[Bug 981583] [NEW] 'Erase Ubuntu [version] and reinstall' with 12.04 beta2 does not respect existing partitioning scheme

[Matthijs ten Kate]

Public bug reported:

When installing 12.04 beta2 from the Live CD and choosing 'Erase Ubuntu
[version] and reinstall', the installer simply wipes the root partition,
creates a new swap partition and installs everything on the root
partition, instead of respecting the existing partitioning scheme.

My existing 11.10 installation had the following partitioning scheme:
- /boot /dev/sda5
- root on /dev/sda8
- /home on /dev/sda6
- swap on /dev/sda7
While walking through the 12.04 beta2 installation steps, the installer properly detected the 11.10 install and provided several options to proceed.
In the past I always selected 'Something else' because I always distrusted the other 'automagic' options.
For this release I figured I should try out if my distrust was still valid, and chose 'Erase Ubuntu 11.10 and reinstall'.

After the installation, I noticed that instead of re-using the existing partitioning scheme, the installer did the following:
- split up /dev/sda8 into a root and swap partition
- root on /dev/sda9 (new)
- swap on /dev/sda8 (new)
- /dev/sda5 (existing /boot) not mounted
- /dev/sda6 (existing /home) not mounted
- /dev/sda7 (existing swap) untouched

IMHO, it should have respected the original partitioning scheme and re-
use this, or at the very least prompt me on what it would (or even
better - ask me what it should) do with the existing partitions. As a
user, I expect this behavior since the description of the 'Erase Ubuntu
11.10 and reinstall' option cleary states that it 'will delete all
documents, photos, music and any other files.'

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: ubiquity (not installed)
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-23.36-generic 3.2.14
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-23-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Apr 14 14:22:59 2012
InstallCmdLine: file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper initrd=/casper/initrd.lz b43.blacklist=true --
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Beta amd64 (20120328)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: ubiquity
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

** Affects: ubiquity (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New


** Tags: amd64 apport-bug precise ubiquity-2.10.4

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/981583

Title:
  'Erase Ubuntu [version] and reinstall' with 12.04 beta2 does not
  respect existing partitioning scheme

Status in “ubiquity” package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  When installing 12.04 beta2 from the Live CD and choosing 'Erase
  Ubuntu [version] and reinstall', the installer simply wipes the root
  partition, creates a new swap partition and installs everything on the
  root partition, instead of respecting the existing partitioning
  scheme.

  My existing 11.10 installation had the following partitioning scheme:
  - /boot /dev/sda5
  - root on /dev/sda8
  - /home on /dev/sda6
  - swap on /dev/sda7
  While walking through the 12.04 beta2 installation steps, the installer properly detected the 11.10 install and provided several options to proceed.
  In the past I always selected 'Something else' because I always distrusted the other 'automagic' options.
  For this release I figured I should try out if my distrust was still valid, and chose 'Erase Ubuntu 11.10 and reinstall'.

  After the installation, I noticed that instead of re-using the existing partitioning scheme, the installer did the following:
  - split up /dev/sda8 into a root and swap partition
  - root on /dev/sda9 (new)
  - swap on /dev/sda8 (new)
  - /dev/sda5 (existing /boot) not mounted
  - /dev/sda6 (existing /home) not mounted
  - /dev/sda7 (existing swap) untouched

  IMHO, it should have respected the original partitioning scheme and
  re-use this, or at the very least prompt me on what it would (or even
  better - ask me what it should) do with the existing partitions. As a
  user, I expect this behavior since the description of the 'Erase
  Ubuntu 11.10 and reinstall' option cleary states that it 'will delete
  all documents, photos, music and any other files.'

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
  Package: ubiquity (not installed)
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-23.36-generic 3.2.14
  Uname: Linux 3.2.0-23-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu2
  Architecture: amd64
  Date: Sat Apr 14 14:22:59 2012
  InstallCmdLine: file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper initrd=/casper/initrd.lz b43.blacklist=true --
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Beta amd64 (20120328)
  ProcEnviron:
   TERM=xterm
   PATH=(custom, no user)
   LANG=en_US.UTF-8
   SHELL=/bin/bash
  SourcePackage: ubiquity
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

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