mjhjmtu

It was a month ago, so if you ask me on details, I might still remember, but better act on information that can be given as of now. Due to the lack of time, I did not ask for help here.

I have cloned my SATA SSD drive to a bigger NVMe drive.

• The original SATA drive boots fine.




• The new NVMe drive will boot only via the SATA Grub loader where I must select the NVMe booting drive.

Some outputs of helpful commands follow:

# fdisk -l

Disk /dev/nvme0n1: 477 GiB, 512110190592 bytes, 1000215216 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: gpt
Disk identifier: 1207A335-32CA-4B6C-A508-29A0E85597C4

Device Start End Sectors Size Type
/dev/nvme0n1p1 2048 194559 192512 94M EFI System
/dev/nvme0n1p2 194560 488396799 488202240 232,8G Linux filesystem


Disk /dev/sda: 232,9 GiB, 250059350016 bytes, 488397168 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: gpt
Disk identifier: 1207A335-32CA-4B6C-A508-29A0E85597C4

Device Start End Sectors Size Type
/dev/sda1 2048 194559 192512 94M EFI System
/dev/sda2 194560 488396799 488202240 232,8G Linux filesystem

I found a possibly useful script called bootinfoscript on SourceForge, it contains way too much information, but that is the point, right(?)

# ./bootinfoscript

 Boot Info Script 0.61 [1 April 2012]


============================= Boot Info Summary: ===============================

 => No boot loader is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda.

sda1: __________________________________________________________________________

 File system: vfat
 Boot sector type: FAT32
 Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
 Operating System: 
 Boot files: /efi/BOOT/fbx64.efi /efi/ubuntu/fwupx64.efi 
 /efi/ubuntu/grubx64.efi /efi/ubuntu/mmx64.efi 
 /efi/ubuntu/shimx64.efi

sda2: __________________________________________________________________________

 File system: ext4
 Boot sector type: -
 Boot sector info: 
 Operating System: Linux Mint 19 Tara
 Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab

============================ Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda _____________________________________________________________________
Disk /dev/sda: 232,9 GiB, 250059350016 bytes, 488397168 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: gpt

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sda1 1 488,397,167 488,397,167 ee GPT


GUID Partition Table detected.

Partition Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors System
/dev/sda1 2,048 194,559 192,512 EFI System partition
/dev/sda2 194,560 488,396,799 488,202,240 Data partition (Linux)

"blkid" output: ________________________________________________________________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/nvme0n1 
/dev/nvme0n1p1 4966-E925 vfat 
/dev/nvme0n1p2 f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa ext4 
/dev/sda1 7C00-9D19 vfat 
/dev/sda2 b235cea3-ea5b-4571-a252-b75b9cb3f5f0 ext4 

================================ Mount points: =================================

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/fuse /run/user/1000/doc fuse (rw,nosuid,nodev,relatime,user_id=1000,group_id=1000)
/dev/nvme0n1p1 /boot/efi vfat (rw,relatime,fmask=0077,dmask=0077,codepage=437,iocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/nvme0n1p2 / ext4 (rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro,data=ordered)


=========================== sda2/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
 set have_grubenv=true
 load_env
fi
if [ "$next_entry" ] ; then
 set default="$next_entry"
 set next_entry=
 save_env next_entry
 set boot_once=true
else
 set default="0"
fi

if [ x"$feature_menuentry_id" = xy ]; then
 menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
 menuentry_id_option=""
fi

export menuentry_id_option

if [ "$prev_saved_entry" ]; then
 set saved_entry="$prev_saved_entry"
 save_env saved_entry
 set prev_saved_entry=
 save_env prev_saved_entry
 set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault 
 if [ -z "$boot_once" ]; then
 saved_entry="$chosen"
 save_env saved_entry
 fi

function recordfail 
 set recordfail=1
 if [ -n "$have_grubenv" ]; then if [ -z "$boot_once" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi

function load_video 
 if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
 insmod all_video
 else
 insmod efi_gop
 insmod efi_uga
 insmod ieee1275_fb
 insmod vbe
 insmod vga
 insmod video_bochs
 insmod video_cirrus
 fi


