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Date:      Sat, 8 Jan 2011 21:00:05 -0500
From:      Mehmet Erol Sanliturk <m.e.sanliturk@gmail.com>
To:        Nathan Whitehorn <nwhitehorn@freebsd.org>
Cc:        freebsd-sysinstall@freebsd.org, freebsd-arch@freebsd.org
Subject:   Re: BSDInstall ISO images
Message-ID:  <AANLkTim5TQ4XpAmZ=b7MrQ47-MGDjoepojX2ZioTPmfG@mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <4D28EB32.9090807@freebsd.org>
References:  <4D28EB32.9090807@freebsd.org>

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On Sat, Jan 8, 2011 at 5:54 PM, Nathan Whitehorn <nwhitehorn@freebsd.org>wr=
ote:

> I've spent some time integrating bsdinstall into startup of install CDs,
> mostly related to building useful live-CD-based installers. An i386 image
> can be found here (other architectures may follow, as my very slow DSL li=
ne
> permits):
>
> http://people.freebsd.org/~nwhitehorn/bsdinstall-i386-20110108.iso.bz2<ht=
tp://people.freebsd.org/%7Enwhitehorn/bsdinstall-i386-20110108.iso.bz2>
>
> The source for this can be found at:
>
> svn://svn.freebsd.org/base/user/nwhitehorn/bsdinstall
>
> The bits related to live CD usage are the testsystem.sh and rc.local file=
s.
> Instead of running sysinstall as an init replacement, I have written a sm=
all
> rc.local script that gives the user the option to either start the
> installer, open a single-user-mode style shell, or to continue to boot to=
 a
> multi-user live CD. Also, instead of the md root used by sysinstall, this
> just boots from the CD directly. This prevents the need for sysinstall's
> media selection, since the distribution files are in the mounted root fil=
e
> system.
>
> I would appreciate any comments or test results.
> -Nathan
>


I tried to install the .iso .
Here is my steps .


The main board : Intel DG 945 WHMKR
PS/2 mouse
PS/2 keyboard
Samsung Syncmaster 2233SN 1920 x 1080 LCD ( VGA port ) monitor .
No hard disk attached ( Power disconnected )

Installer started . After displaying Welcome ... Installer , Shell , Live C=
D
,
keyboard and mouse are frozen .

The computer started with Reset  button .

Mouse cursor disappeared , but keyboard worked on install Welcome dialog .

Before starting installation ,
Seagate Desktop Expansion Hard Disk has been attached to a USB port .

ugen2.2 ...
umass0 ...
da0 ...

messages have overwrite =C2=B4Installer , Shell , Live CD=C2=B4 line of dia=
log .

By pressing Left Arrow and Right Arrow , recovered the dialog selection lin=
e
.

Installer has been selected .

Host name has been asked , but any name structure is not explained , such a=
s
a single name or with another name .

( For personal installs , there is no administrator other than installer ,
there is no other person to ask anything . )

A single word is given and reached to the Partition Editor .

In the Seagate Expansion drive , there was Mandriva Linux as installed .

( Pressing red letters in the Partition Editor is not working . It is
necessary to come over the item to be selected and press Enter . )

When Create is selected Add Partition dialog displayed .

Label :  This is a known concept . A more descriptive sentence may be used =
.

Mount Point :

What is =C2=A8Mount Point" ?

I assumed / would be correct . Pressing Ok displayed

Error : Invalid argument . Size =C2=B4195454664=C2=B4
Ok

I have deleted / symbol from =C2=A8Mount point=C2=A8 and pressed Enter .
The above error displayed .


I have selected Edit .
Warning displayed .
I have selected Yes .

Partition Scheme menu displayed .

I thought =C2=B4BSD labels=C2=B4 would be good . I have selected it .

Returned to Partition Editor .
I have pressed Create .
Displayed Add Partition dialog .
Pressing Ok , displayed the above error message .

By entering =C2=B4Edit=C2=B4 , I have deleted existing partitions .


I have pressed Finished .
Dialog =C2=B4Confirmation=C2=B4 displayed . Yes entered .
Initialize dialog displayed .
After that =C2=B4Abort=C2=B4 dialog displayed :

    You canceled ...

Restart entered .

After repeating the above steps , Exit selected because =C2=B4Abort=C2=B4 d=
ialog .

Result : Failure .

My suggestions :

1. Please select an audience of installer :
     Elementary school students .
     High school school students .
     University students .
     University graduates
     Computer engineers .
     FreeBSD experts , or others .

Use a language and steps that these may be easily followed by the installer=
s

2. Before displaying a menu for selection , please check the validity of
items to be selected , and display only VALID items . Doing display first ,
and making checks after selection is causing complete failures sometimes .

3. Please use explanatory sentences as sufficiently long . On the screen ,
there are at least 80 x 25  =3D 2000 characters available .

4. Lowering the level of prior knowledge about FreeBSD will increase
adoption of it by more inexperienced users .

5. Studying installation of other operating systems may be helpful . It is
not necessary to copy their copy-righted material , but ideas may utilized =
.
In that respect , my first suggestions , in order of easiness would be
Mandriva , Fedora , Debian Linux , PC-BSD .


Thank you very much for your efforts and contributions . Please accept my
ideas only for toward contribution to remedy difficulties and to make a mor=
e
easily usable installer .


Mehmet Erol Sanliturk



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