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Description
When a user currently boots into the 'recovery mode' from GRUB, they are presented with a command-line interface with complete root privileges and no introduction. This is just not user-friendly by any definition.
With the introduction of bullet-proof X in 8.04, it should be possible to launch some sort of gui no matter what, so how about creating a guided recovery app (in the style of 'ubiquity-only') that goes something like this:
Welcome to the Ubuntu Recovery Helper.
-If you booted into this mode because booting Ubuntu normally doesn't work, press continue.
-If you have booted into this mode by accident, you can reboot your computer and choose the option to load Ubuntu normally.
-If you are an advanced user and would like to go straight to the command-line, press Advanced.
[REBOOT] [ADVANCED] [CONTINUE]
If they press continue:
-If you know approximately what is wrong with your PC, select it below and press Continue.
-If you don't know what is wrong, press I Don't Know.
[]Graphics Card or Monitor
[]Hard Disk
[]Sound
[]etc.
[BACK] [I DON'T KNOW] [CONTINUE]
Selecting Graphics Card or Monitor would launch the X.org configuration utility, with the additional option to 'Autodetect any display hardware changes' (runs "sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xorg-server" or whatever the exact code is). Selecting I Don't Know would launch the same prompt that the hardware database thingie uses, and when an error is reported would go to the appropriate item from the list above.
I'm not going to go through the entire thing, but I'm sure you get the idea. At the moment, Windows recovery mode is just an admin desktop, and Ubuntu is command-line. We're currently behind, but implementing something like this would put us years ahead. It would also make a great 'important feature' for 8.10 (like compiz-fusion was for 7.10).
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Comments
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PreviousN wrote on the 26 Mar 08 at 22:35
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This is a good idea. Also, there should be some sort of password for the recovery mode. I REALLY hate how one could essentially have access to all my files by doing recovery mode.
I want to secure my laptop from all. I have bios locked, but don't want to have a password on boot because I ALREADY have a password in the buntu* login.
So...in short:
1. Graphical recovery = cool. I would plead that the command line interface stays to some extent though. It's useful.
2. Lock it down so that a thief can't just go in and graphically change a password or access files.
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acet wrote on the 27 Mar 08 at 00:02
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I highly agree with the idea and the comment (assuming the recovery mode password could be optional)
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nq6 wrote on the 27 Mar 08 at 01:41
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http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/2295/
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eapache wrote on the 27 Mar 08 at 02:47
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I looked at idea 2295 before posting, but there is a key difference. That idea plans to integrate all of the recovery features directly into a graphical grub, and make them separate from the OS, whereas this one simply asks for a program to be run automatically when starting the existing recovery mode.
IMHO integrating the recovery tools there would be a bad idea because most users don't consider grub a 'part' of ubuntu, and adding ubuntu-specific recovery options to grub under the simple label of recovery would confuse a lot of people. It would also require a lot more work in terms of building the infrastructure into grub, whereas this idea can be run right on top of the existing recovery mode and bullet-proof X.
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XVIIarcano wrote on the 27 Mar 08 at 08:27
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@PreviousN, afaik the point is that if the "enemy" gets phisical access to the pc the security is gone anyway... That's why, expecially on laptops (which are more likely to be stolen/lost) sensible data should be encrypted.
I think that between the ability of the righteous owner to restore a broken system should be privileged versus the possibility for an intruder (whith phisical access to the machine!) to damage it. And again, if an intruder gained access to my machine all he would find would be my scanned D&D manuals collection ;P... if I worked for CIA and had something to keep secret then I'd probably protect me otherwise.
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p4inkiller wrote on the 27 Mar 08 at 14:38
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I completely agree with the idea. It's a good starting point to resolve a problem.
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eapache wrote on the 28 Mar 08 at 21:08
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The blueprint I attached is something that I didn't know about, but apparently is making it into Hardy. It is n-curses based rather than bulletproof-X based, but provides roughly the same functionality.
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felimu wrote on the 29 Mar 08 at 22:00
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Yes, please. I've been there and it ain't pretty
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maybeway36 wrote on the 6 May 08 at 22:58
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I would like to see three Ubuntu boot options: one normal, one recovery mode with X, and one single-user command line (for when I just want a root shell and I'm impatient.)
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Post your comment
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Blueprint friendly-recovery:
