Mount error with persistence file

[avggeek]

I'm having trouble getting an Ubuntu ISO to boot with a persistence file:

My Environment:

• Ventoy version 1.0.55
  
• Host OS: Windows 10 Pro (21H2)
  
• 256 GB USB key - Partition 1 formatted as exFAT.
  

Expected Behavior:

• The Ubuntu 21.10 ISO will allow me to retain files between reboots using the persistence behavior
  

Actual Behavior:

• The Ubuntu 21.10 ISO stops on boot with an error stating "mounting /dev/disk/by-label/casper-rw on /cow failed: Input/output error"
  

Steps:

• Create a folder called "persistence" under "ventoy" in the USB key.
  
• Download the persistence releases file "Ventoy persistence backend image files 5.0" from https://github.com/ventoy/backend/releases
  
• Expand the "persistence_ext4_1GB_casper-rw.dat.7z" from the release file.
  
• Rename the folder/file to "ubuntu2110.dat"
  
• Copy the renamed folder/file to the path [Drive Letter]:/ventoy/persistence/
  
• Verify that your ventoy.json has the following content (which is verified valid json):
  

Code:

{
    "control": [
        { "VTOY_DEFAULT_MENU_MODE": "1" },
        { "VTOY_FILT_DOT_UNDERSCORE_FILE": "1" },     
        { "VTOY_TREE_VIEW_MENU_STYLE": "1" },
        { "VTOY_MAX_SEARCH_LEVEL": "max" },
        { "VTOY_FILE_FLT_ISO": "0" },
        { "VTOY_FILE_FLT_WIM": "0" },
        { "VTOY_FILE_FLT_EFI": "0" },
        { "VTOY_FILE_FLT_IMG": "0" },
        { "VTOY_FILE_FLT_VHD": "0" },
        { "VTOY_FILE_FLT_VTOY": "0" },
        { "VTOY_DEFAULT_KBD_LAYOUT": "QWERTY_USA" }       
    ],
    "theme": {
        "file": "/ventoy/theme/Tela/theme.txt",       
        "display_mode": "GUI",
        "gfxmode": "1920x1080",
        "ventoy_left": "0%",
        "ventoy_top": "0",
        "ventoy_color": "#f2f2f2",
        "fonts": [
            "/ventoy/theme/Tela/dejavu_32.pf2",
            "/ventoy/theme/Tela/dejavu_sans_12.pf2",
            "/ventoy/theme/Tela/dejavu_sans_14.pf2",
            "/ventoy/theme/Tela/dejavu_sans_16.pf2",
            "/ventoy/theme/Tela/dejavu_sans_24.pf2",
            "/ventoy/theme/Tela/dejavu_sans_48.pf2",
            "/ventoy/theme/Tela/terminus-12.pf2",
            "/ventoy/theme/Tela/terminus-14.pf2",
            "/ventoy/theme/Tela/terminus-16.pf2",
            "/ventoy/theme/Tela/terminus-18.pf2"
        ]
    },
    "menu_class": [       
        {
            "dir": "/Antivirus",
            "class": "antivirus"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_Malwarebytes_Antimalware",
            "class": "malwarebytes"
        },
        {
            "key": "eset_sysrescue",
            "class": "eset"
        },
        {
            "key": "krd",
            "class": "krd"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/VHD",
            "class": "vhd"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_MediCat_VHD_",
            "class": "win10vhd"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/Backup_and_Restore",
            "class": "backup"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_Acronis_Cyber_Backup_",
            "class": "acronisbackup"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_Acronis_True_Image_",
            "class": "acronistrueimage"
        },
        {
            "key": "AcronisBootablePEMedia",
            "class": "acronistrueimage"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_AOMEI_Backupper_",
            "class": "aomeibackupper"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_EaseUS_Data_Recovery_Wizard_",
            "class": "easeusdatarecovery"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_EaseUS_Todo_Backup_",
            "class": "easeustodobackup"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_Elcomsoft_System_Recovery_",
            "class": "elcomsoft"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_Macrium_Reflect_",
            "class": "macriumreflect"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_MiniTool_Power_Data_Recovery_",
            "class": "minitoolpowerdatarecovery"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_MiniTool_ShadowMaker_Pro_Ultimate_",
            "class": "minitoolshadowmaker"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_O&O_BlueCon_",
            "class": "O&O"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_rescuezilla-",
            "class": "rescuezilla"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_Symantec_Ghost_",
            "class": "ghost"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/Boot_an_Operating_System",
            "class": "systemrescue"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_Active@_",
            "class": "active"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_Mini_Windows_10",
            "class": "windows10"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_SystemRescue_",
