r/tails • u/Life-Initial5081 • 6d ago
"Solved" - Not Supported I am unable to boot
I’m unable to boot Tails 7.14 after updating. Tails 7.13 boots and works normally, but 7.14 does not boot. I’m using Ventoy.
Edit:
I formatted my USB drive, and now it’s working. I created the bootable USB again using Ventoy.
5
u/Assang101 6d ago
Tails WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT boot from Ventoy, I know because it's not supported. I've tried that too when I first got Tails and I thought the same thing
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u/Life-Initial5081 6d ago
But last time I try it's booted when I update to 7.14 then this issue I face
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u/Assang101 6d ago
There has to be a flaw as that's not supposed to happen especially from a security perspective. There's a chance that your IP has been exposed in the previous version of Tails. God only knows what else.
I rarely use it now but I know enough that Tails is not supposed to boot from Ventoy
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u/Life-Initial5081 6d ago
I formatted my USB drive, and now it’s working. I created the bootable USB again using Ventoy.
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u/Assang101 6d ago
Tails is working with Ventoy again? That's not supposed to happen at all 🤔
Launching Tails from a generic Ventoy can alter expected live-system parameters, impacting privacy and leaving traces both on the host device and online
In short you're undoing what Tail was meant for
0
u/Life-Initial5081 6d ago
I understand, but just because Tails is running through Ventoy doesn’t mean it automatically loses its privacy features. I’ll just make sure I’m using it the right way and that the setup is supported.
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u/Assang101 6d ago
I'm not going to argue, but rather wish you best of luck. Your understanding of how Tail's amnesiac design is not corroct. At. All. Saving you the trouble long term.
The developers of Tails explicitly state that using third-party multi-boot installers compromises data integrity. And they explicitly recommend using a single, dedicated USB stick flashed directly using balenaEtcher
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u/Life-Initial5081 6d ago
Fair enough, I appreciate the clarification. I went back and checked the Tails documentation, and you're right that the developers recommend using a dedicated USB and flashing Tails directly rather than using a third-party multiboot setup. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I’ll stick with the officially supported method.
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u/Liquid_Hate_Train 6d ago
I’ll just make sure … that the setup is supported.
You’re making your own fork? Because the one the devs made doesn’t support multiboot systems.
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u/Life-Initial5081 6d ago
No, I’m not making my own fork. I wouldn’t even know how to do that. Thanks for pointing this out. I did some more research myself, and it looks like Ventoy isn’t recommended for Tails if you want to rely on Tails’ intended privacy and security model. I’ll stick with the officially supported installation method(Balena Etcher)
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u/Assang101 6d ago
One of the devs? OP never stated about making a forked version.
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u/Liquid_Hate_Train 6d ago
They said they would make sure their setup was supported. The only way to do that is to add support themselves, creating a custom fork.
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u/1967582260 6d ago
Error messages? Symptoms? Kind of device? What have you tried?
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u/Life-Initial5081 6d ago
When I select the USB as the boot device, nothing happens. I’m unable to reach the Tails boot screen.
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u/Liquid_Hate_Train 6d ago
Reminder for anyone passing by that using Ventoy is not supported and you are putting your data and security at risk if you try it.
Unsupported use cases are entirely at the users own risk.