Re: Unable to boot after update from within auto-admin

I tried as you instructed.

zpool import -a -N -l -o readonly=on

it would output:

-l is incompatible with -N

I tried variations and eventually I got:

No pools available to import

I tried option after option...

Then I tried zfs mount

and it wouldn't output anything but the LiveDVD would load for a couple of seconds and go back to the prompt.

Regarding encryption, I chose whatever the default was using ZFS. I encrypted the install as well as the swap.

I don't know what I should do here. If it's too complex I'll just reinstall, but I'm hoping I won't have to.

Have you ever seen a popup about updates and it saying to run auto-admin? I'm still suspect about that popup, I don't know where it would've originated from.

Anyhow, any ideas? :)

On Friday, May 8th, 2026 at 4:05 PM, Daniel Lysfjord <[email protected]> wrote:

> On 2026-05-08 17:53, linuxblood wrote:
> > Hi Daniel, I am a newbie. I don't know what commands to issue here. I
> > am in FreeBSD for the long run, but I am brand new! I didn't expect an
> > update to nuke everything.
> >
> > PS: Apologies for sending this to you twice, my first attempt didn't
> > reply to the mailing list. <3 I appreciate your time & kindness.
> >
> > On Friday, May 8th, 2026 at 3:47 PM, Daniel Lysfjord
> > <[email protected]> wrote:
> >>
> >> Have you tried reading the pool from the live-system?
> >>
> 
> Since you managed to boot into the LiveDVD, and found your disk, you're
> half way there:)
> 
> you can start by trying to import the zfs pool:
> 
> zpool import -a -N -o readonly=on
> # "-a": Import all, "-N": no mount, "-o readonly=on": read-only
> 
> You mentioned encryption? Is it zfs encryption? If so, you also need the
> argument "-l" when importing
> 
> It may or may not like that, but it usually tells you if it finds
> something interesting.
> 
> Mind you, I have no machines without UEFI, so, I probably can't help all
> that much, but.. this gives you an indication if something is very
> wrong.
> 
> If you manage to import the pool, you can start mounting filesystems
> from the pool (zfs mount ....), and have a look at the logs for what you
> did.. I have no idea what auto-admin might've done, neither have I ever
> used it.
>