            "class": "systemrescue"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/Boot_Repair",
            "class": "bootrepair"
        },
        {
            "key": "[BIOS]_BootIt_Bare_Metal_",
            "class": "bootitbaremetal"
        },
        {
            "key": "[BIOS]_Boot-Repair-Disk_",
            "class": "bootrepairdisk"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_EasyUEFI_Enterprise_",
            "class": "easyuefi"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_rescatux-",
            "class": "rescatux"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_super_grub2-",
            "class": "linux"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/Diagnostic_Tools",
            "class": "diagnostics"
        },
        {
            "key": "[BIOS]_HDAT2_",
            "class": "hdat2"
        },
        {
            "key": "[BIOS]_MemTest86+_",
            "class": "memtest86+"
        },
        {
            "key": "[BIOS]_Spinrite",
            "class": "spinrite"
        },
        {
            "key": "[BIOS]_Ultimate_Boot_CD_",
            "class": "ubcd"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_MemTest86_",
            "class": "memtest86"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/Partition_Tools",
            "class": "partitions"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_Acronis_Disk_Director_",
            "class": "acronisdiskdirector"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_AOMEI_Partition_Assistant_",
            "class": "aomeipartitionassistant"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_DiskGenius_",
            "class": "diskgenius"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_EaseUS_Partition_Master_",
            "class": "easeuspartitionmaster"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_MiniTool_Partition_Wizard_",
            "class": "minitoolpartitionwizard"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_NIUBI_Partition_Editor_",
            "class": "niubi"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_Paragon_Hard_Disk_Manager_",
            "class": "paragonharddiskmanager"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_Parted_Magic_",
            "class": "partedmagic"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_ShredOS-",
            "class": "shredos"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/Password_Removal",
            "class": "passwords"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_Jayro's_Lockpick",
            "class": "lockpick"
        },      
        {
            "dir": "/OSimages",
            "class": "os"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/OSimages/Linux",
            "class": "linux"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/Windows_Recovery",
            "class": "recovery"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_Windows_8",
            "class": "windows8"
        },
        {
            "key": "ubuntu",
            "class": "ubuntu"
        },
        {
            "key": "debian",
            "class": "debian"
        },
        {
            "key": "proxmox",
            "class": "proxmox"
        },
        {
            "key": "[UEFI]_Windows_10",
            "class": "windows10"
        }
    ],
    "menu_alias": [
        {
            "dir": "/OSimages/Linux",
            "alias": "Linux ISO"
        },
        {
            "image": "/OSimages/Linux/debian-11.1.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso",
            "alias": "Debian Bullseye"
        },
        {
            "image": "/OSimages/Linux/ubuntu-20.04.1-live-server-amd64.iso",
            "alias": "Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Server)"
        },
        {
            "image": "/OSimages/Linux/proxmox-ve_7.0-2.iso",
            "alias": "Proxmox 7"
        },
        {
            "image": "/OSimages/Linux/debian-live-11.1.0-amd64-xfce.iso",
            "alias": "Debian Bullseye Desktop (XFCE)"
        },
        {
            "image": "/OSimages/Linux/ubuntu-20.04.1-desktop-amd64.iso",
            "alias": "Ubuntu 20.04 (Desktop)"
        },
        {
            "image": "/OSimages/Linux/debian-10.11.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso",
            "alias": "Debian Buster"
        },
        {
            "image": "/OSimages/Linux/proxmox-ve_6.3-1.iso",
            "alias": "Proxmox 6"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Boot_an_Operating_System/ubuntu-21.10-desktop-amd64.iso",
            "alias": "Ubuntu 21.10 (Desktop w. Persistence)"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Backup_and_Restore/AcronisBootablePEMedia.iso",
