diff --git a/help/C/gparted.xml b/help/C/gparted.xml
index 1ed67dec..6cbde56e 100644
--- a/help/C/gparted.xml
+++ b/help/C/gparted.xml
@@ -1044,11 +1044,6 @@
the partition when mounting the partition.
- Note that using UUIDs is not a panacea. See
- for
- more information.
-
-
Changes in a device name might adversely affect the
following files:
@@ -1153,180 +1148,43 @@
- Changing the UUID of an existing filesystem may affect the ability of a
- Linux system to boot. On Windows, it may affect the validity of the
- Windows Product Activation key.
+ Changing the UUID might invalidate the Windows Product
+ Activation key (WPA).
- Please read (one of) the following sections for more information
- if this may be a concern.
+ On FAT and NTFS file systems, the Volume Serial Number
+ is treated as the UUID. Changing the Volume Serial
+ Number on the Windows system partition, such as C:,
+ might invalidate the WPA key. An invalid WPA key will
+ prevent login until you reactivate Windows.
+
+
+ In an attempt to avoid invalidating the WPA key, on
+ NTFS file systems only half of the UUID is set to a
+ new random value.
+
+
+ If the WPA key is invalidated you will need to
+ reactivate Windows before you can login.
+
+
+ The WPA key should not be affected by changing the
+ UUID of data partitions or removable media partitions.
-
+
- For FAT and NTFS filesystems, what GParted names, and treats as, the
- UUID, is in fact its Volume Serial Number.
+ Changing the UUID might cause a GNU/Linux system to
+ fail to boot, or to fail to mount a file system.
- An NTFS filesystem also has a real UUID, but that is a different number,
- which cannot and should not be changed - at all.
+ If boot or mount problems occur you might need to edit
+ configuration files, such as /etc/fstab, to ensure
+ that the correct UUID is specified.
-
+
-
- UUIDs in Linux
-
- Modern Linux systems are usually configured to use UUIDs to locate
- and identify the different filesystems or partitions when booting. Some
- partition types, like LVM physical volumes, are only
- identified using their UUID. Making changes to partitions may therefore
- affect the Linux boot process in different ways:
-
-
-
-
- When copying a partition
-
-
- When a copy was made of a partition, and both the original
- and the copy are ever present on the same machine at the same
- time, Linux may (will)
- not be able to predictably identify which is which. This is caused
- by the fact that the UUID is used for identification, and
- both partitions, being copies, have the same UUID.
-
-
- If such confusion happens at boot time, the results will be
- unpredictable. One or the other will essentially be selected at random,
- and possibly a different one at each boot. Over time, this random
- nature of partition selection might make files seem to mysteriously
- appear or disappear depending upon which partition is selected. It may
- also cause severe data corruption or loss.
-
-
- This can, and should, be avoided by changing the UUID of the copy. It
- is safest to change the UUID of a copied partition at all times, as both
- partitions, or other copies of it, may meet again on the same computer,
- with unexpected and unpredictable
- results.
-
-
-
-
- When changing the UUID of a partition
-
-
- When changing he UUID of a partition, Linux may no longer be able to
- correctly identify the partition. If the partition is needed when
- booting, this may result in a failure to boot.
-
-
- Do not change a partition's UUID if that partition is not intended to be
- a copy of an existing partition, unless you know what you are doing,
- and prepared to deal with the consequences.
-
-
- Before changing UUIDs of Windows partitions, please be sure to
- read .
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- UUIDs in Windows
-
- On NTFS and FAT filesystems, the number that GParted names, and treats as
- UUID, is in fact the Volume Serial Number.
-
-
-
- When changing the UUID / Volume Serial Number on a partition that will
- (continue to) be used on the same hardware, using the same Windows licence,
- please read this section carefully.
-
-
- The information in this section is provided as is.
- It is believed to be accurate, but it might in fact be incorrect, or subtly
- misleading. Use GParted at your own risk. If you cannot afford to take
- the risk of making Windows unbootable and/or loosing your data, then do
- not use GParted.
-
-
-
- Changing the Volume Serial Number of an NTFS or FAT partition that is used by Windows, may
- have different consequences depending on the kind of partition in question.
-
-
-
-
- UUIDs on Windows system partitions
-
-
- On Windows, the Volume Serial Number of the System partition is
- usually used
-
- In atypical cases, the Volume Serial Number of another partition might
- be the one that is used instead.
-
-
- for Windows Product Activation (WPA). The first modification of this number will
- count as a change for WPA. Subsequent modifications are 'free'.
-
-
- Too many such WPA-affecting changes, like replacing the primary harddisk
- or the processor, or adding memory, will invalidate the WPA key. In that
- case, windows needs to be re-activated.
-
-
- For NTFS filesystems only, GParted can, and will, attempt to avoid making a
- change that could be WPA-affecting, by changing only half of the NTFS Volume
- Serial Number. Such a half-change should also be safe, in principle.
- Nevertheless, no guarantees can be given.
-
-
- As there is no easy way to revert a Volume Serial Number change (it will not,
- for instance, be included in a regular backup), it should not be changed
- casually, and not unless one is prepared to take the risk, and re-activate
- Windows when the change proved to be one too many for WPA.
-
-
- As long as a partition having the original Volume Serial
- Number is present at Windows boot time, WPA requirements should normally be
- satisfied, and no WPA change should be noted by Windows.
-
-
-
-
-
-
- UUIDs on data partitions
-
-
- The NTFS or FAT Volume Serial Number on a data partition is not normally used
- for WPA, although there may be exceptions. Changing it should therefore not
- affect WPA.
