[PC-BSD Testing] PCBSD 8.0 Alpha 20091206 x86 - Install Failure & Installer Comments

Tue Dec 8 06:13:28 PST 2009

Ian,

Do you know if the firmwares on the CD/DVD devices are up to date? How 
about the BIOS, up to date?

Arthur
> The computer was a plain vanilla HP Vectra VL400, PIII @ 1 GHZ, 512 Mb 
> RAM, ATI AGP video.
>
> Installing PCBSD 8.0 Alpha 20091206 x86 failed after the first reboot 
> (i.e. the reboot which leads to configuring video & xorg.conf).  The 
> installation screens gave no warning of a pending problem.
>
> The boot process failed right after probing the CD drives (acd0 and 
> acd1) and then waited indefinitely.  However, the computer was not 
> frozen and I could press enter to get to the root prompt.
>
> I looked over the hard disk and was surprised to see there were no 
> files installed into /usr.  Perhaps this was a bad burn, so I will 
> burn another disk, reinstall, and report.  Is it also possible that 
> the slice was not mounted because the start-up process had not 
> proceeded far enough?
>
> I will re-burn, reinstall, and report.
>
> The new installer was nice but the color scheme is rather bland and 
> subdued compared with the "old" installer.  Of course I am commenting 
> on something that is merely cosmetic and not a functional complaint.  
> Function was just fine.  However, I think the layouts of certain 
> screens have the potential to cause missteps, confusion, oversight, or 
> omission by novice users attempting to install PC-BSD.
>
>
> Detailed Analysis of the Appearance of Installer Screens:
>
> ===============================
>
> 1.  Language Screen -- OK - Obvious what to do.
> ===============================
>
> 2.  Keyboard Screen -- OK - Obvious layout and easy to read even 
> though a lot of choices are presented.
> ===============================
>
> 3.  System Screen --
>
> A.  The hint that says "Select installation type" is in a small font, 
> anchored at the right margin, and seems almost invisible next to the 
> dominating but unrelated icon next to it.
>
> B.  The eye does not naturally land on the the first step 
> (Install/Upgrade/Restore) because the eye is drawn to the second step 
> where you choose either PC-BSD and FreeBSD.  That's because of the red 
> icons and the spacing between step one and two being so small.
>
> C.  In contrast, the third step (Installation Source) is easier to 
> "see" because of the huge white space isolating this step from the 
> others.  The icons are "appropriate" but not large enough to communicate.
>
> D.  The starting locations (viz. left to right) of the three steps are 
> staggered and lack a certain consistency.
>
> E.  RECOMMENDATIONS for System Screen:
>
> i.  Move the hint to the left margin, increase the font size, and make 
> it bold like the word "System" in the top right part of the screen.
>
> ii.  Create a more balanced appearance and easier to follow steps 
> using more white space between each step, i.e., move step one down a 
> line or two, move step two down some extra lines, and keep the 
> distance between step 1 (install), 2 (system) and 3 (source) equal.   
> Compare the organization of "System Screen" with the "User Screen" to 
> see these points illustrated.
>
> iii.  Start each step at a common left margin.
>
> iv.  Number each step with a number in a larger, bold font.
> ===============================
>
> 4.  Disk Screen --
>
> A.  The hint that says "Disk Setup" is in a small font, anchored at 
> the right margin, and seems almost invisible next to the dominating 
> but unrelated icon next to it.
>
> B.  While the "ad0 ........" is obvious to experienced BSD users, it 
> is not obvious to a casual user.  It would be more obvious if there 
> was a label like "Choose the Target Disk"  and a hint like "Click the 
> down arrow to see other disks"
>
> C.  The starting locations (viz. left to right) of the steps are 
> staggered and lack consistency.
>
> D.  RECOMMENDATIONS for Disk Screen
>
> These are identical to the previous recommendations.
>
> i.  Move the hint to the left margin, increase the font size, and make 
> it bold like the word "Disk" in the top right part of the screen.
>
> ii.  Create a more balanced appearance and easier to follow steps 
> using more white space between each step, i.e.,  move step two 
> (auto/customize) up a little, keep the distance between steps equal.
>
> iii.  Start each step at a common left margin.
>
> iv.  Number each step with a number in a larger, bold font.
> ===============================
>
> 5.  User Screen -- Mostly obvious.  Good use of white space and boxes, 
> has common left margin starting space, and useful prompts.   The steps 
> could be numbered to maintain consistency with the recommendations 
> stated above.  Move "User Creation" label to the left.
>
> ===============================
>
> 6.  Time Screen -- Obvious and easy.  Move "Date & Time to left and 
> enlarge font.  The screen mentions "Date" but there is no date 
> choice.  Therefore, drop "Date" from the label.
>
> ===============================
>
> 7.  Components Screen -- Obvious and easy.  Move "Optional Components" 
> to the left and enlarge the font.  The panel lacks (a) the ability to 
> select more than one component using the <ctrl><left-click> or (b) a 
> "select all" choice.
>
> ===============================
>
> 8.  Summary Screen
>
> A.  Why is it necessary to scroll the summary?  There is enough screen 
> space to make the report and it would probably communicate better 
> without the need to scroll.
>
> B.  If it is necessary, then the slider bar should be more obvious 
> than white-on-white.
>
> C.  I note the summary screen reports that you will be organizing the 
> disk with separate-sized slices for /, /var, and /usr.  This is 
> different from the PC-BSD tradition of a slice for SWAP and the rest 
> of the disk dedicated to /.
> ===============================
>
> 9.  Installation Screen -- Clear.  I miss the pictures.
>
> ===============================
>
> 10.  Finished Screen  -- Clear.
>
> ===============================
>
>
> OK.  Thanks for listening, and did I forget to mention that the boot 
> routine is fast even from the DVD?
>
>
> Ian Robinson
> Salem, Ohio
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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