            "alias": "Acronis Rescue Media (WinPE)"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Antivirus/eset_sysrescue_live_enu.iso",
            "alias": "ESET SysRescue Live"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Antivirus/krd.iso",
            "alias": "Kaspersky Rescue Disk Free"
        },
        {
            "image": "/VHD/[UEFI]_MediCat_VHD_&DW.vhd",
            "alias": "MediCat VHD"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Antivirus/[UEFI]_Malwarebytes_Antimalware_v21.06.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Malwarebytes Bootable"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Backup_and_Restore/[UEFI]_Acronis_Cyber_Backup_v12.5_Build_16428.iso",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Acronis Cyber Backup v12.5 Build 16428"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Backup_and_Restore/[UEFI]_Acronis_True_Image_v2021_Build_39216.iso",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Acronis True Image v2021 Build 39216"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Backup_and_Restore/[UEFI]_AOMEI_Backupper_v6.5.0.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] AOMEI Backupper v6.5.0"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Backup_and_Restore/[UEFI]_EaseUS_Data_Recovery_Wizard_v14.0.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard v14.0"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Backup_and_Restore/[UEFI]_EaseUS_Todo_Backup_v13.5.0.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] EaseUS Todo Backup v13.5.0"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Backup_and_Restore/[UEFI]_Elcomsoft_System_Recovery_v7.2.628.iso",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Elcomsoft System Recovery v7.2.628"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Backup_and_Restore/[UEFI]_Macrium_Reflect_v8.0.5994.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Macrium Reflect v8.0.5994"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Backup_and_Restore/[UEFI]_MiniTool_Power_Data_Recovery_v9.2.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] MiniTool Power Data Recovery v9.2"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Backup_and_Restore/[UEFI]_MiniTool_ShadowMaker_Pro_Ultimate_v3.6.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] MiniTool ShadowMaker v3.6"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Backup_and_Restore/[UEFI]_rescuezilla-2.2-64bit.iso",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Rescuezilla v2.2"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Backup_and_Restore/[UEFI]_Symantec_Ghost_x64_v12.0.0.11331.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Symantec Ghost v12.0.0.11331"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Boot_an_Operating_System/[UEFI]_Active@_Data_Studio_v17.0.0.iso",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Active@ Data Studio v17.0.0"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Boot_an_Operating_System/[UEFI]_Mini_Windows_10.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Mini Windows 10"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Boot_an_Operating_System/[UEFI]_O&O_BlueCon_v18.0.8088.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] O&O BlueCon v18.0.8088"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Boot_an_Operating_System/[UEFI]_systemrescue-8.03-x64.iso",
            "alias": "[UEFI] SystemRescue v8.03"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Boot_Repair/[BIOS]_Boot-Repair-Disk_v2020-6-13.iso",
            "alias": "[BIOS] Boot-Repair-Disk v2020.6.13"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Boot_Repair/[UEFI]_EasyUEFI_v4.6.2.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] EasyUEFI v4.6.2"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Boot_Repair/[UEFI]_rescatux-0.73.iso",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Rescatux v0.73"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Boot_Repair/[BIOS]_BootIt_Bare_Metal_v1.70.iso",
            "alias": "[BIOS] BootIt Bare Metal v1.70"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Boot_Repair/[UEFI]_super_grub2-2.04s2-beta2-x86_64_efi-.efi",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Super Grub2 Disk v2.04 S2 Beta 2 (EFI Version)"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Boot_Repair/[UEFI]_super_grub2-2.04s2-beta2-x86_64_efi-.iso",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Super Grub2 Disk v2.04 S2 Beta 2 (ISO Version)"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Diagnostic_Tools/[BIOS]_HDAT2_v7.2.iso",
            "alias": "[BIOS] HDAT2 v7.2"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Diagnostic_Tools/[BIOS]_MemTest86+_v5.31_Beta.iso",
            "alias": "[BIOS] MemTest86+ v5.31 Beta"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Diagnostic_Tools/[BIOS]_Spinrite.iso",
