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

 

Just lost ALL of my windows data because of this . What a completely
awful installer to offer such a misleading option. By erase ubuntu, I
expected it to erase UBUNTU, not my hard drive. Cannot express how much
I lost because of this installer

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

Title:
  Install/reinstall wipes out all/other partitions

Status in ubiquity package in Ubuntu:
  Fix Released
Status in ubiquity source package in Trusty:
  Fix Released

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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