Restore of Ubuntu 24.04 using IFL doesn't boot

[johncst]

I have a Windows PC, and am running Ubuntu from a USB stick. It gets very hot and has halted the system a few times for that reason, so I ordered a M.2 SSD and a Thunderbolt 4 cooled case. Using the IFL installed on the Ubuntu 24.04 on the USB stick, I created an image backup of the boot-able Ubuntu 24.04 USB stick. I then used IFL to restore that image to the new M.2 SSD. WHen I tried to boot the M.2 SSD, it showed errors and dropped to an initramfs prompt. I tried installing GRUB on the M.2, and now it boots to a GRUB screen, and after the timeout the screen goes black forever, and I had to power-off.

I looked for documentation on making an exact image using IFL, but I didn't see that I had done anything wrong (all defaults). Is there a procedure I can use to make a backup image of my USB stick, and create a boot-able M.2 containing that backup image?

[TeraByte Support]

does your distro have the nvme drivers installed, also what are you using in your grub config? Also you can try the Assume Original HD restore option.

also see https://www.terabyteunlimited.com/kb/kb ... all-grub2/

[johncst]

The nvme drivers are present. My Windows disk is a WD M.2 nvme, and I can access it from Ubuntu. Running "sudo nvme list" confirms this. There is nothing special in my GRUB config, it is as-installed when I created the Ubuntu USB stick a few weeks ago. I tried the Assume Original HD option, but it didn't help. When I tried to boot the drive, I got a "disabling IRQ #16" message, and it halted. I had to boot into Windows before it would recognize any USB ports, as even the BIOS did not see them. I guess I should mention that I am running 4.02 of IFL.

With Microsoft's "theft of IP" Terms of Service coming into effect Sept. 30th, I am moving everything onto Linux before that date. I hope to have an image backup solution working ASAP. Any help getting this working would be most appreciated. I've been a customer for MANY years, and I'll do what I can to help debug.

[TeraByte Support]

1 - fsck -f your usb partitions from another boot (or booted usb to repair mode).
2 - after fsck, ensure your usb boots ok.
3 - Do an entire drive backup with validate byte for byte.
4 - restore entire drive, byte for byte.
5 - if grub doesn't boot or grub can't find entry, reinstall grub.
6 - if kernel starts but doesn't boot, it's a kernel config / hardware issue.

By doing 1 through 4, you are ensured your OS is restored okay, any issues you need to dive in to Linux itself.

[johncst]

fsck -f - I can understand that request (no errors BTW)
Validate byte for byte backup - Understood, successful
Validate byte for byte restore - Understood, successful
Fails at the Initramfs prompt every time.
Reinstall GRUB? Kernel / hardware issues when I was backing-up a working Ubuntu Linux? I need to dive into Linux myself?
What is it your image products are supposed to do again, Oh that's right! They're supposed to make image backups and restores of drives, WHICH IT IS FAILING TO DO!!! This is where you apologize to your customer base, and promise to commit your company's efforts to fixing whatever MASSIVE bugs you still have lurking in your software! YOUR DRIVE IMAGE BACKUP / RESTORE SOFTWARE DOES NOT DO BACKUPS OR RESTORES SUCCESSFULLY, and I shouldn't need to reinstall GRUB or dive into Linux myself to make it work. What would be the point of your software??? When will this be fixed?!

[TeraByte Support]

I'd suggest restoring to USB or SATA to help diagnose the Linux issue, in general some Linux users report same issue if using Intel RST (as well as NVidia drivers). If you think something with the file system, you could do a raw (backup unused sectors) backup and then restore of the partition (not entire drive unless restoring to entire drive, sounds like you're adding to an existing NVMe with Windows). Note that with raw backup/restore grub may need to be reinstalled depending how its installed since no fixup will occur.

The fact that initrmfs is already loading means grub already loaded and started the boot. Where you have to reinstall grub is when grub doesn't start or just sits at a grub prompt.

You can also binary compare the initrmfs files.

[Brian K]

It worked for me.

An Ubuntu 24.04 UFD was created
I used an IFL UFD to create an image of the Ubuntu partition
The image was restored to a NVME M.2 SSD. Assume Original HD restore option was used.
A Boot Item was created in BIU
Ubuntu booted. It was identical to Ubuntu booting on the UFD.

Edit... It also boots from the BIOS Boot Menu without using BIU.

[Brian K]

johncst,

Is it working now?