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Idea #13965: offer to format unformatted drives

bug This idea is a duplicate of Idea #2736: Graphical Interface to format Pen Drives an other Hot Plug devices.
Written by azimout the 2 Oct 08 at 09:18. Category: System. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Rationale
when you plug in an unformatted drive, nothing happens. it would be helpful (for new users) to:
a) acknowledge the event, so they know the drive is not broken or anything, and
b) offer to format the drive

191
votes
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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #13965
Written by azimout the 2 Oct 08 at 09:18.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #13965 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

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Comments
Magnes wrote on the 2 Oct 08 at 12:15
But be carefull with that! Windows offers me to format linux drives every time I click on them. ;)

Habbit wrote on the 2 Oct 08 at 13:46
+1

In order for this to be effective, both dosfstools and ntfsprogs would need to be installed by default. Besides, I think that right-clicking a volume in the Nautilus Computer view should offer to format the drive. Either the existing Floppy Drive Formatter application could be adapted for the task, or a new one created.

Nxx wrote on the 2 Oct 08 at 21:56
-1 Do not want to see such annoying messages each time when inserting a volume that has format, not recognized by the system. Peple even may decide it is really not formatted and format correct volume yet with another file system.

Craig73 wrote on the 2 Oct 08 at 23:57
I think this should be implemented. I like the notion that a system always takes you to the next action - ie - attaching a device should offer the next reasonable option (browse folders, copy images, format, start backup program/cd writer)

How frequently do people really insert drives that are not a recognized format? When one is inserting a device that is not a normal format - are they someone who knows better (ie - is technically inclined enough not to format it)

I think Linux is in a position to recognize the common formats out there.

Perhaps the solution is a check box that disables the dialog. "Regular" users get the message, and those who find it annoying can turn it off.

zooounds wrote on the 3 Oct 08 at 05:35
Of course Ubuntu should recognize other file systems and "linux filesystems". Windows does a awful job here.

Habbit wrote on the 3 Oct 08 at 19:59
@Nxx,Craig73: It need not be a dialog, it could be a toolbar-popup or show only when you tried to access the drive from the Computer view (just like in Windows).

Craig73 wrote on the 3 Oct 08 at 21:23
But if I just plugged in a drive... wouldn't it be because I'm about to do something with it? I would see the next action as opening the appropriate program.

[although it would be good if there was a generic program launcher for this so unlike Windows I don't have to have a million services running waiting for that random device to be plugged in]

(I realize that if it is plugging it in when you arrive at the office, perhaps you don't want to any dialog, but in most other cases wouldn't you want to?)

joerlend wrote on the 6 Oct 08 at 14:25
This is a good idea. The GUI would have to be simple and didactic though. If a user is only going to use this drive with Ubuntu, he should use ext3, but if he also uses it with Windows, he should use NTFS, for instance. Having a couple of choices, like Brasero does when you open it, would be nice.

+1

Craig73 wrote on the 6 Oct 08 at 20:30
It would also be nice if it also included the option to add encryption to the formatted device as well...

Nxx wrote on the 7 Oct 08 at 02:43
>It need not be a dialog, it could be a toolbar-popup or show
>only when you tried to access the drive from the Computer
>view (just like in Windows).

In Windows it is very annoying and often asks to format disks that simply have another filesystem.

pitwalker@gmail.com wrote on the 7 Oct 08 at 20:45
This is dangerous.
If Canonical realize this ubuntu can became a data killer.
Autodetections works mostly bad, like windows.

If the detector saw a damaged partition table
or an accidentally cleared partition table...

I could imagine this only in ubuntu-beginner mode.
That can set on installation time for newbies.

AI Pop up windows are annoying!
The choice is my own what program I use!
I launch it manually!


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