[GH-ISSUE #1579] Distro installers shouldn't overwrite disk unattended. #2055

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opened 2026-03-01 18:38:12 +03:00 by kerem · 0 comments

kerem commented

2026-03-01 18:38:12 +03:00

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Originally created by @llbranco on GitHub (Feb 25, 2025).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netbootxyz/netboot.xyz/issues/1579

Distro Installers should not overwrite any disk without asking/warning the user.

it turns out that Netboot.xyz's Fedora did this without any warning, without any alert, without any questions, without any interaction... it just did it

no partitioner was started, nothing. just wiped the disk.

I'm reporting this to prevent other people from losing data too

My Setup
I don't know if it's relevant, but it might be useful.
Server:
Windows 10 pro, x64 22H2
"Tinypxe Server" with ipxe with this config to cainload netboot.xyz

:netbootxyz
imgfree
dhcp
chain --autofree http://boot.netboot.xyz

I also use the same server with chainload for other pxe, local isos like memtest, hdat etc.
but it is not relevant since the problem occurred outside my selfhosted/local boot

how to reproduce the issue?
boot to netboot.xyz
go to "Linux Network Installs (64-bit)"
go to "Fedora Core OS"
and "Stable"
your main disk (probably others) will be overwriten

In my case, the HDD had Windows 11 Home, I have no idea how many partitions there were because the Fedora installer overwrote them without mercy.
But let's assume the standard scenario:
GPT:
1 EFI partition
1 Windows partition
1 DELL OEM/recovery partition

Now unfortunately I will have to try to recover data, wish me good luck because the HDD isn't mine, it belongs to a client who wanted to try Linux and chose Fedora, unfortunately my USB sticks were in use on other computers and I decided to use PXE, 'coz why not? now I'm screwed.

I've been using netboot.xyz for a long time and have never had any problems.
I trusted that (like all installers for any operating system) it would ask which disk/partition to install on.
I can only hope that I can recover as much information as possible (if possible).

Originally created by @llbranco on GitHub (Feb 25, 2025). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netbootxyz/netboot.xyz/issues/1579 ### Distro Installers should not overwrite any disk without asking/warning the user. it turns out that Netboot.xyz's Fedora did this without any warning, without any alert, without any questions, without any interaction... it just did it no partitioner was started, nothing. just wiped the disk. I'm reporting this to prevent other people from losing data too **My Setup** I don't know if it's relevant, but it might be useful. Server: Windows 10 pro, x64 22H2 "Tinypxe Server" with ipxe with this config to cainload netboot.xyz ``` :netbootxyz imgfree dhcp chain --autofree http://boot.netboot.xyz ``` I also use the same server with chainload for other pxe, local isos like memtest, hdat etc. but it is not relevant since the problem occurred outside my selfhosted/local boot **how to reproduce the issue?** boot to netboot.xyz go to "Linux Network Installs (64-bit)" go to "Fedora Core OS" and "Stable" your main disk (probably others) will be overwriten In my case, the HDD had Windows 11 Home, I have no idea how many partitions there were because the Fedora installer overwrote them without mercy. But let's assume the standard scenario: GPT: 1 EFI partition 1 Windows partition 1 DELL OEM/recovery partition Now unfortunately I will have to try to recover data, wish me good luck because the HDD isn't mine, it belongs to a client who wanted to try Linux and chose Fedora, unfortunately my USB sticks were in use on other computers and I decided to use PXE, 'coz why not? now I'm screwed. I've been using netboot.xyz for a long time and have never had any problems. I trusted that (like all installers for any operating system) it would ask which disk/partition to install on. I can only hope that I can recover as much information as possible (if possible).

kerem

2026-03-01 18:38:12 +03:00

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starred/netboot.xyz#2055

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