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Rationale
Currently, each time when my Ubuntu install is messed up, I have to reformat my partition and reinstall Ubuntu. Next I have to set up everything again. That's very annoying. Other OS'es (Windows, Mac OS X, yes even SUSE, ...) have a "Repair existing system" option. This allows to reinstall the OS without having to reformat. All it would have to do is to manually check and repair dpkg/apt-get, next it has to reinstall every package present on the cd. Very easy, not too hard to implement, many users that would be very happy. Why not do it?
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Propose your solution
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I think it would be hard to implement but would be down right useful.
I see people on the forums all the time resorting to reinstalling because they can't get x configured correctly.
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SeySayux
wrote on the 29 Feb 08 at 11:21
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PreviousN: oh wait a sec, then I post the proposal to add Sax2 ;)
And it wouldn't be harder than normal installing. Mount drive, check if dpkg isn't damaged, repair dpkg if necessary, reinstall everything (can be done with chrooting+apt-get)
- SeySayux
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ebrahim
wrote on the 29 Feb 08 at 12:38
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At least implement an easy way to repair GRUB!
I'm embarrassed of telling a n00b to boot into live CD and type in terminal (what is that?!) 'sudo grub-install hd0' to get his/her GRUB back!
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SeySayux
wrote on the 29 Feb 08 at 13:54
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@ebrahim: yes, I also have lots of people on the Dutch Ubuntu forum with Grub troubles. I even had to compile a list with the most common grub error codes explained in normal (non-techtalk) language.
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Trying to explain to someone how to reinstall grub is horrible.
Easy reinstalling grub shouldn't take too much, but it would definitely help.
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tgstte2
wrote on the 17 Mar 08 at 02:37
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I'm not sure everyone is on the same page here. There is BIG difference between broken GRUB or 'messed' up system. So what is being fixed here? the GRUB or the system itself?
If what needs to be fixed is the stupid update-grub.
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SeySayux
wrote on the 18 Mar 08 at 12:24
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My idea was to repair the whole system, so grub too.
- SeySayux
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nitro182
wrote on the 11 Apr 08 at 22:08
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Good idea! A function that I was expecting from a complete O.S.
Other possible functions of "Repair-mode":
-Automatic check and repair the root file system (with possibility of backup first).
-Restore the original grub configuration.
-Read the database and re-download and re-install all the packages previously installed (with the possibility to add other new packages).
-Restore all configurations (maybe previously backupped) or change the configuration with the same GUIs of a normal Ubuntu (Look & Feeling, etc etc).
I think that in a Live Ubuntu together with the "Install" function, a "repair" function would be great!!
Sorry for my bad english.
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The Recovery Modus or the Disk (CD/DVD) should have an great repair function.
* reinstall und configure grub
* repair filesystem
* repair/reset all configurations
* repair/reinstall packetmanagement software
* check md5sums of software files to detect modifications of installed packets and reinstall this package
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Good idea.
There should be also an option to upgrade older sytem using live cd.
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mudfly
wrote on the 13 Aug 08 at 18:34
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different levels of repair aggressiveness would be nice.
*Repair to Pristine System
would repair the system to a fresh install, remove any third party debs, and rewrites config files. But does not delete user files.
*Repair System
would attempt to repair all installed packages and checks sanity of configuration files. third party packages might be disabled.
in addition to other ideas in this thread.
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Many would benefit from an automatic GRUB installer (in the repair tool) that would also put windows (r) back in the bootloader (since it's likely the reason the boot sector was clobbered). I also think that it would be good to have options to repair the filesystems, fix APT issues (maybe even open synaptic/aptitude, to remove troublesome packages?), fsck, find and replace superblock, and to turn off features (like ACPI). I know all these can be done with just some simple searches on Google and typing in a few keystrokes, but most people feel a level of comfort with a GUI, and knowing they have a repair option.
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Schwinn
wrote on the 11 Jan 09 at 03:38
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Agreed - repair option is essential. Other similar brainstorm items have comments that mention that the Alternate CD installer can do this (see http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/9749/ ) but no answer as to how. If this is really possible, I'd like some info on this. Additionally, if it's doable, then it should be "scriptable" on the LiveCD's boot menu (ie, without having to Live-boot).
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/1242/ which recommends a CD-boot selection to reinstall GRUB only, which is a great related-idea, to include with this brainstorm, as it's part of a typical repair-requirement.
As above, I support mudfly's options, as well as the others listed here. For that matter, during the repair, if any config files are being changed, you could offer to show what the differences are before applying the changes. (I believe I've seen some updates do this?) Of course, this would need to be optional, for "advanced users" or something, so you don't annoy everyone with tons of prompts.
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I am wanting the feature.
What happened to me was that a customised system (as most systems are) got a large journaling and I lost system files like:
- fstab
- shadow
however I have most of my /usr intact.
It is annoying having to reinstall when some system files could be fixed.
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muni3131
wrote on the 24 Oct 09 at 12:43
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Is a repair feature available yet? Is Ubunto & Linux in general only for those with a detailed technical knowledge. I am and will always be a newbie and much of what you say is beyond me. OK, I know that you were brainstorming here but elsewhere when making suggestions please remember that newbies also make endless, often fruitless, searches for solutions that they can actually implement. For example, it is no use suggesting a sudo command without explaining how you can enter it when the blesses thing won't even boot from the hard disk. My Ubunto is refusing to boot again and I on the verge of giving up Linux altogether. I was looking for a non-MS alternative, a stable, easy to use operating system that did not bow to the MS monopoly. I would pay for such a thing. Nice try Ubunto; you are free but I am beginning to think that you can't expect much for nothing. My contribution this this brainstorm is that it is a 'no brainer'; of course you need to be able to repair the operating system without destroying all your data. What use is a non-MS operating system if a newbie can't control it?
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Another vote for repair option. I also propose a political move: Those with required permissions should merge this with http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/1242/ because the ideas are simmiliar, this one just expands the 1242 in a good way, and 1242 has quite a grass-roots movement behind it.
I don't know where the devs stand on this one but I also think it's important for non-tech users to be able to start an automagical repair script from the CD installer and I like the ideas presented by mudfly above options to:
1) Just repair GRUB and filesystems.
2) Repair system -- with preserving /home and /opt (apart from config changes under /home that don't pass the sanity check, but making backups of everything the user did), backing up /etc files that need to be reverted after a sanity check, and offering to reinstall all packages that were user installed (and not available in a pristine system) a list witch checkboxes would be great here too.
3) More agressive Repair to Pristine System preserving files under /home and /opt but resetting all user configuration under /home without backing up customizations, and NOT backing up customizations under /etc, and NOT reinstalling any user installed packages.
Directory permissions should also be reset to defaults under options 2) and 3).
None of this should require booting a live cd environment.
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