(SoLved) foxclone 50 standard & edge both boot to black screen=get it from foxclone.org not foxclone.com 7-3-22

[motoryzen]

foxclone_std-50-06.iso and foxclone_edge-50-07.iso both boot to black screen with blinking cursor. I've let it sit without doing anything at such a screen for easily over 2 minutes straight and nothing happens. Tried pressing all kinds of buttons on keyboard. This problem happens no matter if I format the usb thumb drives ( yes..tried multiple drives and I know they are not the problem as those same drives allowed me to usb image writer to prep Linux Mint Cinnamon installation media and even winturd 10 media) to fat32 or ext4 before hand and then using Linux Mint's Usb Image Writer to well " apply" the .iso file to the thumb drive to make it bootable.

Is there something simple I'm missing or misunderstanding here that I should be doing or should not be doing?

inxi -Fxxxrz --v

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 5.15.0-33-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: N/A 
  Desktop: Cinnamon 5.2.7 wm: muffin 5.2.1 dm: LightDM 1.30.0 
  Distro: Linux Mint 20.3 Una base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: ASRock model: X570 Taichi serial: <filter> 
  BIOS: American Megatrends v: P4.40 date: 06/23/2021 
CPU:
  Topology: 12-Core model: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X bits: 64 type: MT MCP 
  arch: Zen 3 L2 cache: 6144 KiB 
  flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm 
  bogomips: 177591 
  Speed: 2197 MHz min/max: 2200/3700 MHz boost: enabled Core speeds (MHz): 
  1: 2202 2: 3493 3: 2196 4: 2197 5: 2239 6: 2486 7: 2752 8: 2238 9: 2798 
  10: 2235 11: 2236 12: 2237 13: 2240 14: 2795 15: 2239 16: 2237 17: 2238 
  18: 2214 19: 2199 20: 2199 21: 2236 22: 2237 23: 2794 24: 2239 
Graphics:
  Device-1: AMD Ellesmere [Radeon RX 470/480/570/570X/580/580X/590] 
  vendor: Sapphire Limited Nitro+ driver: amdgpu v: kernel bus ID: 0c:00.0 
  chip ID: 1002:67df 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.13 driver: amdgpu,ati 
  unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa resolution: 3840x2160~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: AMD Radeon RX 580 Series (polaris10 LLVM 14.0.0 DRM 3.42 
  5.15.0-33-generic) 
  v: 4.6 Mesa 22.2.0-devel (git-fffafa3 2022-05-17 focal-oibaf-ppa) 
  direct render: Yes 
Audio:
  Device-1: AMD Ellesmere HDMI Audio [Radeon RX 470/480 / 570/580/590] 
  vendor: Sapphire Limited driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 0c:00.1 
  chip ID: 1002:aaf0 
  Device-2: AMD Starship/Matisse HD Audio vendor: ASRock 
  driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 0e:00.4 chip ID: 1022:1487 
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.15.0-33-generic 
Network:
  Device-1: Intel I211 Gigabit Network vendor: ASRock driver: igb v: kernel 
  port: f000 bus ID: 06:00.0 chip ID: 8086:1539 
  IF: enp6s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter> 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 7.31 TiB used: 927.68 GiB (12.4%) 
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: Corsair model: MP600 PRO XT size: 3.64 TiB 
  speed: 63.2 Gb/s lanes: 4 serial: <filter> rev: EIFM31.2 scheme: GPT 
  ID-2: /dev/sda vendor: Samsung model: SSD 860 EVO 4TB size: 3.64 TiB 
  speed: 6.0 Gb/s serial: <filter> rev: 4B6Q scheme: GPT 
  ID-3: /dev/sdb type: USB model: General USB Flash Disk size: 28.91 GiB 
  serial: <filter> rev: 1100 
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 3.58 TiB used: 927.60 GiB (25.3%) fs: ext4 
  dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3 
Sensors:
  Message: No sensors data was found. Is sensors configured? 
Repos:
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list 
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/c_falco-mame-focal.list 
  1: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/c.falco/mame/ubuntu focal main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/cappelikan-ppa-focal.list 
  1: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/cappelikan/ppa/ubuntu focal main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list 
  1: deb [arch=amd64] https://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/lunarg-vulkan-1.3.211-focal.list 
  1: deb https://packages.lunarg.com/vulkan/1.3.211 focal main
  2: deb-src https://packages.lunarg.com/vulkan/1.3.211 focal main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/lutris-team-lutris-focal.list 
  1: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/lutris-team/lutris/ubuntu focal main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list 
  1: deb http://packages.linuxmint.com una main upstream import backport
  2: deb http://mirror.cogentco.com/pub/linux/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
  3: deb http://mirror.cogentco.com/pub/linux/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
  4: deb http://mirror.cogentco.com/pub/linux/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse
  5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
  6: deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/oibaf-graphics-drivers-focal.list 
  1: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/oibaf/graphics-drivers/ubuntu focal main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/openshot_developers-ppa-focal.list 
  1: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/openshot.developers/ppa/ubuntu focal main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/winehq-focal.sources 
  1: deb [arch=amd64 i386] https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu focal main
Info:
  Processes: 453 Uptime: 13m Memory: 125.73 GiB used: 2.11 GiB (1.7%) 
  Init: systemd v: 245 runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 9.4.0 alt: 8/9 
  Shell: bash v: 5.0.17 running in: gnome-terminal inxi: 3.0.38

