View Full Version : WTF! XBMC hijacked my computer! XP will not boot.
Made the dvd.
Installed it on the usb flash drive.
Ran xbmc Live.
removed dvd.
removed the flash drive.
restarted the computer.
And XBMC loads again?! Restart computer again, XBMC loads again!
checking flash drive, on another computer... ... ... it's empty!!!!!!!!!!!!
Theory: XBMC live did not install it self in my flash drive, but on the hard drive!
How do I get rid of it?
Unfortunately, it looks like you didn't pay attention and installed XBMC to your Hard Drive.
That means windows is gone.
Sorry :(
Unfortunately, it looks like you didn't pay attention and installed XBMC to your Hard Drive.
That means windows is gone.
Sorry :(
1 I have never seen linux before, ever.
2 The question was, something like:
Install program at: sd01 or sd02
3 How the :angry: was I supposed to know that ment, that the installer had not found my USB flash drive...
:angry::angry::angry::angry:
althekiller
2009-03-06, 03:17
3 How the :angry: was I supposed to know that ment, that the installer had not found my USB flash drive...:
More interestingly, why would you assume that it did? Normally when you see the "This will destroy all data" type message you stop and think, "Am I sure this is what I want to do?" This forum was here for you to ask the question at that stage, yet you chose to risk it and make a blind selection. As far as I'm concerned this is a case of pure ignorance.
More interestingly, why would you assume that it did?
Because I never experienced that a computer did not find the usb flash drive...
Normally when you see the "This will destroy all data" type message you stop and think, "Am I sure this is what I want to do?"
I had no problem with that, since the flash drive was empty!
This forum was here for you to ask the question at that stage, yet you chose to risk it and make a blind selection. As far as I'm concerned this is a case of pure ignorance.
As far as I'm concerned this is the result of a BS program, without critical failsafes. Even more disturbing is the fact you do not recognize that is a problem! If one has done all the other programming for XBMC, how hard can it be to add a few lines of text so that vital questions in the installer, are asked in plain English?
/
And what questions would have stopped your from doing this?
bmfrosty
2009-03-06, 04:32
Maybe extra extra super warnings if you're trying to install on anything bigger than say - 8 gigs? Make the user type yes about 8 times before it will actually install?
Cujo,
I think your anger is misplaced here.
It's easy to make a mistake with this type of thing if you aren't careful.
I personally wiped out a Windows installation trying to use Xbox Hard Drive maker because I wasn't paying close attention.
If you want to run the live version, then you don't have to install it anywhere.
You should even unplug your hard drive if you're worried about losing data.
Next time, be more careful before agreeing to format/partition a drive that you aren't sure what it is... :shocked: I learned the hard way too. :sniffle:
And what questions would have stopped your from doing this?
Using the words "Hard disk" instead a cryptic abbreviation like "sd01", or whatever it said. The use of a common abbreviation like "hd" or "hdd" would most likely have tipped me off, as well.
Or, how about: "No usb device detected!"
/
Cujo,
I think your anger is misplaced here.
It's easy to make a mistake with this type of thing if you aren't careful.
I personally wiped out a Windows installation trying to use Xbox Hard Drive maker because I wasn't paying close attention.
If you want to run the live version, then you don't have to install it anywhere.
You should even unplug your hard drive if you're worried about losing data.
Next time, be more careful before agreeing to format/partition a drive that you aren't sure what it is... :shocked: I learned the hard way too. :sniffle:
Thanks for your sympathy anyway.
On a more general note. Hardcore enthusiasts tend to forget that most people are just users/consumers. That have enough trouble with configuring fully functional software. And that "simple" tasks like setting up a wifi network, or flashing the router with new firmware is "pushing the envelope".
/
and that is our problem? your ignorance is YOUR issue not mine.
digitalhigh
2009-03-06, 17:02
and that is our problem? your ignorance is YOUR issue not mine.
This is definitely a way to tell the world how friendly the folks over at XBMC are. Whoo! Come on folks, drop your old media center program and give XBMC a try! We'll call you an idiot if you break something...
I had the same thing happen to me months ago, and I asked then if maybe somebody would want to consider adding a failsafe for the poor bastards who want you use your guys' software but don't spend all their time doing hardware/software development in a command-line nix environment.
Honestly...just because people aren't as versed in a particular field as you doesn't make them ignorant. It just means you spend a lot more time behind a keyboard.
So, instead of reacting like "the stupid noob did something dumb and got mad about it"...why don't you address the actual problem?
eeeeeh. http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/ignorance
1. The lack of knowledge or education.
how the eff does that equal to calling people idiots? i did no name dropping, i simply stated the fact that you SHOULD NOT BE DOING THINGS UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. that applies to everyone, geniuses and idiots alike.
sure, things can be improved and i welcome any efforts. my response weren't even to the original incident, it was to
On a more general note. Hardcore enthusiasts tend to forget that most people are just users/consumers. That have enough trouble with configuring fully functional software. And that "simple" tasks like setting up a wifi network, or flashing the router with new firmware is "pushing the envelope".
