Replies

@ Slowpoke47

Slowpoke47 wrote:

Why? What does “snapshot overflow” mean?

When you use an imaging program that creates an image file while the OS is actively running, you have the potential of the image creation process of being *corrupted* by activity that is occurring from the OS.

The *Snapshot* is what the image program is taking of the OS so it is *frozen* in time to that particular time.

*Snapshot overflow* means too many changes were occurring during the creation of the Snapshot, and the Snapshot process was overwhelmed by data changes.

Were you still using the OS for other activities during the Image creation process? That would be a likely cause of the problem. It could also be some other background activity such as a *automatic* program update that is occurring while the Image Snapshot creation was occurring.

I would try again, and don’t use the computer until the image backup has completed–multi-tasking (too many programs in use at the same time) may be the problem also.

I personally never use an imaging program from within a live OS for this very reason–the OS activity may interfere with the image program in some way. I always create image backups using whatever standalone *Rescue Media* the image program has to offer. Then the OS is no longer a variable to worry about.

@ Slowpoke47

Slowpoke47 wrote:

My original intent to delete the first account may not be wise- apparently all admin accounts are not equal.

I think someone warned you that there might be *permission* issues when you copy files from the old admin user account to a new admin user account. In Windows, there is a way to *take ownership* of files that were previously from another user. I don’t know how that may work on Linux Mint. Also, there are *admins* and then there are * other admins*. As I read, Linux Mint has user *groups*–I’m betting that the original admin has *full admin* privileges, whereas new admin users may be a step down–maybe the new admin account can be upgraded to the same privileges as that *original admin*–but, I don’t know how that needs to happen, or if it can?

So, now you know more about what problem(s) can occur when adding new user accounts, and hoping to delete old user accounts.

Slowpoke47 wrote:

Now mulling over copying files (not too many on this OS as yet) to an external target and reinstalling the OS using the original stick.

What has happened to *Plan A*–creating regular system hard drive (HDD) backup images, so that if something goes wrong with the OS, it’s settings, or bad program installs, or OS or program updates, then restore the most recent image that was just before the problem(s) began?

In the last 20 years, or so, since beginning to use image backups, I have never done an *OS re-install* as a way to deal with problems that crop up from system updates, or bad program installs, or program updates, or OS or program wrong setting issues–but, I have done many image restores to solve an unsolvable problem!

Based on this screen shot here: OS system image backups

you have an OS system image backup dated 2019-12-23–the week before you started having problems, on or about 12/27/2019. Why not restore that image file to see if that resolves whatever problem(s) was (were) introduced during the next week, or so?

Before doing that, you should determine if there are any new files created since that 2019-12-23 image date that you want to protect–you’re looking for any document files, photos, etc. that you have created and saved. These would need to be moved onto a separate storage device, such as your external USB HDD–create a folder for your files that you want to preserve and protect from the image restore–because everything after the 2019-12-23 image creation date will be wiped out when that file is restored to the OS partition.

But, maybe you just want to *Start Over*. In which case–have at it! Everything will be *wiped out* since you started using the Linux Mint OS, and you will start afresh …

As a side recommendation–I try to disable all *automatic updates* for any major OSs, and/or major programs (such as Firefox, or other browsers, or word processors (MS Office for example), etc.), so that I can control when and what is going to happen, and when.

Also, if I am planning on installing any new programs,

Or, if I am planning on uninstalling any old program(s),

Or, if I am planning on making any major program setting changes to either the OS, or programs,

Or if I am planning on experimenting with any OS or program settings,

Or, if I am planning on deleting multiple OS or program files (for whatever reason),

I first create an image HDD file as *protection* from any unexpected problems that may, and can, and do happen … whenever working with a computer!

Because, then I know I can recover, and go back to just prior to making any changes, and start from there, again, and again, and again–as needed.

@ Slowpoke47

Just Lurking wrote:

You probably need to look at your Mint OS as to how it handles video drivers and monitor screen resolution abilities. I know on Windows, I need to load the manufacturer’s video drivers so the Win OS *knows* what my video card is capable of, and then the video card can control the proper implementation of the various available resolutions. And the Win OS needs to know my specific monitor model in order to deliver resolutions that the monitor is expecting to see.