I've also tried multiple usb ports both from and rear of my desktop PC and I don't believe they are the problem either as my uefi/bios recognizing the usb thumb drives regardless of the port and drive used.

Also I couldn't help but notice when I look in gnome-disks ( aka just simply searching Disks in cinnamon menu and selecting the 2nd option that literally says " Disks") that it shows nothing on the drive in Disks after the writing of that iso via the usb image writer is successfully done. Is this normal and I just never noticed before when prepping a Foxclone bootable usb thumb drive?

I recall older versions working just fine for me so I'm not sure what I am missing here. I just "wrote" the versions 44-05 to it and unlike the 50 versions...it shows " bootable" when I view the thumb drive in "Disks".

If all else fails, It's not a dealbreaker for me to go back to using an older 40's version of Foxclone, but I'd like to use the latest. Ideas anyone?

[AndyMH]

I don't have any good ideas

Do you have secure boot disabled?

With your hardware you should use the edge edition with the later 5.13 kernel, but I'm wondering if even that is a bit too old for the Ryzen 9 you have.

What perplexes me is the older foxclone4x versions working? From memory foxclone46 has a 5.0 kernel. While foxclone50 is a complete rewrite, the iso is largely unchanged from foxclone46, the most significant difference with earlier versions being the kernel (and a base ubuntu pulling in a lot more packages = larger iso, particularly with the edge edition).

The only suggestion I have - what do you backup to, an external usb drive (or internal)? To save faffing around with usb sticks, I have installed mint onto my backup drive and installed foxclone in that (from the deb). If I want to do an image backup, I just boot from my backup drive and run foxclone from that.

Installing mint to the backup drive was a retrofit, this is gparted on my backup drive, the small partition at the end is mint 19.3. Legacy boot, but equally applicable to booting UEFI, you just need an EFI partition as well (and slightly more complicated than legacy to install due to a bug in the installer).

It's going to be a few months before I make any changes to foxclone, it's summer and my other half has given me lots of jobs to do in the garden.

[mikeflan]

Also I couldn't help but notice when I look in gnome-disks ( aka just simply searching Disks in cinnamon menu and selecting the 2nd option that literally says " Disks") that it shows nothing on the drive in Disks after the writing of that iso via the usb image writer is successfully done. Is this normal and I just never noticed before when prepping a Foxclone bootable usb thumb drive?

I'm asking for further explanation of it shows nothing on the drive in Disks
When you open disks it shows the drive, but when you click on the mount point it doesn't show the USB contents??

[AndyMH]

Just burnt the standard foxclone50 iso to a stick using mint's usbimagewriter:

Disks:

and in file manager (nemo), note showing up as foxclone under devices, not 4.1GB volume:

Could it be as simple as a bad download or duff stick?

[AndyMH]

For completeness, gparted:

[diabolicbg]

Just as an idea: don't use a Foxclone install. Install your Ventoy, copy Foxclone to it and try it to see what happens... Sometimes miracles happen.

[AndyMH]

I was a sceptic, now I'm a fan of ventoy. Did a lot of testing with ventoy for foxclone50 and the foxclone50 iso is 'ventoy aware'.

[motoryzen]

Do you have secure boot disabled?

Secure boot was disabled long before I installed LM 20.3

Tried the edge edition but like I said..it doesn't work.

I'm asking for further explanation of it shows nothing on the drive in Disks
When you open disks it shows the drive, but when you click on the mount point it doesn't show the USB contents??

^^^^^
Its just like i said. After It claims it successfully finishes "writing" the image aka .iso foxclone 50 std or the 50 edge version file to the usb thumb drive...viewing it within Disks shows no partitions set up..nothing, yet version 44 last night ..just worked like it should (shrugs) . Also within Nemo, the usb thumb drive's contents are empty also and again nothing else done..this is right after the Usb Image Writer claims it successfully wrote the foxclone 50 std or edge .iso file to it.

Could it be as simple as a bad download or duff stick?

