Bug#721360: debian-installer: warn that blockdev-wipe can be very slow
On Sun, Sep 01, 2013 at 01:31:38AM +0200, Cyril Brulebois wrote:
> > Oh, gosh, I didn't realise *how* slow: it's taken about 36 *hours*
> > (!!!) to wipe the 750GB disc.
> >
> > That is not really going to endear Debian to people trying it for the
> > first time or even not for the first time; there really has to be a
> > better way of handling this!
> >
> > I don't want to play bug-severity games, but I'd rate this higher than
> > wishlist, as 36 hours to even begin the installation is unreasonable.
>
> Like the 'Cancel' button?
>
> Mraw,
> KiBi.
Yes, there's a cancel button, but that might take me back to the
partitioning process and then I'd have to start again perhaps - or
does it just cancel the wiping stage? It's not clear, and I'm a
little reticent to try, having been sitting here for so long already.
(It's currently at 87% ;-)
It seems to me (as a naïve user who's not looked into the installer
process in detail) that before embarking on a disc wipe, it would be
good to offer a choice: "Do you wish to wipe the disc before
installing Debian? This has the advantage that ..., but it could take
about NNN hours. Yes/No". Then either call blockdev-wipe or skip
that step, depending upon the user's choice.
Julian
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