How does Mint handle that?

Are you currently using *generic Mint video drivers*?

Are you supposed to load specific drivers for your particular video hardware?

If so, have you done that?

Does Mint need to know your specific *monitor model* and its specific capabilities?

Or is Mint operating using a *generic* monitor display profile?

Do any of these links apply to your system(s)? Just askin’– I’ve never seen anything mentioned about this:

https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/drivers.html (Have you used the *Driver Manager* to install any needed drivers?)

http://doc-ok.org/?p=1739 (Scroll down to the *Graphics Card Driver Installation* section.)

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Software-and-How-To-Questions/Linux-Video-Driver-for-Linux-Mint/td-p/7296308

https://superuser.com/questions/1361410/installing-intel-graphics-driver-on-linux-mint

@ jabeattyauditor

jabeattyauditor wrote:

Did slowpoke install any software when he replaced the mouse?

Well, unless I’m interpreting this screen shot by @ Slowpoke47 incorrectly, no software was installed from Dec. 19th until Dec. 27th:

Slowpoke47 wrote:

In this machine, there was a long list of pkgs installed on 12/27/19 via the update function:

@ Slowpoke47

Slowpoke47 wrote:

After using the new account enough to assure myself that it is indeed a true copy, and after copying all files and settings across, I’ll eventually remove the original,

Certainly, another work-around that has solved the problem–so as long as the *cure* holds–I’d say go for it.

There were other recommendations that held promise, as well, but you were apparently not comfortable with pursuing those options, attempted following at least one option (removal of FireFox and starting with a fresh install–but apparently followed something other than the given instructions–I never thought that FireFox was a *strong* possible *cause*, but rather a *symptom*), and no other reports that you attempted other options, and/or reports of the any results–positive or negative.

Slowpoke47 wrote:

Monitor is and has been at native resolution of 1440×900, …

That comment caught my eye from the beginning. That’s an older *standard* for display resolutions, and probably is not used much currently–when web design is being developed–other more common standards are probably used. Source of possible problems–who knows? One would have to adjust and play around with this to see if there are any effects. (Isn’t your desktop monitor a cathode ray tube (CRT) design? I can not remember. Analog or digital input from the desktop?)

Slowpoke47 wrote:

… as mentioned, screen res is unchanged, set to native from the outset in both machines

Just to be clear, I think your 2nd computer is a laptop–correct me if I’m wrong. But, if true, I hope you realize that you are comparing *apples to oranges*. The hardware is not the same! The video card or chips will be different on each machine. The dates of manufacture are most likely very different. The display will be different on each machine–stand alone monitor vs built-in laptop display (and hopefully, the native resolution of 1440×900 is not set the same on both machines). And, most likely because of the hardware differences, the video software drivers that Mint is using will be different on each machine as well.

So, sure, one can look for similarities and differences–but who knows how various installed software from browsers to *musescore pkgs, a musical notation program which I have used for many years in Win7* will effect the display on each system.

Just saying, *apples/oranges*!

The adventure continues–good luck!

@ Slowpoke47

Just Lurking wrote:

What! How are you coming up with this speculative assumption? Do you have any evidence that these two events occurred at the same time, and one was related to the other? You certainly did not mention it at the time. You reported a hardware failure for the mouse, and if I understood correctly, you replace the mouse and the mouse functions were back to normal.

Slowpoke47 wrote:

This all happened at about the same time, so yes, I am speculating. If the display issue was mouse-related, it was just as the mouse was failing completely.

No, these events (display problem–reported as beginning somewhere around Dec. 27, 28, 29, 30, or 31—and mouse problem–reported on or around Dec. 22) did not *happen at about the same time* (*same time* would be more like *same day* or maybe *next day*!):

Slowpoke47 wrote:

Mouse has basically failed. Off to buy a new one, back shortly.

The failing mouse caused some sort of *mouse problems*, the display issue occurred at a separate time and cause *display problems*–these are unrelated events, barring introduction of evidence to the contrary.

