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Bug#399096: user doesn't yet trust the UI



Geert Stappers wrote:
> The partitioner in D-I does have ways to keep existing partitions
> including preserving the data that is in the partition. The interface
> is just somewhat akward. You have to go in manual mode, meaning not
> doing the automatic partioning and there define for each partition
> for what you what to use it. Something that _does take time_, but
> hey,
> you have still your data on the disk.
>
>
> But if this about "installer insists on 'swap'", then I have
> to admit that I never tried the installer with swap.
>
> So it would be helpfull to known what this is actual about.

Geert,

Thanks for the response.  I really didn't expect to hear from anyone, so right
now I'm impressed.  Since I was originally pessimistic about a response, my e-
mail may not have been as clear as it should, I apologize for that.

When I first tried the partitioner, I couldn't get any "K's" to show up in the
main screen.  So I tried the automatic partitioner because somewhere it said
you could make changes before committing to them.   The auto partitioner is the
one that always appeared to want a swap file. (However, if I can figure out the
manual installer you can forget my comment about the swap file.)

As a result of your response, I tried installing Debian again so I could better
document my concerns.  However, this time I played around with it a bit more
and found out how to get letters in the main screen. 

The help file says: "When the partition is already formatted you may choose to
keep and use the existing data in the partition.  Partitions that will be used
this way are marked with "K" in the main partitioning menu."  Unfortunately,
the help file does not tell you how to do this. 

When I selected a used partition, a screen came up and at the top of the
selections the default said "Use as:  do not use."  Accepting this default, no
"K" shows in the main partitioning screen.  But changing it to "Use as:  ext3
..." (which it already is) then another screen comes up saying something like
"keep and use existing data."  Then if you go to "Done setting up partition" a
"K" shows up in the main screen.  I'm not familiar with your partitioner, it
would have been nice to have a little more information on this in the help file
- it's not very intuitive.

As it is, I'm still not comfortable with your partitioner concerning boot
flags.  Right now I have two hard drives with Windows operating system at hda1
and Windows data at hdb1.  I have Mepis 6.0 at hda2 and a home partition at
hda3.  I also have Mepis 6.0 at hdb2 with it's Home at hdb3.  Mepis on hda2 is
my "play version."  If I try something there and it works I may add it to my
"stable" version on hdb2.  I'll also place another Linux version at hda5 to
play with, that's where I wanted Debian.  I edit my menu.lst file to point to
the various OS's so I get a choice at boot up.  This is where I'm not
comfortable with your partitioner.

When I boot off the CD and the main partitioner screen comes up, both hda1 and
hdb1 have a "B" showing.  However, only hda1 is bootable, hdb1 is just data.  I
would think that hda1, hda2, hdb2, and hda5 (where I want Debian) should all be
bootable.  If I try to set a bootable flag on hda5, then all the "B's"
disappear except for one at hda5.  I need four bootable partitions, but the
partitioner will only allow for one.  Maybe I don't understand what "bootable"
means in your partitioner.  It would be nice if your help file explained what
to do for a multi-boot system.

I just want Debian "/" at hda5 with it's "/Home" at hda6, Windows at hda1 and
it's data at hdb1, Mepis 6.0 Play "/" at hda2 and it's "/Home" at hda3, and
Mepis 6.0 Stable "/" at hdb2 with it's "/Home" at hdb3.  All other partitions
are ext3 for saving various data.  Grub goes to hdb2 to find menu.lst.

I know how to get "K's", "F's", and "f's" on the main screen with your
partitioner.  Where do I need "B's" and if I need more than one, how do I get
it? 

I'm sorry I don't get all this.  This is the first time I've ever used your
installer.  Up until now, every Linux distro I tried had a graphical installer
and they were all very easy to use.  I hate to say this, but your installer's
help file leaves me just a little "helpless."

Bill Talley



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