** Summary changed: - end users should not have to know how to set BIOS to boot from CD in order to install Ubuntu + end users should not have to access BIOS whatsoever to install Ubuntu
** Description changed: Virtually all PCs now come from the factory having default BIOS settings to NOT boot from CD before hard drive (which is super-annoying). So if a user boots their machine with an Ubuntu CD in the drive, the CD will not boot (until they go into their BIOS to change the boot order). Consider the implications of these unfortunate-for-Ubuntu circumstances: -The special key (eg. F1, delete, etc.) one needs to press to enter the BIOS is usually only shown when you tap Escape right at boot time. And you're not invited to press Escape. You just magically need to know to press it. Therefore the BIOS is effectively completely hidden from most users. This makes it really tough for novice users to learn about the existence of the BIOS, much less get inside it. -Most users have no idea what a BIOS is or how to access it. And they DO NOT want to learn. It is too nebulous, technical, risky, and uninteresting. -Of those who vaguely do know what a BIOS is, most are intimidated by the BIOS and don't want to go in there whatsoever. -And even if users are brave enough to go into the BIOS, it's impossible to give specific, procedural instructions in the Ubuntu documentation as to how to modify the boot order, since all BIOS's have different menus and controls. All you can do is vaguely suggest "search for a menu called something like Boot Order", and hope for the best (ie. that the user doesn't give up on Ubuntu) So the BIOS presents a considerable technical roadblock to installing Ubuntu for your average novice user (who is probably installing an Operating System of any kind for the first time). In fact, the BIOS is probably the single most technically complex part of the average Ubuntu install (by far), since the BIOS is such an ugly, text-based, poorly- documented hell hole. Therefore it must be "smoothed over" at all costs! No novice user should have to go in there. Instlux can do this "smoothing over". It's a Windows program that kicks off an Ubuntu install right from within Windows very easily, without the need to change the BIOS. The Ubuntu install CD must include instlux in the DiscTree menu (that automatically launches when an Ubuntu CD is loaded while running within - windows). This will greatly help all Windows-using users to more easily + windows). This will greatly help all Windows users to more easily install Ubuntu. Instlux is available here, and has an LGPL license: http://instlux.sourceforge.net/ I think it's a no-brainer to include instlux on Ubuntu CD's, because it considerably simplifies the Ubuntu install process for novice computer users, who may give up on Ubuntu the second things get technically complex. -- end users should not have to access BIOS whatsoever to install Ubuntu https://launchpad.net/bugs/57379 -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list [email protected] https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs
