Linux mint 18.3, convert ext4 to btrfs

1

I have upgraded to Linux Mint 18.3, but all are EXT4, but I understand now, that BTRFS is awesome is much better with snapshots then EXT4, but I followed this: How To Convert An ext3/ext4 Root File System To btrfs On Ubuntu 12.10.

I think, it is outdated for sure.

But it doesn't work with. I get this error with GRUB error: sparse file not allowed, I can boot everywhere except I get this error, but with my root system it doesn't work.

For other menus like Windows, Clonzilla, and the rest work.

Do you know how to convert all EXT4 to BTRFS today?

Patrik Laszlo

Posted 2017-11-29T10:49:38.380

Reputation: 149

1Well, I'd reconsider using BTRFS. Yes, it has many advantages, but you may also easily end up with filesystem error, which is unrepairable (coleague's personal experience on OpenSUSE...). – Jaroslav Kucera – 2017-11-29T13:11:17.150

1actually, I kept EXT4, it is not the best still... same here... ciao! – Patrik Laszlo – 2017-11-30T08:09:18.650

Answers

3

I suppose you should start with the current btrfs documentation. The good news is that conversion from ext4 is indeed supported, but tutorial you linked did indeed skip some steps listed in the linked wiki manpage. You should also be able to follow the instructions on the Arch wiki for this.

The error message should be benign, in the sense it should show the error but allow you to boot . See for example here (Mint, 2011) and here (manjaro, 2016).

Mike Chapman

Posted 2017-11-29T10:49:38.380

Reputation: 326

Asked: 2017-11-29T10:49:38.380

Viewed: 3 557 times

Active: 2017-11-29T11:22:46.447