            "alias": "[BIOS] Spinrite v6.0"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Diagnostic_Tools/[BIOS]_Ultimate_Boot_CD_539.iso",
            "alias": "[BIOS] Ultimate Boot CD v5.3.9"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Diagnostic_Tools/[UEFI]_MemTest86_v9.0._ARM64.efi",
            "alias": "[UEFI] PassMark MemTest86 v9.0 [ARM64/AARCH64]"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Diagnostic_Tools/[UEFI]_MemTest86_v9.0.efi",
            "alias": "[UEFI] PassMark MemTest86 v9.0 [AMD64]"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Partition_Tools/[UEFI]_Acronis_Disk_Director_v12.5_Build_163.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Acronis Disk Director v12.5"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Partition_Tools/[UEFI]_Active@_UNERASER_v16.0.2.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Active@ UNERASER v16.0.2"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Partition_Tools/[UEFI]_AOMEI_Partition_Assistant_v9.2.1.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] AOMEI Partition Assistant v9.2.1"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Partition_Tools/[UEFI]_DiskGenius_5.4.2.2278.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] DiskGenius v5.4.2.2278"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Partition_Tools/[UEFI]_EaseUS_Partition_Master_15.8.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] EaseUS Partition Master 15.8"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Partition_Tools/[UEFI]_MiniTool_Partition_Wizard_12.3.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] MiniTool Partition Wizard v12.3"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Partition_Tools/[UEFI]_NIUBI_Partition_Editor_v7.4.1.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] NIUBI Partition Editor v7.4.1"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Partition_Tools/[UEFI]_Paragon_Hard_Disk_Manager_v17.13.1.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Paragon Hard Disk Manager v17.13.1"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Partition_Tools/[UEFI]_Parted_Magic_2021_05_12_0.iso",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Parted Magic v2021.05.12"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Partition_Tools/[UEFI]_ShredOS-2020.05.img",
            "alias": "[UEFI] ShredOS (Pass: medicat)"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Password_Removal/[UEFI]_Jayro's_Lockpick.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Jayro's Lockpick"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Windows_Recovery/[UEFI]_Windows_8_Recovery.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Windows 8 Recovery +MS DaRT"
        },
        {
            "image": "/Windows_Recovery/[UEFI]_Windows_10_Recovery.wim",
            "alias": "[UEFI] Windows 10 Recovery +MS DaRT"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/Antivirus",
            "alias": "Antivirus -->"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/Backup_and_Restore",
            "alias": "Backup and Restore -->"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/Boot_an_Operating_System",
            "alias": "Boot an Operating System -->"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/Boot_Repair",
            "alias": "Boot Repair -->"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/Diagnostic_Tools",
            "alias": "Diagnostic Tools -->"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/OSimages",
            "alias": "Install OS -->"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/Partition_Tools",
            "alias": "Partition Tools -->"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/Password_Removal",
            "alias": "Password Removal -->"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/VHD",
            "alias": "VHDs -->"
        },
        {
            "dir": "/Windows_Recovery",
            "alias": "Windows Recovery -->"
        }
    ],
    "auto_memdisk": [
        "/Diagnostic_Tools/[BIOS]_HDAT2_7.2.iso",
        "/Diagnostic_Tools/[BIOS]_Spinrite.iso",
        "/Diagnostic_Tools/[BIOS]_MemTest86+_v5.31_Beta.iso"
    ],
    "persistence": [
        {
            "image": "/Boot_an_Operating_System/ubuntu-21.10-desktop-amd64.iso",
            "backend": [
                "/ventoy/persistence/ubuntu2110.dat/ubuntu2110.dat"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "auto_install": [
        {
            "image": "/OSimages/Linux/debian-11.1.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso",
            "template": [
                "/ventoy/templates/debian11-generic-preseed.cfg",
                "/ventoy/templates/debian11-test-preseed.cfg"
            ],
            "timeout": 10
        }
    ]
}

