Ubuntu
usb-creator package

Display a warning for fat16 prompting users to click "Format" -> fat32

Bug #296160 reported by Zerocool3001
16
This bug affects 1 person
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
usb-creator (Ubuntu)
Triaged
Wishlist
Unassigned

Bug Description

Binary package hint: usb-creator

When creating a bootable usb usb-creator accepts, and successfully installs, on a FAT16 formatted device. However (in many situations), a FAT16 formatted device cannot boot and fails out with "error loading operating system" message on startup.

In other situations (older BIOS), users may need to use FAT16. Display a warning for FAT16 would allow the user to be informed that they can format to FAT32. A FAT32 formatted device run through usb-creator works correctly in most cases and should be the default when pressing the Format button.

See original description
Revision history for this message
oakhunter (oakhunter) wrote :

However, I successfully boot Ubuntu 8.10 from FAT16 4GB flash drive.

Revision history for this message
Morten Siebuhr (msiebuhr) wrote :

After having spent several hours figuring this out, I believe some computers plainly refuse to boot from fat16 formatted sticks, while others are just fine and dandy about it.

From what I could dig up on the net, it seems some Atom hardware has problems booting from fat16 formatted sticks; the error message, in it's entirety, is "boot error".

Perhaps a warning to the user to re--format the stick to fat32, if a fat16 stick is detected?

komputes (komputes)
summary: - Incorrect Fat16 reformat
+ usb-creator should reformat fat16 to fat32 before starting
komputes (komputes)
Changed in usb-creator (Ubuntu):
status: New → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
komputes (komputes) wrote : Re: usb-creator should reformat fat16 to fat32 before starting

I can confirm that the 'Format' functionality in usb-creator does not work in many cases. An external program must be used to re-format the disk. Formatting needs to wipe the drive completely (use a different tool) and always format to FAT32 in the same manner. FAT16 should not be accepted for reasons of compatibility and filesystem limitations. usb-creator needs to standardize the way it formats disks. Whatever tool is selected (I currently think it uses mkdosfs) should completely wipe the drive in a standard manner (delete all partitions, create an unformatted filesystem and then format the disk as FAT32). I'm not sure how libparted does it, but I have greater success with gparted then with usb-creator and command line tools.

summary: - usb-creator should reformat fat16 to fat32 before starting
+ Standardize the formatting process: reformat fat16 to fat32 before
+ starting
Revision history for this message
Daniel Richard G. (skunk) wrote : Re: Standardize the formatting process: reformat fat16 to fat32 before starting

Using mkdosfs(8) should be fine. It's not like there would be, or should be one [low-level] tool to both wipe/recreate the partition table *and* create the FAT32 filesystem; those are very different operations and joining them in anything other than a user-friendly frontend would violate the Unix principle.

That aside, don't forget the proposed "Advanced mode" which would leave the existing partition table alone, and target a user-selected partition for formatting and installation of the live system.

komputes (komputes)
summary: - Standardize the formatting process: reformat fat16 to fat32 before
- starting
+ Display a warning for fat16 prompting users to click "Format" -> fat32
description: updated
Revision history for this message
komputes (komputes) wrote :

This bug was discussed at UDS Maverick. More information can be found at:
https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/foundations-m-usb-creator-bugfixer

Revision history for this message
Victor Vargas (kamus) wrote :

Since this requirement is not implemented yet under latest Ubuntu release, I will set this report as Triaged. Thanks!

Changed in usb-creator (Ubuntu):
importance: Undecided → Wishlist
status: Confirmed → Triaged
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