Man..I don't know what to think AndyMH...My 32GB pny, my other pny thumb drives, and my 16GB kingston and 32GB and 64GB ONN brand drives ( walfart brand xD ) just refuse to show fox clone 50 std and edge worked..yet worked perfectly with 44 and older. I don't get why you had different results than I did unless either I should...or should't have formatted using Nemo, or gparted, or whatever first.
^^^^^^
I've tested all of my usb thumb drives ( haven't tried putting foxclone 50 std or 50 edge on a sata ssd yet, but I will xD ), and as far as Linux Mint installation media, Winturd 10 installation media, and memtest every single one of them worked without a problem as well as Foxclone version 44 and older regardless of the stick...regardless of the usb port used too ( yes...this was a very tideous process of elimination process and thankfully I didn't have anything to do going late into the night and way early this morning xD )

The only suggestion I have - what do you backup to, an external usb drive (or internal)?
^^^^^^
To save faffing around with usb sticks, I have installed mint onto my backup drive and installed foxclone in that (from the deb). If I want to do an image backup, I just boot from my backup drive and run foxclone from that.

I have a spare 240GB sata ssd I can install foxclone 50 std or 50 edge to if that will work (shrugs). I'm game for trying that. Regardless last night, I was able to successfully do a System Image Backup to an internally connected 4TB samsung 860 evo ssd which I plan to keep disconnected except for Foxclone system image backups or clones once monthly.

I was a sceptic, now I'm a fan of ventoy. Did a lot of testing with ventoy for foxclone50 and the foxclone50 iso is 'ventoy aware'.

Okedoke.. I'll try that next then.

[AndyMH]

One last suggestion on sticks, might be a bad download (did you check the md5sum - I rarely bother), instead of downloading from foxclone.com, download from my archive site, foxclone.org. Given V44 works, download the V50 std version. From my screenshots, you know what it should look like when burnt to a stick.

I was able to successfully do a System Image Backup to an internally connected 4TB samsung 860 evo ssd which I plan to keep disconnected except for Foxclone system image backups or clones once monthly.

That is the drive I would install mint to, 4TB so it will have a gpt partition table on it, assume you boot UEFI. Can guide you through the process. Effectively what I do, all my laptops (4 x T430) have an internal/removable 2TB drive (lives in a caddy where the DVD drive used to live) for backup. LM19.3 installed + foxclone + any other disaster recovery tools I can think of.

[motoryzen]

That is the drive I would install mint to, 4TB so it will have a gpt partition table on it

Na...My faster drive of the two 4TB drives I have is the corsair mp600 xt pro m.2 nvme drive. That's what LM 20.3 Cinnamon is installed into

But now that you mentioned foxclone.com vs foxclone.org..I don't recall which one I tried downloading the iso's from on the one that was successful versus the 50's versions. I'll try the .org and report back.

[motoryzen]

Yeap....foxclone.org = winner winner grill chicken quesadilla dinner

The 50 edge version worked just like v 44. I'ts a save bet the regular 50 version will to but no need. I just need to make a mental note " download from foxclone.org..not .com"

Cheers everyone. Stay frosty AndyMH.

[antikythera]

I've had problems with ISO downloads from the .com page too, only the archive site ISO ever matches the checksum after download for me. I don't know where the .com site is hosted or why this happens. I'm in the UK too Andy and have emailed you in the past over this.

[AndyMH]

The .com site is hosted in the US, Larry looks after that, the .org is in the UK. On the main site, the "UK download" is simply a link to the iso on the UK site. Yes we have had problems in the past with downloads - more complicated code trying to capture how many people have downloaded it. Stopped that now. Can't remember details, but think last time I looked over 10k people have downloaded it.

[Sundance]

Andy,

At your suggestion, I installed foxclone some time ago. I use it regularly to clone my hard drive, and it's saved my bacon on at least one occasion. Many thanks!

For roughly a year I have been using foxclone 45. Yesterday, when I noticed that release 50 was available, I thought would be good to upgrade. It sounded like the edge version was best with newer hardware. My laptop was manufactured 11 years ago (but, thanks to several upgrades, still more than meets my needs), so i downloaded the std version from the US site and wrote the iso to a usb memory card. When I launched foxclone 50 I ran into a problem similar to what motoryzen had reported. I got an initial black screen, but after that my machine booted LM in the normal manner ... as if I had never opted to boot from the usb. I repeated the process just to be sure I had made the correct boot selection, but the result was the same.

After reading this thread, I decided to check the md5sum. The reported value was not the same as shown on the website. So, I decided to download from the UK (foxclone.org) website. This time the md5sum matched the website value perfectly. So I wrote that download to the same usb memory card, and booted up. This time your elegant and valuable app launched as it should. I haven't used it to clone my hard drive yet, but that will happen fairly soon. I have a 1TB hard drive and cloning takes more than five hours, so that makes it an overnight project.

I thought I'd add my experience to what's already been reported. Hope this is helpful.

Jim

[AndyMH]

Unfortunately, Larry isn't responding to emails at the moment, so for anybody else looking to use foxclone, use the UK link to download the iso or go direct to the UK site,
https://www.foxclone.org/