So, just let this notion go …

@ Slowpoke47

Slowpoke47 wrote:

Just did this- new user looks good, displays as expected.

Interesting! So, when you create a *new user*, do you have to install a new separate instance of the FireFox Browser for that user account? Or, is that *new user* account sharing the FireFox Browser that was installed by the *original user*? Or, did a *new user profile* have to be created for the FireFox browser in order to use it in the *new user*

And now, for that *new user* profile, when you load FireFox you no longer see any font issues–they are *full size* (not too small to read), and shaped correctly–no anomalies?

And, when you go to the weather radar website, the elements are once again overlapping?

And there are no OS system wide anomalies as noted yesterday?

Slowpoke47 wrote:

An important correction- on close study of several docs, I see subtle text abnormalities there as well, contrary to my previous statement that only FF is affected.

And, does the *new user* have access to the program whose installation you referred to here?:

Slowpoke47 wrote:

The other entries dated 12/27 in the left pane are installs and reinstalls of the same musescore pkgs, a musical notation program which I have used for many years in Win7.

Were there any anomalies to that program in your *original user account*? And anomalies in the *new user account?

Slowpoke47 wrote:

I suspect this problem might be another consequence of the mouse failure last month.

What! How are you coming up with this speculative assumption? Do you have any evidence that these two events occurred at the same time, and one was related to the other? You certainly did not mention it at the time. You reported a hardware failure for the mouse, and if I understood correctly, you replace the mouse and the mouse functions were back to normal.

Slowpoke47 wrote:

I did notice and correct some other oddities at that time ..

Again, this seems to be *new information*–is it related to this problem? So what *oddities* did you notice? And those *oddities* showed up as a result of seeing the mouse hardware failure issues? What did you do to *correct* those *oddities*? And, did those corrections work?

Need to know details to see if there’s a correlation of some other hardware event (mouse failure) to the current (what seems to be a software) event (display resolution anomalies).

@ Slowpoke47

Looking at your original description of the problem(s):

Slowpoke47 wrote:

Note that text now has random bold and very thin elements. Also, what doesn’t show here is that font size has become tiny, requiring me to zoom the display to 120% or higher to read it.

And,

Slowpoke47 wrote:

Another change, related or not, is that the local radar screen at radar.weather.gov, which previously has displayed with incorrect, overlapping elements, now displays correctly, although with very small font without the above erroneous features.

So, the first question is why has this series of *problems* just now begun to show up–and not previously? Usually you have to look to setting changes that you have made, or downloaded and installed new programs that have made setting changes behind your back without making you aware that they were going to make such changes. Something triggered changes–but, what did that?

But, the problems you are describing are not something I have not seen under certain circumstances in various Windows OSs–and they all centered around display resolution–if set too high, the desktop shortcut icons and their text became *too small* to read easily. And there are *fixed fonts* (their size and spacing remains the same), and there are *proportional fonts* (depending on the character–it takes up more or less spacing as you type them). It has always seemed that the *proportional fonts* show more change with resolution changes than *fixed fonts*–which makes sense being as the spacing is being effected by the resolution change–higher resolution, smaller space between elements.

Regarding the *weather radar* website that had *overlapping elements* prior to the changes that you have noted–the website was not correctly adjusting its presentation of its elements to your browser so it would *fit properly*–so the website was expecting a *higher resolution* screen than what your OS was actually offering. When the *changes* occurred, your system now was set to a higher resolution that allowed those elements to fit on the available real estate–but at the price of reducing the *size* of the site’s text and picture elements as a secondary change to the rendering of that website on your system.

I have seen similar effects on Windows OSs. In particular, on one of my WinXP systems, I had a desktop fairly full of desktop shortcut icons, and set at a fairly high resolution. When I needed to change to the Windows *Safe Mode* for a trouble shooting need, and the *Safe Mode* was a very low resolution environment. I had a number of desktop icons *disappear* when in *Safe Mode*. Actually those icons had not *disappeared*–they had stacked themselves on top of other icons (overlapping elements). If I made a blank spot on the desktop, I could click on a given icon, and move it to the open spot, and that revealed the underlying *hidden* icon.

