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

[Chris Bainbridge]

R.C. Primak (bobprimak)
> What is really needed, is for anyone attempting to install Ubuntu to find on some prominently labeled Web Page

The problem is that people won't find or read the web page. All it would
take to fix this issue for the vast majority of new users is a final
popup confirmation box that says:

    This operation will DESTROY existing data!

        Windows C: drive with 200GB of data will be DELETED
        Windows D: drive with 150GB of data will be DELETED

     Are you really sure you want to do this? Type YES in capitals to
confirm.

The advantage of a "final check" is that it would also catch people who
just do not realise that they are about to delete their Windows
partitions - like this guy 2 days ago:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/482785/installed-over-windows-8-partition
or this girl 5 days ago: http://askubuntu.com/questions/481065
/accidentally-deleted-windows-partition-when-trying-to-install-ubuntu

Windows may have the same problem with their installers, but Ubuntu is
in a slightly different situation, in that Ubuntu users more often want
to install and dual-boot with their existing OS, whereas most users re-
installing Windows will want it to the the sole OS. The Ubuntu project
encourages people to download and install Ubuntu, whereas Microsoft
encourages new users to buy a PC with Windows pre-installed. So Ubuntu
ends up with a higher percentage of new users trying to do a dual-boot
install, and so needs to be more careful with deleting data.

As pointed out above, it is odd that not adding a swap partition results
in a warning and confirm dialog, but installing over a Windows partition
full of data is fine...

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

Title:
  Reinstallation wipes out all/other partitions

Status in “ubiquity” package in Ubuntu:
  Triaged
Status in “ubiquity” source package in Trusty:
  Triaged

Bug description:
  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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