-
-
-
-
-
-
- UUIDs on external storage media
-
-
- On external storage media that are not permanently attached, and not present
- at Windows boot time, the Volume Serial Number is not (cannot be) used for
- WPA, and therefore the validity of the WPA key should not be affected when
- the Volume Serial Number is changed.
-
-
-
-
-
-
@@ -1865,7 +1723,9 @@
the copy of the partition might be mounted. Over time this
random nature of partition mounting might make files seem to
mysteriously appear or disappear depending upon which
- partition is mounted.
+ partition is mounted. Random mounting of the source or the
+ copy of the partition might also cause severe data
+ corruption or loss.
To avoid the problem you are advised to do one of the
diff --git a/src/OperationChangeUUID.cc b/src/OperationChangeUUID.cc
index 270852a8..51781ee2 100644
--- a/src/OperationChangeUUID.cc
+++ b/src/OperationChangeUUID.cc
@@ -56,14 +56,14 @@ void OperationChangeUUID::apply_to_visual( std::vector & partitions )
void OperationChangeUUID::create_description()
{
if ( partition_new .uuid == UUID_RANDOM_NTFS_HALF ) {
- /*TO TRANSLATORS: looks like Set half the UUID to a new, random value on ntfs filesystem on /dev/sda1 */
- description = String::ucompose( _("Set half the UUID to a new, random value on %1 filesystem on %2")
+ /*TO TRANSLATORS: looks like Set half the UUID to a new random value on ntfs file system on /dev/sda1 */
+ description = String::ucompose( _("Set half the UUID to a new random value on %1 file system on %2")
, Utils::get_filesystem_string( partition_new .filesystem )
, partition_new .get_path()
) ;
} else {
- /*TO TRANSLATORS: looks like Set a new random UUID on ext4 filesystem on /dev/sda1 */
- description = String::ucompose( _("Set a new random UUID on %1 filesystem on %2")
+ /*TO TRANSLATORS: looks like Set a new random UUID on ext4 file system on /dev/sda1 */
+ description = String::ucompose( _("Set a new random UUID on %1 file system on %2")
, Utils::get_filesystem_string( partition_new .filesystem )
, partition_new .get_path()
) ;
diff --git a/src/fat16.cc b/src/fat16.cc
index 6e4ba441..79f24a64 100644
--- a/src/fat16.cc
+++ b/src/fat16.cc
@@ -29,21 +29,20 @@
namespace GParted
{
-const Glib::ustring fat16::Change_UUID_Warning [] = { _( "This may invalidate your Windows Activation key."
- )
- , _( "On FAT and NTFS filesystems, GParted"
- " uses the Volume Serial Number as UUID."
- " Changing the Volume Serial Number on the Windows"
- " system partition may invalidate the Windows Activation key."
- )
- , _( "External storage media and non-system partitions are normally safe,"
- " but guarantees cannot be given."
- )
- , _( "Please read the manual for more information, and do not apply"
- " this change if you are not prepared to re-activate Windows"
- )
- , ""
- } ;
+const Glib::ustring fat16::Change_UUID_Warning [] =
+ { _( "Changing the UUID might invalidate the Windows Product Activation (WPA) key."
+ )
+ , _( "On FAT and NTFS file systems, the"
+ " Volume Serial Number is treated as the UUID."
+ " Changing the Volume Serial Number on the Windows system"
+ " partition, such as C:, might invalidate the WPA key."
+ " An invalid WPA key will prevent login until you reactivate Windows."
+ )
+ , _( "Changing the UUID on external storage media and non-system partitions"
+ " is usually safe, but guarantees cannot be given."
+ )
+ , ""
+ } ;
const Glib::ustring fat16::get_custom_text( CUSTOM_TEXT ttype, int index )
{
diff --git a/src/ntfs.cc b/src/ntfs.cc
index 3d93c257..0687fbe7 100644
--- a/src/ntfs.cc
+++ b/src/ntfs.cc
@@ -22,23 +22,24 @@
namespace GParted
{
-const Glib::ustring ntfs::Change_UUID_Warning [] = { _( "This may invalidate your Windows Activation key."
- )
- , _( "On FAT and NTFS filesystems, GParted"
- " uses the Volume Serial Number as UUID."
- " Changing the Volume Serial Number on the Windows"
- " system partition may invalidate the Windows Activation key."
- )
- , _( "External storage media and non-system partitions are normally safe."
- " GParted also attempts to avoid the problem by changing only"
- " half of the serial number, which should be safe as well."
- " Nevertheless, guarantees cannot be given."
- )
- , _( "Please read the manual for more information, and do not apply"
- " this change if you are not prepared to re-activate Windows"
- )
- , ""
- } ;
+const Glib::ustring ntfs::Change_UUID_Warning [] =
+ { _( "Changing the UUID might invalidate the Windows Product Activation (WPA) key."
+ )
+ , _( "On FAT and NTFS file systems, the"
+ " Volume Serial Number is treated as the UUID."
+ " Changing the Volume Serial Number on the Windows system"
+ " partition, such as C:, might invalidate the WPA key."
+ " An invalid WPA key will prevent login until you reactivate Windows."
+ )
+ , _( "In an attempt to avoid invalidating the WPA key, on"
+ " NTFS file systems only half of the UUID is set to a"
+ " new random value."
+ )
+ , _( "Changing the UUID on external storage media and non-system partitions"
+ " is usually safe, but guarantees cannot be given."
+ )
+ , ""
+ } ;
const Glib::ustring ntfs::get_custom_text( CUSTOM_TEXT ttype, int index )
{