I personally add doubt when i tried xbmc live, fortunally i dont own a 4GB HDD :) meaning i only knew i was installig on my pen drive because of the size
There's been fixes applied to the source to try to stop this from happening again, and we do value and take onboard feedback.
Obviously what's happened here is unfortunate, but lets learn from it, stop the mud-slinging, and move on.
motd
digitalhigh
2009-03-06, 17:30
eeeeeh. http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/ignorance
how the eff does that equal to calling people idiots? i did no name dropping, i simply stated the fact that you SHOULD NOT BE DOING THINGS UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. that applies to everyone, geniuses and idiots alike.
sure, things can be improved and i welcome any efforts. my response weren't even to the original incident, it was to
Well, with no quote to go off of, it would appear that you were replying to the initial incident, which just blew me away because it then looked like you were stating that the team's stance on the issue is...if you don't know how it works and broke something...tough beans.
To say the least...the flash creator is/was very vague. It screwed me up something fierce because I assumed that a USB installer would know to look and ensure that the device is actually a USB device...
i realize it could be misunderstood and sorry for not being perfectly clear. it sems i should stop using the word ignorance as it seems you english speakers take offense. but to me 'uneducated' sounds so much more harsh...
l.capriotti
2009-03-06, 17:39
Pls let's stop this quarrel, it's going nowhere.
BTW, it's not an USB installer it's an INSTALLER since upon starting it says:
Requirement for USB flash disks: the disk must have at least 1500 MB of capacity!
Requirement for fixed disks: the disk must have at least 3500 MB of capacity!
digitalhigh
2009-03-06, 17:50
i realize it could be misunderstood and sorry for not being perfectly clear. it sems i should stop using the word ignorance as it seems you english speakers take offense. but to me 'uneducated' sounds so much more harsh...
If used in the context of "uneducated", then yes, it's applicable. But to me, it's primary meaning is "a willful lack of desire to improve the efficiency, merit, effectiveness or usefulness of one's actions."
So, calling somebody dumb isn't so bad simply because you can't help being dumb...but ignorance is like being intentionally dumb, which is far worse.
Michael Jackson didn't really help either. ;)
I would go with "uninformed". I think that's probably the most universal conveyance of what you're trying to say that has a minimal harshness level.
BTW, it's not an USB installer it's an INSTALLER since upon starting it says...
Touche. However, it still might be a good idea to differentiate between the two.
wow, definitely unfortunate for the OP; sorry to hear.
but I gotta side with the xbmc devs; don't use the uninstaller unless you understand what it going on. I also agree it is always good practice to unplug extra hdds if doing something like formatting. (I used xbox hdd maker a lot in the past, and to avoid any accidents I always unplugged my main drives)
I have used the xbmc live install lots aswell, and although the prompts are as user friendly as they could be, they are certainly adequate for the task; even a user with a basic unserstanding of what is going on, shouldn't mess it up.
Can we please stop this bashing and constrate on fixing this issue ?
I haven't used this, but does it actually display the drive information ( Make, Model, Size ) of the drive or partition being installed too ? That should the giver user more information that is harddrive being installed too..
a 'fix' has already been commited to svn
MadCowDzz
2009-03-07, 18:58
[...] I haven't used this, but does it actually display the drive information ( Make, Model, Size ) of the drive or partition being installed too ? That should the giver user more information that is harddrive being installed too..
My installer says:
Choose the disk to use
1: sda (4039 MB) - Removable
I think more information would definitely be useful... If it included the brand, model, partition information, I wouldn't have to think twice about what I'm doing.
Is this the 'fix' that's being implemented?
PainToad
2009-03-11, 03:44
The installer was perfectly fine. Quite frankly I'm glad your ignorance was punished. And as for the drives being labeled 'wrong', what a stupid logic. They are not wrong, this is the linux standard, imo, being a Linux user, labeling a drive 'C' etc is 'wrong'.
A child could have used the the installer, with a little bit of reading. You were to lazy to do this and now you suffer. Don't attack the developers of XBMC or Linux in general for something you can ONLY blame yourself for.
nekrosoft13
2009-03-11, 05:27
1 I have never seen linux before, ever.
2 The question was, something like:
Install program at: sd01 or sd02
3 How the :angry: was I supposed to know that ment, that the installer had not found my USB flash drive...
:angry::angry::angry::angry:
live and learn, next time back-up before you do something you don't understand
Pvt_Ryan
2009-03-14, 23:32
Using the words "Hard disk" instead a cryptic abbreviation like "sd01", or whatever it said. The use of a common abbreviation like "hd" or "hdd" would most likely have tipped me off, as well.
