Bug#236351: installation-reports bug
Package: installation-reports
Debian-installer-version: I believe it was the i386 100MB CD from
http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/, downloaded about 24 Feb 2004
uname -a: 2.4.22-1-386 (having already upgraded at this time, I don't
have the other details)
Date: about 2 March 2004
Method: Booted off the CD; configured networking, dual-boot with WinXP,
after base install reconfigured sources.list to point to unstable and
dist-upgraded
Machine: Dell Optiplex GX270
Processor: 2.20 GHz Celeron
Memory: 256MB
Root Device: 40 GB IDE /dev/hda (brand/model unknown)
Root Size/partition table:
Disk /dev/hda: 41.1 GB, 41110142976 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4998 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 2550 20482843+ 7 HPFS/NTFS WinXP
/dev/hda2 2551 4998 19663560 5 Extended
/dev/hda5 2551 3766 9767488+ c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dos (for sharing between the two OSes)
/dev/hda6 3767 3790 192748+ 83 Linux /
/dev/hda7 3791 3814 192748+ 83 Linux /boot
/dev/hda8 3815 4179 2931831 83 Linux /usr
/dev/hda9 4180 4270 730926 83 Linux /var
/dev/hda10 4271 4732 3710983+ 83 Linux /home
/dev/hda11 4733 4856 995998+ 83 Linux /tmp
/dev/hda12 4857 4998 1140583+ 82 Linux swap
Output of lspci:
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corp. 82865G/PE/P Processor to I/O Controller
(rev 02)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corp. 82865G Integrated
Graphics Device (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB USB (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB USB (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB USB (rev 02)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB USB (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB USB2 (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp. 82801BA/CA/DB/EB PCI Bridge (rev c2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corp. 82801EB LPC Interface Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corp. 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controller
(rev 02)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corp. 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controller
(rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corp. 82801EB SMBus Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB AC'97 Audio
Controller (rev 02)
01:0c.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corp. 82540EM Gigabit Ethernet
Controller (rev 02)
Base System Installation Checklist:
Initial boot worked: [O]
Configure network HW: [O]
Config network: [O]
Detect CD: [O]
Load installer modules: [O]
Detect hard drives: [O]
Partition hard drives: [O]
Create file systems: [O]
Mount partitions: [E]
Install base system: [O]
Install boot loader: [E]
Reboot: [O]
[O] = OK, [E] = Error (please elaborate below), [ ] = didn't try it
Comments/Problems:
First, apologies for not taking better notes/remembering better/having
this form in front of me when I did the install.
Second . . .
When mounting partitions, after I mounted the FAT32 partition on /dos,
the swap partition was listed as already mounted. I don't remember the
exact details, but it seems that I had to unmount swap and then remount,
or maybe do the same to the /dos partition.
When it came time to install the boot loader, it did not offer me a
chance to dual-boot, nor did it include the WinXP boot capability; I had
to manually fix that later (which for me wasn't a problem, but for a
newbie it would've been).
In the "Configure and Mount Partitions" screen, I was surprised to see
that the nomenclature had changed from something like "/dev/hda" to
"/dev/ide/host0/bus0/target-/lun0/part1". A help screen with what this
terminology means, how it relates to the older terminology, and why the
change, would go a long way toward making the installation friendlier.
When deciding on the type of file system to use (ext2, reiser, etc), it
would be very helpful to have a help screen with a brief explanation of
the different types, pros and cons, when I might want to use this vs
that, should I mix types, etc.
I really like the "Go Back" button on several of the screens.
On the partitioning screen, it was not clear that some of my partitions
would not be overwritten/reformatted; it would be very helpful if the
screen marked such partitions with something like "won't be touched" or
"leave as is", etc.
During the initialization, there needs to be some feedback; once I hit
the "continue" button (or whatever it was), the next minute or few the
computer just sat there, and I had no idea if the installation had hung,
or if the partitions were being initialized, or what. If I had been the
impatient type, especially a newbie coming from the world of Windows
where reboots are expected, I might would've hit the reset button to
"recover from the freeze-up".
I made a note about "what if I don't want to" in relation to installing
LILO onto the hard disk. I don't remember the details, but I suspect I
wasn't given a choice about installing LILO. That choice needs to be
offered.
I have another note about "what does this long string mean
'/dev/ide/host0.../disc'". I suspect that's another suggestion to have a
help screen explaining the new nomenclature for dealing with drives.
Overall, the installer has a lot of promise, but the whole reason for it
(as I understand it), is to make the process friendlier. In that vein, I
offer the above comments.
--
Kent
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