[Bug 876146] Re: Upgrading Ubuntu is risky (unusable or unbootable PC). What can be done to safeguard data, revert failed upgrades and overall reduce the risks?

[Matthias Kretz]

Hi, question: How does the upgrade QA work? Does it rely solely on users
that do the upgrade at Alpha and Beta stages? Do you have a simple way
to repeat upgrade processes to test the progress of stabilization?

Actually I'd be happy to do upgrade tests (especially since my experience is that something always breaks). This scenario could work for me:
* Alpha/Beta is announced
* When I know I won't need my computer for the next few hours I will tell it to do a test upgrade
* The upgrade process creates a bootable USB key or CD to restore the system later
* First it tests whether this restore system boots, only if this works does the upgrade proceed
* After the upgrade is done I can check for problems and report them (this must be automated as much as possible)
* When done, I reboot into the restore CD/USB and get my old system back
* If I get notified that some of my issues should be fixed I can repeat the process to verify

Except for bootloader issues this should be easily possible given enough
space on the harddrive...

PS: I installed Ubuntu for a friend and when the popup appeared that a
distribution upgrade is available, the first thing I did was call my
friend and tell him to not click that button - I was just in time to
stop him (and I'm happy I did - two out of two Oneiric upgrades broke
for me. I couldn't reserve enough time yet for the remaining computers
that want to upgrade.).

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/876146

Title:
  Upgrading Ubuntu is risky (unusable or unbootable PC). What can be
  done to safeguard data, revert failed upgrades and overall reduce the
  risks?

Status in NULL Project:
  Invalid
Status in “update-manager” package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  Please note: This bug report will now be used to track specific code
  changes for reducing the risk of upgrading (see comment #14). Please
  stay on topic. We also have enough cases of problematic upgrades.
  Thank You.

  *Report:

  ===References:

  - Typical bad upgrade user case (forum post):
  http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1860359

  - Unusable upgrade pic (unbootable)
  http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=204320&d=1318627364

  - [ubuntu] Thread for failed upgrades (huge list within 24 to 48 hours)
  http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1858475

  - Unofficial poll, but might serve useful as another source of data and user cases. Also, reference for future polls. Current sample of about 3k users, ~22% needed to reinstall.
  http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/10/how-well-did-your-ubuntu-11-10-upgrade-go/
  http://www.reddit.com/r/Ubuntu/comments/lm036/how_well_did_your_ubuntu_1110_upgrade_go/

  ===Description:

  Lots of angry users with broken computers that need rescue...

  The friendly Upgrade popup has become a mouse trap for new and
  unsuspecting users.

  Warnings and fail-safe alternatives and/or advise should be offered.
  Specially for users who cant risk having their computers broken (only
  have 1 OS). Nor have the knowledge, will, time and patience to fix
  something like this.

  I think this should be Critical for "Precise" pangolin as the number
  of users upgrading will be in the Tens if not hundreds of thousands
  (or millions...), since this will be the new LTS.

  ===Initial proposal:

  See comment #10:
  https://bugs.launchpad.net/ayatana-design/+bug/876146/comments/10

  ===Other related helpers for the upgrade problem:

  -There is no "feedback and reporting tool to count the number of bad
  upgrades" and their related causes. Users should be able to give
  immediate feedback after every upgrade (successful or not). "Ubuntu-
  bug upgrade-report" on startup after an upgrade and a section on
  launchpad or dedicated site.

  -Update/upgrade manager should offer an auto-backup wizard to safe
  guard important user files to another partition, external storage or
  online (See comment #10).

  -Also separate branches for testing and a better release process/cycle would certainly help diminish the amount of bugs and many upgrade problems as it has been discussed here:
  http://netsplit.com/2011/09/08/new-ubuntu-release-process/

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