if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
 font=unicode
else
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,gpt2'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt2 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt2 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt2 b235cea3-ea5b-4571-a252-b75b9cb3f5f0
else
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root b235cea3-ea5b-4571-a252-b75b9cb3f5f0
fi
 font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi

if loadfont $font ; then
 set gfxmode=800x600
 load_video
 insmod gfxterm
 set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
 set lang=en_US
 insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "$recordfail" = 1 ] ; then
 set timeout=30
else
 if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
 set timeout_style=hidden
 set timeout=10
 # Fallback hidden-timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
 # unavailable.
 elif sleep --interruptible 10 ; then
 set timeout=0
 fi
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode 
 set gfxpayload="$1"
 if [ "$1" = "keep" ]; then
 set vt_handoff=vt.handoff=1
 else
 set vt_handoff=
 fi

if [ "$recordfail" != 1 ]; then
 if [ -e $prefix/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
 if hwmatch $prefix/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
 if [ $match = 0 ]; then
 set linux_gfx_mode=keep
 else
 set linux_gfx_mode=text
 fi
 else
 set linux_gfx_mode=text
 fi
 else
 set linux_gfx_mode=keep
 fi
else
 set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
menuentry 'Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-b235cea3-ea5b-4571-a252-b75b9cb3f5f0' 
 recordfail
 load_video
 gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
 insmod gzio
 if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
 insmod part_gpt
 insmod ext2
 set root='hd0,gpt2'
 if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt2 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt2 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt2 b235cea3-ea5b-4571-a252-b75b9cb3f5f0
 else
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root b235cea3-ea5b-4571-a252-b75b9cb3f5f0
 fi
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-39-generic root=UUID=b235cea3-ea5b-4571-a252-b75b9cb3f5f0 ro quiet splash fsck.mode=force fsck.repair=yes $vt_handoff
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-39-generic

submenu 'Advanced options for Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-b235cea3-ea5b-4571-a252-b75b9cb3f5f0' 
 menuentry 'Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon, with Linux 4.15.0-39-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-4.15.0-39-generic-advanced-b235cea3-ea5b-4571-a252-b75b9cb3f5f0' 
 recordfail
 load_video
 gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
 insmod gzio
 if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
 insmod part_gpt
 insmod ext2
 set root='hd0,gpt2'
 if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt2 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt2 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt2 b235cea3-ea5b-4571-a252-b75b9cb3f5f0
 else
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root b235cea3-ea5b-4571-a252-b75b9cb3f5f0
 fi
 echo 'Loading Linux 4.15.0-39-generic ...'
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-39-generic root=UUID=b235cea3-ea5b-4571-a252-b75b9cb3f5f0 ro quiet splash fsck.mode=force fsck.repair=yes $vt_handoff
 echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-39-generic
 
 menuentry 'Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon, with Linux 4.15.0-39-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-4.15.0-39-generic-recovery-b235cea3-ea5b-4571-a252-b75b9cb3f5f0' 
 recordfail
 load_video
 insmod gzio
 if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
 insmod part_gpt
 insmod ext2
 set root='hd0,gpt2'
 if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt2 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt2 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt2 b235cea3-ea5b-4571-a252-b75b9cb3f5f0
 else
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root b235cea3-ea5b-4571-a252-b75b9cb3f5f0
 fi
 echo 'Loading Linux 4.15.0-39-generic ...'
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-39-generic root=UUID=b235cea3-ea5b-4571-a252-b75b9cb3f5f0 ro recovery nomodeset 
 echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-39-generic
 


### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry 'Linux Mint 19 Tara (19) (on /dev/nvme0n1p2)' --class linuxmint --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'osprober-gnulinux-simple-f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa' 
 insmod part_gpt
 insmod ext2
 if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa
 else
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa
 fi
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-39-generic root=UUID=f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa ro quiet splash fsck.mode=force fsck.repair=yes $vt_handoff
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-39-generic

submenu 'Advanced options for Linux Mint 19 Tara (19) (on /dev/nvme0n1p2)' $menuentry_id_option 'osprober-gnulinux-advanced-f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa' 
 menuentry 'Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon (on /dev/nvme0n1p2)' --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'osprober-gnulinux-/boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-39-generic--f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa' 
 insmod part_gpt
 insmod ext2
 if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa
 else
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa
 fi
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-39-generic root=UUID=f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa ro quiet splash fsck.mode=force fsck.repair=yes $vt_handoff
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-39-generic
 