Why was that happening? When booting to *Safe Mode*, that environment prevents many (most) third party software from loading. Window *Safe Mode* defaults to basic generic Microsoft drivers for as many devices as it can. If there was not a generic driver available, well then that device did not work! But, the bottom line is that the Microsoft generic system video driver was not the one I had loaded for my video card from the manufacturer in my regular WinXP environment, and the monitor resolution was not the one that my regular WinXP OS was aware of because I had loaded a specific device info (.inf) file that told the Win OS what the capabilities of my monitor was in terms of what resolutions it could handle.

So, with the *mismatch* between my regular WinXP display resolution settings, and the Win *Safe Mode* resolution generic settings, my desktop icons had no place to be, so they stacked themselves one on top of another. So, they were there, just not presented in the manner they (and I) were accustom to.

So, again, your apparent display resolution change to a *higher screen resolution* has allowed those radar site elements to *fit* into their proper relative positions, but at the price of those smaller appearing sizes.

You probably need to look at your Mint OS as to how it handles video drivers and monitor screen resolution abilities. I know on Windows, I need to load the manufacturer’s video drivers so the Win OS *knows* what my video card is capable of, and then the video card can control the proper implementation of the various available resolutions. And the Win OS needs to know my specific monitor model in order to deliver resolutions that the monitor is expecting to see.

How does Mint handle that? Are you currently using *generic Mint video drivers*? Are you supposed to load specific drivers for your particular video hardware? If so, have you done that? Does Mint need to know your specific *monitor model* and its specific capabilities? Or is Mint operating using a *generic* monitor display profile?

As a basic, it would be a good idea to know what video card manufacturer, and model number you are using (Sometimes, on desktop computer models, there is either a add-on video card that’s plugged into one of the motherboard’s card slots–or, there may be a video chip that is directly soldered onto the motherboard–basically *built-in*. In that case, you may still have a video card plugged in, and in the BIOS the *built-in* video chip has been disabled to allow that video card plug in to work.) If the video is a *built-in* chip, then we would need to know the motherboard manufacturer and model number.

And, it would be a good idea to know the manufacturer, and model number of the monitor.

With that information, we should be able to look up those model numbers, and see the specifications, and determine what video resolutions are available and supported by those hardware items.

And, with the supported resolution information, that might guide us to make setting change(s) on the Mint OS to help resolve video problem(s).

And, you need to find out if specific drivers are needed (available) for specific video hardware in order to make them perform properly. (I don’t know if Linux, or Mint, in particular, requires this the way Windows does?)

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Slowpoke47

@ Slowpoke47

Slowpoke47 wrote:

NightOwl- please see my mea culpa, posted today. On closer examination, the problem goes beyond FF.

Well, that changes what we need to look at–now it’s the Mint OS, other software updates and their effect on the Mint OS video driver(s), and not just FireFox.

Slowpoke47 wrote:

Looking for comment on my thought to remove one or more items in this list to see if the text display is corrected. Not familiar with the syntax, but looks like some may be related to text.

If what you installed on 12/27 and 12/28 are readily available, and can be re-installed again without any loss (other than time), my quick and dirty answer is *uninstall everything from 12/27 and 12/28* and see if that eliminates the problem. If *yes*, then you will have to decide if you want to re-install, but only one item at a time, and then test to see if the problem returns. If done step by step, you will find which install causes the problem, and you will know what questions you need to start asking about that software, and its relationship to your Mint OS.

I have more, as I said before, but it has to wait–other commitments this morning …

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Cybertooth

@ Slowpoke47

Slowpoke47 wrote:

As yet I have seen no distorted text or other elements on any locally generated pages, just on FF.

So, this *display* problem is FireFox only–so just your browser, and no other software, and only on your desktop Mint OS, not on the dual boot Win7 on this same desktop.

So, it’s not a general *Linux* issue, and not a general video *card* issue, and not a general *monitor* issue–meaning it does not effect everything on the Mint OS, and does not effect anything on the Win7 OS.

