Ubuntu
ubiquity package

Can you make Ubuntu installer more intuitive with wireless?

Asked by Chris Brody

I am trying the latest Ubuntu 12.04 AMD64 installation kit daily build, as of 28-January-2012. This is on an Acer Ferrari One 200 notebook (AMD64), Dutch/European version with "Alt Gr" key.

While Ubuntu is starting up from CD, there is a message that a wireless network is detected, but no chance to select my wireless network at this point. When I press Install Ubuntu, the Install window comes up with "Preparing to install Ubuntu", and part of the message is ..."is connected to the Internet." with a X mark since no Internet connection is configured so far. At this point, it is possible to check the box for "Install this third-party software" but not for "Download updates while installing". If I hit continue, then I do get the chance to select and connect to my wireless network. Now I report from two tests:

FIrst test: if I press Back and plug in an ethernet cable, the system does not detect any Internet connection going up, and I also did not have the chance to select "Download updates...". So when I hit Back again, the installer crashed. I will do this again and can hopefully log a bug report.

Second test: If I hit continue, then I do get the chance to select and connect to my wireless network. So I can select my wireless network and the system is ready to install. I did press Back and now I can select "Download updates while installing".

I find this very non-intuitive. If a computer detects wireless networking, it should work just the same as if connected by ethernet whenever possible.

And when I did an install with "Install this third-party software" selected, the installer crashed with Flash, and it found several duplicate bug reports.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

i suggest you select to try the OS fist. you can then connect to the web and run:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install ubiquity

this updates the installer app and can help.

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delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#2

Please convert question into a bug.

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Chris Brody (chris-brody) said : 		#3

I will try updating the installer app sometime later and report my results. I just thought this information would be helpful before you cut a new release CD. I had found a couple crashes, both detected as known problems that have not been solved.

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Chris Brody (chris-brody) said : 		#4

I tried the suggestion to "Try Ubuntu first"; the desktop came up then I was interrupted for a few minutes by a phone call. After I finished with the phone call, I got a window "Sorry, Install Ubuntu 2.04 LTS closed unexpectedly". At this point, I took the opportunity to connect to my wireless network. So I click the "Report Problem" button, chose Yes to include the log file, and I got a window "Problem already known" with bug #922052 with Fix Released in milestone Ubuntu precise-alpha-2. So I will wait for the Ubuntu 12.04 alpha 2 and try this again.

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Chris Brody (chris-brody) said : 		#5

As I said before, I tried the suggestion to "Try Ubuntu first"; when the desktop came up I was interrupted then found the window "Sorry Install Ubuntu 12.04 LTS closed unexpectedly"; after conneting to my wireless network and attempting to report the problem I got a message that this problem was already known with bug #922052, already fixed in alpha 2.

I decided to continue and try the next suggestion to "sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install ubiquity" and then double-clicked the icon on the desktop to install Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. I got a window that showed my network was connected, I selected the items to get updates and to install non-free libraries. Near the end of the whole installation process, the installer crashed. I tried to report the problem and I got a message that this was known bug #870643, which is marked High and currently unassigned. I hope someone will get a chance to fix that bug before shipping a final release.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#6

If you don't select to install the libraries, is it ok?

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Chris Brody (chris-brody) said : 		#7

1. I will test alpha 2 to make sure that bug #922052 is solved.

2. I still find the installation process somewhat non-intuitive if I only use a wireless connection.

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Chris Brody (chris-brody) said : 		#8

I tried installing 12.02 alpha 2. If I select my own wireless network from the top bar before clicking Install Ubuntu, the whole process seems OK. It would be nice if there were more explicit information that one should select the wireless network before clicking Install Ubuntu.

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FMaz (fmaz008) said : 		#9

I agree that installing Xubuntu on a wireless network is counter-intuitive. The Wireless step should be place before we're asked to check anything about downloading.

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