http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/1251/
[1686 votes] Solution #1: Add "Repair existing system" option to installer


]]> en-us Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:54:06 +0000 Tue, 31 May 2011 16:32:32 +0000 QAPoll module http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/1251/
I see people on the forums all the time resorting to reinstalling because they can't get x configured correctly. ]]> Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:59:24 +0000
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]]> Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:21:14 +0000 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!]]> Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:38:46 +0000 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:54:23 +0000
Easy reinstalling grub shouldn't take too much, but it would definitely help.]]> Fri, 29 Feb 2008 23:51:20 +0000
If what needs to be fixed is the stupid update-grub.]]> Mon, 17 Mar 2008 02:37:34 +0000
- SeySayux]]> Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:24:21 +0000
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.]]> Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:08:29 +0000
* 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]]> Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:07:25 +0000 http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/6864/]]> Sat, 12 Apr 2008 21:37:21 +0000
There should be also an option to upgrade older sytem using live cd.]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:41:12 +0000
*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.]]> Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:34:37 +0000 Sun, 21 Dec 2008 06:58:33 +0000
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.

]]> Sun, 11 Jan 2009 03:38:59 +0000
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.]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:44:45 +0000 Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:43:23 +0000
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.]]> Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:08:36 +0000 I can see why in windows this is not allowed because they are trying most to prevent illegal installations and have no desire to let someone do this. It used to be possible to run from the command line as follows: "sys c:" and the system files would be recopied to the disk from the install floppy.

In Ubuntu and all the other distros which are free for anyone to install it should it not be made easy to repair an existing install?

In my own case I have run an install of Ubuntu 9.10 several times with the same result that it will not boot on restart and I made sure there were no other disks connected during install so that there is no dual boot or windows disk in the mix anywhere to confuse things. Each has been a clean install with deleting the existing partition. There should be some way to make a repair to this in a simple way.]]> Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:17:45 +0000