• Verify that the persistence file on the USB key is indeed an ext4 file with the "casper-rw" label:
  

Code:

$ file /j/ventoy/persistence/ubuntu2110.dat/ubuntu2110.dat
/j/ventoy/persistence/ubuntu2110.dat/ubuntu2110.dat: Linux rev 1.0 ext4 filesystem data, UUID=62fcf2b5-ffff9ac2-4a00-ffff9bac-78e61bb05976, volume name "casper-rw" (extents) (64bit) (large files) (huge files)

• Boot the ventoy USB key and select the ISO "/Boot_an_Operating_System/ubuntu-21.10-desktop-amd64.iso"
  

---

---

Following the instructions posted here (https://forums.ventoy.net/showthread.php...202#pid202), I ran vt_dump_persistence at the ventoy grub shell. Screenshot below:

[longpanda]

1. delete ubuntu2110.dat
2. recopy persistence_ext4_1GB_casper-rw.dat to the USB as the new ubuntu2110.dat
3. Boot into Ventoy's main menu
4. Don't boot the ubuntu.iso, but press c to enter grub shell and checksum the dat file as in the attached photo
(The persistence_ext4_1GB_casper-rw.dat  file MD5 is  6ced092c969eb7cfaf2f4808fdcf4dde)

[avggeek]

I deleted the file on the USB key and re-copied persistence_ext4_1GB_casper-rw.dat as suggested. The md5 hash for the re-copied file seems identical to the string mentioned below - see screenshot:

---

I tried swapping the persistence file to persistence_ext4_512MB_casper-rw.dat and modified the config as follows:

Code:

    "persistence": [
        {
            "image": "/Boot_an_Operating_System/ubuntu-21.10-desktop-amd64.iso",
            "backend": [
                "/ventoy/persistence/persistence_ext4_512MB_casper-rw.dat"
            ]
        }
    ]

Ubuntu ISO stops with the same error message. Is there some known incomptability with using persistence in Ventoy booted via VirtualBox?

[avggeek]

It seems like it's an issue with using persistence files with Ventoy booted via VirtualBox.

I tried both ubuntu2110.dat (persistence_ext4_1GB_casper-rw.dat) and persistence_ext4_512MB_casper-rw.dat with Ventoy booted from a physical machine and the persistence files worked correctly. 

Might be worth mentioning in the plugin docs for folks who are using VirtualBox to test their Ventoy config.

[longpanda]

How did you test in VirtualBox?
Did you add your physical USB drive as a virtualdisk to the VM? Or did you install Ventoy to a virtualdisk inside the VM?

[Steve2926]

When using VBox to directly boot from a USB drive, you should use VMUB.
VMUB unlocks the USB drive so that VBox can lock the drive and does not have to use snapshotting.
https://rmprepusb.com/tutorials/004-how-...r-windows/

VMUB only works with VBox 5 (not VBOX6)

VBOX5+VMUB + Ventoy USb drive with Ubuntu + persistence .dat file works OK for me.

[avggeek]

When using VBox to directly boot from a USB drive, you should use VMUB.
VMUB unlocks the USB drive so that VBox can lock the drive and does not have to use snapshotting.
https://rmprepusb.com/tutorials/004-how-...r-windows/

VMUB only works with VBox 5  (not VBOX6)

VBOX5+VMUB + Ventoy USb drive with Ubuntu + persistence .dat file works OK for me.

I'm on Windows 10 so VBOX5 is pretty much unsupported there. VBOX6 is the only thing that works (and just barely).

How did you test in VirtualBox?
Did you add your physical USB drive as a virtualdisk to the VM?  Or did you install Ventoy to a virtualdisk inside the VM?

I'm adding my physical USB drive as a virtualdisk to the VM.

[longpanda]

Can you use VMWare to do a comparison test?

[avggeek]

Can you use VMWare to do a comparison test?

With Workstation Pro, I'm able to successfully boot the Ubuntu ISO with persistence file ubuntu2110.dat (persistence_ext4_1GB_casper-rw.dat).

It is much harder to use Ventoy with VMWare though, as VMWare does not have a simple way to boot from physical USB. Steps I had to use are:

• Change BIOS type to UEFI in VM Settings.
  
• Right click on VM and choose "Power on to firmware"
  
• Attach USB drive to VM using Removable Devices menu
  
• Go to "Enter Setup", choose "Boot from a file"
  
• Look for the "VTOYEFI" entry, then navigate to /EFI/BOOT directory
  
• Select the BOOTX64.EFI file
  

[Steve2926]

I use Win10 with VBox 5 and VMUB all the time (about 10-50 times a day). It is the best way to boot from USB using VBox.