amjjawad
>>> Areas of Involvement
>>> My Projects
>>>
>>>
>>> While I have nothing but the greatest of heartbreaking sympathy for people
>>> who wipe their Windows partition by mistake in this manner, I truly cannot
>>> fathom what they are failing to interpret in the option "remove windows".
>>> The existence of the option to install side-by-side should make the meaning
>>> of "remove windows" even more completely obvious than it already is. But
>>> still, even if the side-by-side option were not present... One can only be
>>> hand-held so much, but I am starting to think that when the "remove windows"
>>> option is selected, 3 maybe even 4, impossible to misinterpret dialogue
>>> boxes should follow. Advising someone on the last one to stop right there if
>>> they still don't understand while referring them to online documentation.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Ubuntu-quality mailing list
>>> Ubuntu-quality at lists.ubuntu.com
>>> Modify settings or unsubscribe at:
>>> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-quality
>>>
>> --
>> Ubuntu-quality mailing list
>> Ubuntu-quality at lists.ubuntu.com
>> Modify settings or unsubscribe at:
>> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-quality
>>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-gnome/attachments/20131024/9adaab73/attachment-0001.html>


More information about the Ubuntu-GNOME mailing list