 menuentry 'Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon, with Linux 4.15.0-39-generic (on /dev/nvme0n1p2)' --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'osprober-gnulinux-/boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-39-generic--f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa' 
 insmod part_gpt
 insmod ext2
 if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa
 else
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa
 fi
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-39-generic root=UUID=f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa ro quiet splash fsck.mode=force fsck.repair=yes $vt_handoff
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-39-generic
 
 menuentry 'Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon, with Linux 4.15.0-39-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/nvme0n1p2)' --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'osprober-gnulinux-/boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-39-generic-root=UUID=f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa ro recovery nomodeset-f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa' 
 insmod part_gpt
 insmod ext2
 if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa
 else
 search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa
 fi
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-39-generic root=UUID=f1fc7345-be7a-4c6b-9559-fc6e2d445bfa ro recovery nomodeset
 initrd /boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-39-generic
 


set timeout_style=menu
if [ "$timeout" = 0 ]; then
 set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
menuentry 'System setup' $menuentry_id_option 'uefi-firmware' 
 fwsetup

### END /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $config_directory/custom.cfg ]; then
 source $config_directory/custom.cfg
elif [ -z "$config_directory" -a -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
 source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sda2/etc/fstab: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>

# / was on /dev/sda2 during installation
UUID=b235cea3-ea5b-4571-a252-b75b9cb3f5f0 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1

# /boot/efi was on /dev/sda1 during installation
UUID=7C00-9D19 /boot/efi vfat umask=0077 0 1

# the swap file was created during installation
#/swapfile none swap sw 0 0

# RAM disk
none /ramdisk tmpfs size=2G,mode=0777 0 0

# auto-mount of windows drive
#/dev/disk/by-uuid/9CDAC383DAC357E2 /mnt/9CDAC383DAC357E2 auto nosuid,nodev,nofail,x-gvfs-show,ro 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sda2: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

 GiB - GB File Fragment(s)


=============================== StdErr Messages: ===============================

cat: /tmp/BootInfo-Pd0sZIg3/Tmp_Log: No such file or directory

I don't know what to do with it, I've tried too many things to even remember them.

I hope the above information would be helpful, otherwise, I am stuck.

The current behavior of the NVMe drive - if I try to boot directly from it, it automatically reboots.

I just do it like this for now:

I do recall one more detail: I used GParted to change the partition UUIDs on the new drive and edited fstab accordingly.

I believe the problem arises from both drives having the same disk UUID, am I right?

If so, how shall I proceed now?

What I've tried:

# tune2fs /dev/nvme0n1 -U random

tune2fs 1.44.1 (24-Mar-2018)
tune2fs: Bad magic number in super-block while trying to open /dev/nvme0n1
Found a gpt partition table in /dev/nvme0n1

So, I suppose changing the whole disk UUID is done in a different way?

Disk UUIDs

I believe this was the main culprit and was in need of a change.

It was as simple as booting up the system on the SATA drive and running:

# gdisk /dev/nvme0n1

x for experts menu

g for new disk GUID

R for randomize

w to write changes to disk

y to confirm

The disk UUID had been changed... No need to change both of them, of course.

# fdisk -l | grep -i identifier

Disk identifier: 989573D5-37E7-437A-B680-9410F7234A94
Disk identifier: 1207A335-32CA-4B6C-A508-29A0E85597C4

Partitions UUIDs

Again, to change those I used:

# gdisk /dev/nvme0n1

x for experts menu

c for new partition UUID

1 for the first partition; repeat these steps for the second partition

R for randomize

w to write changes to disk

y to confirm

GRUB update

This was as simple as running:

# update-grub

Initrd regeneration

# update-initramfs -u -k all

UEFI BIOS settings

The boot options had to be removed and updated.

The NVMe drive boots just fine now.

Notes

• I do not use chroot for cloning. I use plain cat or more convenient pv for disk cloning purposes. I read something about it now. I never needed it, ever. And I cloned like a hundred of drives already.




• Whenever I want to do an exact copy I do that on my SATA server, but this new M.2 PCIe is not exactly pluggable to it. So I elaborated a little. It is out of the scope of this Q & A.




