Bug 138861 - When upgrading (large or small), explicitly recommend whether or not to uninstall previous version
Summary: When upgrading (large or small), explicitly recommend whether or not to unins...
Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX
Alias: None
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Installation (show other bugs)
Version:
(earliest affected)
unspecified
Hardware: All All
: medium enhancement
Assignee: Not Assigned
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Reported: 2020-12-12 16:53 UTC by Fred Hamilton
Modified: 2022-04-01 08:50 UTC (History)
0 users

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Description Fred Hamilton 2020-12-12 16:53:42 UTC
Description:
Every time I upgrade (particularly from a major version to the next major version), I'm unsure whether I should uninstall the current version first. If I do uninstall, will I lose changes to default settings, recent history, etc.? If I don't uninstall first, will I still have the previous version's files on my drive and keys in my registry, or could it have other unintended consequences?

It would be great if someone who understood installation details could make this recommendation part of the installer or add an "Upgrading" section to https://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/


Actual Results:
Unclear whether or not to uninstall current version before installing newer version.

Expected Results:
Confidence that I am upgrading LibreOffice in the best/safest way possible.


Reproducible: Always


User Profile Reset: No



Additional Info:
None
Comment 1 Mike Kaganski 2020-12-12 17:24:12 UTC
It's unreasonable. It only makes sense to list what *need* to be done, not what is *not required*. It's not required to uninstall anything, that's why it's not mentioned. Also it's not required to put a specific desktop wallpaper, buy specific snacks, etc. The possible list of "what is not needed" is infinite, and if a user somehow decides to think "it doesn't ask me to uninstall; what if it's still needed?", it's some wrong set of mind.

But no objection to add a new FAQ if wanted.
Comment 2 Fred Hamilton 2020-12-12 20:16:53 UTC
I apologize if I sounded unreasonable.  All I am trying to do is make a suggestion that might make the LibreOffice experience that much more friction-free.

You said "It's not required to uninstall anything, that's why it's not mentioned."  So is there a way to make exactly that information available when someone is installing?  Perhaps on the first screen of the installer, where it says "LibreOffice x.x.x.x is preparing the Installation Wizard which will guide you through the program setup process", one could add some flavor of "If you have a previous version of LibreOffice installed, this will replace it - there is no need to uninstall your current version."
Comment 3 Mike Kaganski 2020-12-12 20:58:12 UTC
(In reply to Fred Hamilton from comment #2)

No, the installer should not add any such text. It's just silly. Additionally, when user has already started the installer, it's surely too late to tell "Oh, you had that strange idea that we kept requirement to uninstall previous version top secret, and had uninstalled it? Too bad, you needed not to do that".

We only must have full requirements on our download page, and various wikis. No need to list infinite list of what is not required. Only if we miss something really required, should we actually add that. By the way, if uninstalling a previous version manually were required, our installer would detect that and stop, telling you to do so.
Comment 4 Fred Hamilton 2020-12-12 22:42:40 UTC
"No need to list infinite list of what is not required."  Why do you keep saying I want an infinite list?  I wanted one line of text in the installer, you don't agree, so I guess we're done.  Please close this out.