So, everything seems to be pointing at something specific to FireFox, some aspect of that software, and its interaction with your Mint video driver(s).

As a thought, have you considered installing a different browser–just as a test to see if it happens on different browser software as it does with FireFox. Also, it’s a temporary work around so your browsing is more pleasant until you find a *cure* for what ails FireFox.

Some browser options:

https://beebom.com/best-web-browsers-for-linux/

https://www.ubuntupit.com/13-best-ubuntu-web-browsers-which-one-is-right-for-you/

I always have the Chrome browser installed on all my systems as a second option for when something will not load properly on FireFox–doesn’t hurt anything to have it available when needed. (Also, one has to use Chrome to do Chrome-casting to the TV from the computer to watch various streaming programs on the *bigger screen*.

Slowpoke47 wrote:

Originally I thought I made yet another dumb move, causing the problem, but now I’m not convinced it’s my fault.

You have said something like this several times now. It sure sounds like you were making some FireFox setting changes, or Mint system changes at some point in the time period when this problem began. It begs the question, what changes were you making?

Given all the suggestions that have been given above, I don’t know if you are doing this, but I would recommend that you keep a notebook, and record what settings you are altering, where those settings are found, what were the settings before you made any change(s), and what the new setting(s) are after you have made any change(s)–this so you have a road map back to those changes so you can *undo* them if they did not help–or make matters worse!

I have some more thoughts on the display *symptoms* you have described–but will have to be later–but, they might help direct where to look for the problem.

@ Slowpoke47

Slowpoke47 wrote:

Some incompatibility issue has become established in this machine. I think it’s my fault. Our other computer, with the same dual-boot Mint/ Win7 config, is as normal, and affects FF only, no local files.

Today I plan to compare all settings between the two looking for differences. If none found I’m at a loss to straighten it out.

You might want to look at what the Version Number is for your various installs of FireFox to see if they are all the same, or if they are different.

Do you have one or more of your FireFox set up to *automatically* update to the latest version? That’s a source of settings changes that occur behind your back if it’s set up that way.

Or do you have things set so you manually control when FireFox will update? I have mine set to notify me when there are updates, but I do manual updates when I’m ready. When I know I’m going to be doing an update, I create a system backup image first so I’m prepared to restore the image file if the update goes south, and I have problems with the new version. That happens rarely, but it does happen on occasion. But, you have to know that you have made that version update, so you know what to blame for a sudden onset of problem(s), should they occur.

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Slowpoke47

@ anonymous

anonymous wrote:

I have asked the owner to provide the hardware/software info as we are now geographically separated. As soon as I get it I will add what I can remember of what I did.

So to clarify–at one time, you had access to the two laptops, and attempted to help transfer the old Win10 to the new laptop. At the time, you re-partitioned the new hard drive on the new laptop so it now has 2 partitions on it where originally it only had 1 partition. You were successful in using the Mini Tool Partition Wizard to transfer the old Win10 OS to an external USB HDD. And you have since tried multiple attempts to transfer the old Win10 OS from the USB HDD to the new partition you created on the new laptop HDD–but unsuccessfully.

But, now you and the owner (and I presume the two laptops) are now geographically separated from each other.

So, what are you trying to do now? Are you trying to advise the owner via long distance as to what to do to get the old Win10 transferred to the new laptop? Is the owner *technically* inclined? Where is the external USB HDD that had the bootable/working old Win10 OS on it?

Do you know how to use imaging software? Does the owner know how to use imaging software?

@ MrJimPhelps

MrJimPhelps wrote:

Actually, swapping the hard drive from one computer to another is not necessarily a difficult thing. I’ve done it a couple of times, and the only thing I had to do afterward was make sure that all of the basic drivers were updated to match the new computer (chipset, audio, Ethernet, etc.).

Actually, wont that happen regardless of whether one swaps hard drives (HDDs) between two systems, or restore an image file onto a HDD in a new hardware system? Drivers will have to be adjusted to match the new hardware either way.

@ anonymous

anonymous wrote:

Paul, do you have a step-by-step guide how to do that? I could swear I already tried that and it would not boot from the restored image. The free version of Aomei Backupper doesn’t seem to do much.