• I heard there are adapters, but I am not a fan of those, so I used my server as a middleman over the local network.




• I do not like complications. Cloning systems, be it Linux or Windows is rather easy to me. But in a case like this (SATA to M.2) was a bit of a pain.




• That was because on one drive was Linux and on the second there was Windows. And I wanted to keep everything in place, no re-installation, no rsync, or whatever one might use to copy. I do clone exact duplicates instead.




• All you need is your brain and gdisk which I usually use to fix PMBR and such things, which are unavoidable with my methods but extremely quick to resolve.




• This case was different, though, I did prepare a lot. Like doing (1:1) backups and such. It was my personal computer and I wanted just to switch over the system drives: M.2 + Windows & SATA + Linux. I wanted to make it the other way around.




• This question arose once I needed to make sure the new Linux drive is doing fine as it is my primary operating system...

Based on the provided information it is hard to say what exactly is going on, your assumption with a UUID issue is most likely true.

Here is how I would proceede to get your challenge done:

• Clear the NVME using dd and /dev/zero. It should be sufficient to use bs=512 count=4


• Create new partitions and file systems on the NVME.


• Boot into a live system.


• Copy the data from the SSD partitions to the NVME partitions.


• Install Grub on the NVME, update /etc/fstab, update grub.cfg.

For the last point I recommend the following method:

• While still beeing on the live system, create a new "root" directory, mount the NVME's root file system there.


• 
  mount --bind /dev, /proc, /sys into the new "root". E.g. mount --bind /dev /mnt/nvmeroot/dev
  


• chroot into the new "root" using: chroot /mnt/nvmeroot/ /bin/bash
  


• Use blkid to find out new partition UUIDs, update /etc/fstab accordingly.


• Install grub onto the nvme e.g. using grub-install
  


• Update grubs config file with update-grub or grub2-mkconfig
  


• Exit the chroot.


• Unmount bind mounts, and the new "root".


• Reboot from the NVME.

In case something does not work:

• Use the the e (edit) button in grub, and remove linux boot arguments as quiet, splash, rhgb options so you can see error messages during boot.


• Reboot using the live system, mount the new "root", do the bind mounts, chroot and fix the issue, try again.

Drive won't boot... after cloning, why?

I do not have a /etc/default/grub handy but I will use a line from your bootinfo script

# auto-mount of windows drive
#/dev/disk/by-uuid/9CDAC383DAC357E2 /mnt/9CDAC383DAC357E2 auto nosuid,nodev,nofail,x-gvfs-show,ro 0 0

so your original drive has UUID whatever

you clone the contents of that disk to a new disk, or NVME thing. And the contents of grub on the new disk will still all reference uuid whatever which was the old disk, not the current new disk.

That new disk will not have the same UUID as the original, you have to correct everywhere it was used, basically /etc/default/grub and follow that with a grub2-mkconfig and also correct your /etc/fstab.

I believe the problem arises from both drives having the same disk UUID, am I right?

UUID = universally unique identifier. The UUID should be different.

There are a handful of ways to mount a disk... by-uuid or by-id or by-name or by-label or by-path of the top of my head. I do not know if all linux distributions follow this model but if you look under /dev/disk/ you will should see sub folders

• by-id


• by-label


• by-path


• by-uuid

if you do by-name then that is simply calling out the disk from /dev/sda1 or /dev/sd?? which is not unique and i recommend against doing... if there is only ever one disk present then it would be /dev/sda and work but it would not be unique and would not be explicit so over time you take your chances. And things may be further complicated with an NVME showing up differently as /dev/nvme????

from your fdisk:

Disk /dev/nvme0n1: 477 GiB, 512110190592 bytes, 1000215216 sectors
Disk identifier: 1207A335-32CA-4B6C-A508-29A0E85597C4

Device Start End Sectors Size Type
/dev/nvme0n1p1 2048 194559 192512 94M EFI System
/dev/nvme0n1p2 194560 488396799 488202240 232,8G Linux filesystem

• look under /dev/disk/? and find that corresponding identifier.


• correct your boot files to use this new nvme disk explicitly to boot it.


• correct the /etc/fstab on that disk to use that identifier, it will have the text referencing the old disk because you cloned.