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Idea #15109: Warn about regressions before upgrade

Written by Magnes the 1 Nov 08 at 19:00. Related project: Update manager. Status: New
Rationale
Ubuntu should warn the user if he tries to upgrade and there are known problems with his hardware and the new distribution (like the old NVIDIA cards problem). Also there should be a solution ready (maybe a special older kernel with old drivers for it - so the user could upgrade and use the new Ubuntu without problems even on old NVIDIA cards).


Developer comments
I'm fairly sure this is what the release notes are for.

However, a link to these should be shown in the update manager, if it does not already do so (i've not dist-upgraded recently to check).

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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #15109
Written by Magnes the 1 Nov 08 at 19:00.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #15109 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
zellfaze wrote on the 1 Nov 08 at 20:43
I like this idea, but isnt the old kernel still kept on the upgraded system just for that purpose. I know when my computer boots grub has a list of all the old kernels still. That way I can boot to them if there is a problem.

Eldmannen wrote on the 1 Nov 08 at 23:51
When I upgraded from 8.04 to 8.10 on my computer with a GeForce 4, it did mention the Nvidia graphics device driver thing.

Habbit wrote on the 2 Nov 08 at 14:20
@"Developer comments": we're not talking about the release notes, we're talking about the updater scanning a package-provided list with PCI/USB ids and warning the user if any of them are found in the system, in a dialog like the following:

(warning icon) (big, bold)Your system might not work well after the update (/big, /bold)

The package `kernel-2.8.51-ubuntu7" might have problems with some of your hardware in the following list:

* Ethernet controller ID=11ab:4362 (Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88E8053 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller) presents the following regressions:
** 10Mbps speed is not selectable due to a bug in card register manipulation. (link to the web, possibly a Ubuntu Forums thread)Workaround

etc for all regressions found



Endolith wrote on the 25 Nov 08 at 17:41
If they know about the bugs, why are they releasing it? There shouldn't be a warning about regressions, there should be no regressions. Wait until the regressions are fixed before releasing.

gmatht wrote on the 12 Jan 09 at 15:17
"no regessions" isn't always feasible. The most obvious example is binary blobs where Ubuntu cannot port the blob to later versions or fix bugs (This is presumably the cause of Nvidia problem discussed above).

pante wrote on the 21 Jan 09 at 20:43
@Developer comments: when I was upgrading from 7.04 to 7.10 I read thoroughly the release notes and nothing warned me that my USB keyboard would not work anymore.


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