Common.. In linux its not common. In linux the COMMON names were the ones you saw. Common is subjective.
sd - generally used for scsi disks or sata disks (USB drives are seen as SCSI devices)
hd - generally used for IDE drives
Did you not check the disk sizes when prompted about installation?
I find that USB drives with sizes of above 8gb suspicious.
Or, how about: "No usb device detected!"
How was XBMC expected to know you wanted to use a USB disk?
It's perfectly valid to want to install to your main hard drive.
my advice to you is:
If unsure, DON'T!!
All you had to do was come on here (or any linux forum) and say: "I am trying to run xbmc live cd and its asking me which disk to install to /dev/sda1 /dev/sdb, which should I choose?"
Instead YOU make a guess then come on here, lash out and then expect sympathy.
However as my father often told me:
Q: Do you know where Sympathy lies in the dictionary?
A: Between Shit and Syphilis.
Now you have a couple of choices:
1) Continue to be angry and get little or no help.
2) Say Sorry for coming on here ranting and then ask nicely for help.
3) Accept that YOU have wiped windows from YOUR computer and there is no hope of recovery. Now you can move on. If you take this option you have another choice. A) Reinstall windows. B) Give linux a try after all you already have it installed.
Now this may or may not be of help.. but assuming that your installer said /dev/sda1, /dev/sda2. then I have to assume that your HDD was partitioned. Based on this any data on your D/E drive (/dev/sda2) should be fine.
Guttasej
2009-03-17, 22:12
is XBMC even labeled for "end-user friendlyness" yet? i've seen the BETA tags everywhere :P
And a tip for the maker of the thread. It's a good thing to read through the manual and Wiki before clicking through installers randomly. Especially with beta software :;):
Common.. In linux its not common. In linux the COMMON names were the ones you saw. Common is subjective.
Completely OT but even Vista installer uses almost the same convention now
the donīt differ between sd and hd but they do have hd 0 partition 1 which would be exactly the same as sda1 were a being 0 and 1 being partition.
/OT
Pvt_Ryan
2009-03-18, 01:48
Completely OT but even Vista installer uses almost the same convention now
the donīt differ between sd and hd but they do have hd 0 partition 1 which would be exactly the same as sda1 were a being 0 and 1 being partition.
/OT
Just to clarify further for those that maybe don't know:
as i stated earlier sd & hd means scsi and ide respectively.
next is a letter starting with a this indicates which disk,
so /dev/sda is our 1st disk (SATA / SCSI / USB).
next as topfs mentions there is a number this indicates the partition, this number begins at 0.
so /dev/sda2 is the 2nd partition of our 1st disk
/dev/sdb1 is the 1st partition of our 2nd disk.
so /dev/sda1 is the 2nd partition of our 1st disk
/dev/sdb0 is the 1st partition of our 2nd disk. This is incorrect in my experience. Partitions have always started with 1 when I've seen them.
However as my father often told me:
Q: Do you know where Sympathy lies in the dictionary?
A: Between Shit and Syphilis. This made me laugh.
Pvt_Ryan
2009-03-19, 16:23
Maxim those were typos..
Will teach me to write numbers while working with arrays in another window... I'll correct that now thanks.
Would be nice if the OP came back and responded...
digitalhigh
2009-03-19, 17:12
The installer was perfectly fine. Quite frankly I'm glad your ignorance was punished. And as for the drives being labeled 'wrong', what a stupid logic. They are not wrong, this is the linux standard, imo, being a Linux user, labeling a drive 'C' etc is 'wrong'.
A child could have used the the installer, with a little bit of reading. You were to lazy to do this and now you suffer. Don't attack the developers of XBMC or Linux in general for something you can ONLY blame yourself for.
Seeing posts like this make me want to fly off the handle and tell you how big of an as*hole you are. You're three pages in, and this is all you've got to add to the topic?
Personally, I don't see why everybody has to argue over whether or not this installer is actually confusing. It's subjective. Just because you or I comprehend it doesn't mean everybody is going to. I see that a fix has been added, so cool, but still...
What are you all arguing about? Obviously, it confused some people. Therefore, it is obvious that SOME kind of improvement could be made to further clarify.
What's even funnier is preaching to this poor user and HE'S NOT EVEN READING THE STUFF. He hasn't logged in in over 13 days, and I can probably tell you why.
So...you're all arguing with each other over a subjective topic created by a user who is most likely not going to be logging in on this site ever again.
On top of that, nobody is going to read this post. More of you *sage-like* persons are going to open the thread, read the first post, then offer your blisteringly stunning advice as to why the user is ignorant, dumb, or something of that sort without actually addressing the underlying problem.
Yes...what they say about people arguing on the internet is totally true...
althekiller
2009-03-19, 17:58
Closed, this is going no where.