Yesterday I started to get crashes every half hour or so. A lot of "SQUASHFS error" messages, so I guess I need to create a new USB drive for my server.

So I found an old thumb drive, ran it through the installation process, and booted it up on my server.

Now, for the life of me, I can't figure out how to get it up and running with my system. I've got my login for my online Unraid account, but I have no idea how to get the system back up and running. Searches turn up methods that no longer work, I'm just at a loss.

Any help would be appreciated.

1 hour ago, Jeff in Indy said:

So I found an old thumb drive, ran it through the installation process, and booted it up on my server.

Ok, this is the thing....

1 hour ago, Jeff in Indy said:

Now, for the life of me, I can't figure out how to get it up and running with my system. I've got my login for my online Unraid account, but I have no idea how to get the system back up and running.

So what exactly is the problem? Do you see the GUI? What is not up and running? Screenshots might be useful.

Yes, I’m so sorry. That was rather vague. But I’ve been many different places trying to figure it out, so I wasn’t sure where to begin. I was able to get UNRAID to boot as a new trial version. I scroll down from the main screen and click on the link to register. It offers me the chance to buy it or recover my key, but not to replace a key so I’m not sure where I need to go to register this new key.

It offers me the chance to buy it or recover my key, but not to replace a key so I’m not sure where I need to go to register this new key.

I’m away from home, but can show you a screenshot you might need when I get back.

Do you have a file with the extension of .key in the /config folder of your new flash drive?

IF not, do you have the old flash drive and can you recover the file from that drive?

If not, do you have a backup of the that old flash drive somewhere that you could retrieve that file from?

PS---- Basically the /config folder contains basically everything you need to completely recover the setup of your server as previously configured. (Be careful of using the full backup if you have made changes to the drive assignments or added/changes any drives since the backup was made!!!)

I copied Pro.key to the config folder and restarted. I went through the replace key procedure and it failed. Since I've never replaced the USB before, I assume it's a GUID issue. Is there a way to tell if a USB has a GUID?

Also, should I copy over the other items in the config folder? I hadn't made any changes to my system in months.

In the GUI, MAIN page and look for 'Boot Device' then click on 'Flash' directly under that heading. If the Flash drive has a valid GUID, it will be listed here:

By the way, it not unusual for Flash Drives not to have a valid GUID these days. I understand that there is a small fee for each valid/unique one issued. (You can often tell if it is valid by the fact that it looks like it is unique by having a string of numbers where I have concealed my GUID identification.) Plus, there are a lot of counterfeit Flash Drives these days because name manufacturer's product command a higher price than a no-name manufacturer!

If it looks valid, contact support (get your details ready about your earlier purchase and be prepared to explain what it going on). Unraid support has always bent over backwards in helping folks who have these problems with license transfers.

Thanks for that. It does show a GUID.

However, at the top of the screen it says that the flash drive is corrupt or offline.

Is that due to the drive not having a valid key, or could that be part of the problem with using it as a replacement?

Not have a valid GUID will not take the Flash Drive offline. It means that there is another problem.

Shut the server down and pull the flash drive and run chkdsk on it to see what that finds. Fix any problems and try again.

IF that does not fix the problem, post up the diagnostics file in a new post.