Let me turn that around a bit–do you have a step-by-step record of what you did using *Aomei Backupper* so we can see what you attempted to do, what was the source drive partition scheme, did you select *all partitions* to be backed up, and what was the destination HDD, and were you restoring *all partitions* (most commonly, you need to back up both the OS partition, and also the *reserved* partition (that has the boot information) and both need to be restored to the destination drive)–so we can see if you did something that would have prevented success?

Also, what was the result when you attempted to boot? Any error messages? Anything? Usually when you attempt to boot, and something doesn’t happen correctly, the system reports some sort of error. Knowing that, we might be able to suggest solutions!

@ anonymous

anonymous wrote:

I was given the task of “migrating” Windows 10 from an old laptop to a new laptop which also has Windows 10 installed. The owner of both laptops wants this done because she has some proprietary software on the old laptop which she can no longer get the source program for.

What’s wrong with the *old laptop*–why a *new laptop*, and the trouble it causes to *migrate* the old Win10 to the new laptop?

But, regardless, it looks like you have already demonstrated the ability to copy the Old Win10 to an external USB hard drive (HDD), and then successfully use that copied OS on that USB HDD to boot while hooked up to the *new laptop*:

anonymous wrote:

Trying to do this with free software, I have successfully migrated the old laptop’s Windows 10 to an external USB hard drive. It is bootable on the new laptop. I used Mini Tool Partition Wizard to accomplish that seemingly monumental feat.

You should use that information to guide your decision making. We know nothing about the hardware side of your project–brand and model numbers of *old and new laptops*. We know nothing about the size and type of HDD that is in the *old laptop* vs what HDD is in the *new laptop*. We know nothing about the partitioning of the HDD on the *old laptop*, and what partitioning exists on the *new laptop*. We know nothing about what size and the partitioning of the external USB HDD was prior to your using the Mini Tool Partition Wizard to transfer the old Win10 to it. And we don’t know what exactly you have tried using all the various software that you have mentioned. If you have used all those programs to attempt to alter the HDD on the *new laptop*, we have no idea what the state of the HDD on the *new laptop* is now in. Lots of unknowns!

What are your computer skill levels? Are you comfortable digging into the innards of the *new laptop*, pulling out the HDD (you will have to determine if it can be accessed and removed). If you can access it, and it is a *standard* type HDD, then you can use the previous method you used on your external USB HDD on the *new laptop’s* HDD.

You can use an adapter, such as this, to turn any HDD into the equivalent of an external USB HDD. Then fire up the Mini Tool Partition Wizard and transfer the *old Win10* to the *new laptop* HDD that is in the adapter acting like an external USB HDD. Once you have completed that task, re-install the *new laptop* HDD back into the *new laptop*. It should fire up just like the OS that was on the other external USB HDD.

Be aware, the Win10 that is on the *new laptop* HDD will be over-written, and gone using the above routine. If you wanted to preserve that copy of Win10, you need to use an imaging backup program to create a backup image. I’m betting there are at least two partitions, and probably three (one or two are hidden from normal view?). Probably only the main OS partition of the three would be needed to create a *dual boot*, by shrinking the *old Win10 partition*, that is now on the *new laptop* HDD, creating a new partition and formatting it as NTFS, and then restoring the *new Win10* into that new partition. Then a *repair boot* would be needed to make it into a functional *dual boot*.

anonymous wrote:

I initially wanted to make the new computer dual bootable, but I don’t know if that will even work with two Windows 10 OSs on the same physical hard drive.

Sounds like *you* are the one who wants the *dual boot* set up, and not necessarily the *owner* of the laptop. Why? It’s certainly doable, but what advantage does that offer for you, or the owner of the laptop? Adding this to the process more than triples the complexity of what you are trying to do–worth it?

If it is *worth it*, you still need to get the *old Win10* successfully transferred over to the *new laptop* HDD first, and then work on the *dual boot* option. But, you have to prepare for that ahead of time by using an imaging program to backup that *new laptop* HDD, so that *new Win10* OS is available in the future.

But, one step at a time …