My USB flash drive finally failed after 12 years. I had a Pro license key attached to it which was purchased for me by a friend, so it's not in my name and not attached to my account. Last year, I realised this is not completely compliant (sorry!), so I purchased a new Pro license key last year in anticipation of my flash drive eventually seeing its end.

I now have my replacement flash drive in-hand and want to get the server running again, however, I would like to restore the backup onto this new flash drive, but use the new yet-to-be-activated license that I purchased last year.

What do I do? Can I restore my flash to a new USB drive and use a different license key, or must I contact my friend to switch the GUID on the old license key?

P.S. How do I download the latest flash backup from Unraid Connect? I can see the Last Flash Backup date but no button to download it. Only a button to generate a new backup. "Generate Backup" = download backup

Edited June 20, 20251 yr by Omid

Set up the new flash drive as a fresh install, log in to it, activate your license, then shut it down, back up the .key file in the config folder of the flash drive. Then replace the config folder with the one from the old, remove any .key files from it, then put the one you backed up in.

3 minutes ago, Kilrah said:

Set up the new flash drive as a fresh install, log in to it, activate your license, then shut it down, back up the .key file in the config folder of the flash drive. Then replace the config folder with the one from the old, remove any .key files from it, then put the one you backed up in.

Thanks! I was on 6.12.5, so I'll setup the new flash drive with the same version. What about all of the data drives in the server? Will they be okay with this process?

I'm nervous doing this given the amount of data, apps, VMs and history at risk.

Now that I have my latest backup as a zip, is there a file in there that will help me confirm the exact version I was running?

Edited June 20, 20251 yr by Omid

The Unraid USB Creator doesn't allow me to select anything < 6.12.9 ☹️ I have an unresolved stability issue for >6.12.5

Can I not format the new flash drive with the backup zip I have and then activate with the new license?

Edited June 20, 20251 yr by Omid

Well what you can do is in the 2nd step instead of copying only the config folder you basically delete everything on the new drive and copy everything from the old onto it (then remove old .key files and put the one for that drive). Then everything will be identical, just the license key is replaced with the one for the new drive.

Edited June 20, 20251 yr by Kilrah

Ok, here I go... <holds breath>

So I've completed all steps, booted up with the new flash drive, containing all files from the last backup but with the Pro.key that I just had generated.

I saw my non-default login screen, which was a great sign. However, my managed-password wasn't being accepted. It's only when I locked myself out that I thought I should try the new root password that I set on the fresh install (that I replaced?).

To try that, I attempted to ssh in to the server with the new password and it worked. How on earth is the new password from the new installation the one that is accepted when I replaced all files on the drive with the backup?

Something to do with how/when unraid's boot sequence creates and mounts /etc/shadow? I still don't fully understand how, but all is good.

I seem to be up and running again. Thanks for the guidance, @Kilrah

Edited June 20, 20251 yr by Omid