GNU bug report logs - #53141
installer failed in mkfs.ext4 when installing to the same USB drive

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Christine Lemmer-Webber <cwebber <at> dustycloud.org>
To: Dan Connolly <dckc <at> madmode.com>
Cc: bug-guix <at> gnu.org
Subject: Re: installer failed in mkfs.ext4 when installing to the same USB
 drive
Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2022 09:08:58 -0500

I wonder if what you're really looking for is "guix system image", which
will build something that is basically "pre-configured" for bootable
media you can use:

  https://guix.gnu.org/cookbook/en/html_node/Guix-System-Image-API.html

However, I'm not sure how to combine it with an encrypted volume.

(One advantage of this path is that you can test your built image in a
VM before you try booting it and writing it to a USB key, btw.)

Dan Connolly <dckc <at> madmode.com> writes:

> I'm installing from a USB thumb drive. I'd like to use the thumb drive
> as the disk for the machine. The installer gave me the option to do
> so, but then it crashed.
>
> I can imagine that installing on the installation media is not
> supported. Perhaps the installer should have prevented me from doing
> so?
>
> p.e. Please excuse the use of an image of the text. I see "The
> backtrace is displayed below. Please report it by email ..." and I the
> only option that occurs to me is to take an image and send it from
> another computer.

Message #8 received at 53141 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Mathieu Othacehe <othacehe <at> gnu.org>
To: Christine Lemmer-Webber <cwebber <at> dustycloud.org>
Cc: 53141 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, Dan Connolly <dckc <at> madmode.com>
Subject: Re: bug#53141: installer failed in mkfs.ext4 when installing to the
 same USB drive
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2022 10:48:52 +0100

Hello,

>> I'm installing from a USB thumb drive. I'd like to use the thumb drive
>> as the disk for the machine. The installer gave me the option to do
>> so, but then it crashed.

Christine is right, in that case you might prefer to use "guix system
image" to create directly a bootable image that suits you.

>> I can imagine that installing on the installation media is not
>> supported. Perhaps the installer should have prevented me from doing
>> so?

Yes indeed. The latest installer available here:
https://guix.gnu.org/en/download/latest/ should hide the installation
media in the device selection page. It would be great if you could
confirm it.

Thanks,

Mathieu

Message #15 received at 53141-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Mathieu Othacehe <othacehe <at> gnu.org>
To: Dan Connolly <dckc <at> madmode.com>
Cc: Christopher Webber <cwebber <at> dustycloud.org>, 53141-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org,
 53143-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#53141: installer failed in mkfs.ext4 when installing to the
 same USB drive
Date: Wed, 02 Feb 2022 17:43:51 +0100

The latest installer should hide the installation media in the device
selection list, preventing this kind of issues.

Closing,

Thanks,

Mathieu

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