[Bug 333277] Re: Ubuntu 8.10 kills WinXP on SATA RAID array without warning.

[Phillip Susi]

What options did you choose in the installer?


** Changed in: ubiquity (Ubuntu)
       Status: New => Incomplete

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/333277

Title:
  Ubuntu 8.10 kills WinXP on SATA RAID array without warning.

Status in “ubiquity” package in Ubuntu:
  Incomplete

Bug description:
  Installation environment:  Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R motherboard with:

  Intel ICH10R chipset. 
  Memory:  4GB

  Drives configured as:
  SATA-1 & SATA-2 ==> RAID (2 x 75GB) configured as Vol 0
  SATA-3 ==> STD IDE, 1TB - unused/empty
  SATA-4 ==> STD IDE, 1TB - unused/empty

  Existing Software Configuration:

  1.   Windows XP already installed on SATA-1&2/RAID, formatted as
  FAT32, and configured to dual-boot with Win98 DOS.

  2.   Aim to put Ubuntu 8.10 on one or other spare/empty drives  (but
  not on RAID Vol-0).

  Results:

  3.   Ubuntu couldn't recognize the RAID drive/configuration.

  4.   Ubuntu gave no warning that it was about to attempt a write to an
  unknown configuration (even though it warned of the unrecognized
  drive(s)--displayed numerous errors).

  5.   The RAID configuration was destroyed (the WinXP &DOS partition
  damaged and the WinXP/DOS installation lost).

  6.   After the attempted Ubuntu installation, the RAID BIOS reported
  that [only] disk 0 RAID configuration was faulty.

  Whilst nuking Windows installations appeals to my sensibility, I at
  least want to control the process.  (Ubuntu gave no inkling that it
  was going to do so).

  Similarly, on non-RAID Win/NTFS installations the Ubuntu partitioner
  also gives no warning (it implies it will install on the partition but
  it doesn't warn that everything on the partition will be destroyed*).
  Ubuntu's superlative ability to kill Windows without warning has led
  to a blanket ban on any Linux disks being allowed into my IT
  environment,  Not a good way to win friends and influence people, let
  alone convert Windows users over to Ubuntu.

  
  *  Keep in mind that many Windows users are familiar with Linux installations that install on existing Windows/NTFS partitions without damaging them, thus they wrongly assume the Ubuntu partitioner is just preparing the existing partition for its installation (rather than destroying it and remaking a Linux one).  Clearly, Ubuntu needs to issue dire warnings before destroying existing data.

  
  P.S.:  Despite having to select "I Don't Know" to the question about the version number (in order that this brain-dead form allow this bug to be submitted), the Ubuntu version number is 8.10 (reported in 'About').  It is the 32-bit version of a commercial double-sided disk (64-bit on the flipside) that came with a current issue of Linux Magazine.

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