Package: partman Version: 60 [version number is a guess]
Hi: I am trying the Sarge RC2 netinst CD to migrate a computer to Debian from RH. The partitioning is fine as is and I prefer to only have to do the backup if I can, not be forced to backup and move data back. First issue, it becomes a pain of screen flashes back and forward. Manual partitioning seems to be pretty descriptive, lots of manual intervention and wait time. With issues like this I start to remember why I like real hand mode, I can script it or if text config based, I can clone lines and modify the differences. I can not imagine if I ever have to do this in a server with multiple partitions, LVM or RAID. Second issue, discover how to keep my data. I decided to test with one of the partitions that could be lost, and magic, I found it. Why do I have to choose the FS already in use from a list of items that seems to be "format as", so then it will allow me to keep it? The list is named "How to use this partition". There is a "do not use the partition", so why there is no "Keep as <detected format>"? More clear and less error prone. Probably if the format entry was shown in some way it would have helped. One principle of UIs is that sometimes things are shown but disabled, so people know they exist and will do something under some conditions. That option could start as "N/A" or "Choose usage first". Similar things can be said about "Mount point" and "Mount options", they appear once you have selected something in "Use as". There is no help entries in those dialogs, so it is pure guess. The point 6.3.2.1. of the manual seems to skip this issue too, there is global set of "images" showing all posibilities. Third, there is no undo all changes. Once I selected some partition options, if I go to the main menu and back, they seem undoable (I got two black faces stuck at this moment... which seems to mean keep data). I have to always undo before going to menu or otherwise there seems no way to start from scratch. Losing the info would be bad if I want to keep it, but rebooting being the only way to fully restart seems extreme. Fourth, the icons are funny... but a group of letters could be way easier, the point is making things clear, and the more dangerous the task, the more clear it should. K keep instead of black face, F format instead of white face, R reformat instead of alien, B bootable instead of ray. They are easy to describe (the alien is an alien or a dog or a poor dude smashed into the ground?), and easier to remember once you have checked the help. I had to check help a couple of times to figure what the things meant, and some more for this mail (and I think I could have got them wrong, but I am sure I can say bootable, format, reformat and keep without looking anywhere). Fifth, tried to check with fdisk, and it failed... why? partman reports IDE1 master (hda), but it does not exist, it must be done via /dev/ide/host.... I had to figure this after checking with cat /proc/partitions, partman header was misleading. Six, swap area start with the alien on. I think I did not touched it (see point one again about flashing giving headaches ;] and four about icons). Anyway lets try to avoid that, no, impossible, there is no keep option. If it is dangerous to reuse swaps, declare it in docs and help, and still let it be skipped. Maybe I am reinstalling two days after first install or maybe it is working fine (it has worked with RH and Knoppix 3.4, I do not have heard of any recent swap format changes, so it seems to be OK). Up to that, the installer was going fine, it even let me choose unrelated language, keyboard and country, but advanced partitioning needs polish IMHO. I hope the points above can be used to improve it. Thanks in advance. GSR -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
