Keep getting errors when backing up my Qubes (Exec format error)

User Support
1

Lately, I’ve been trying to backup my Qubes but, every time, at the end of the process, I keep getting this exec format error.
I’ve recreated the error and taken screenshots along the way.

IMG_20260131_111717_111
IMG_20260131_111717_1111920×1080 229 KB

IMG_20260131_111755_103
IMG_20260131_111755_1031920×1080 145 KB

IMG_20260131_111847_439
IMG_20260131_111847_4391920×1080 236 KB

IMG_20260131_122929_085
IMG_20260131_122929_0851920×1080 180 KB

If anyone can help, that’s be much appreciated.

2

Can you execute /usr/bin/sync in the backup VM? (Also in dom0 for good measure). Please post the outputs of these commands. If you get an error, please execute file /usr/bin/sync in the backup VM and dom0 and post the outputs as well.

Also, what template do you use for the backup VM?

3

I was using default-dvm to plug in an external drive containing all my Qubes backups. It uses fedora-42-xfce as its template. It doesn’t have a net qube.

I just tried executing /usr/bin/sync in both the disposable VM and dom0 but no output came out in the terminals so I ran file /usr/bin/sync

Here’s the output from the dispVM
sync: ELF 64-bit LSB pie executable, x86-64, version 1 (SYSV), dynamically linked, interpreter /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2, BuildID[sha1]=d5f5b1baabc4d2e8f7ad916d57051134aae0ac89, for GNU/Linux 3.2.0, stripped

I don’t know how to copy and paste anything from dom0 so here’s a screenshot instead

IMG_20260131_133543_515
IMG_20260131_133543_5151920×1080 180 KB

4

Weird, weird, weird, I’m not sure what could be causing the error in the OP, then.

Could you:

  1. Try using a fresh fedora-43-xfce for default-dvm and see whether the backup error persists?
  2. Try backing up like 1 qube to some directory in dom0 and see if this error also appears then?
5

I’ll give it a try. I’ll update you once I do.

6

I appreciate your problem - there are two solutions:

  1. Output the data to a file in dom0, and then use qvm-copy-to-vm TARGET FILE
  2. Copy the data in dom0. In the clipboard widget there is option to
    Copy dom0 clipboard. The text will then be available to paste in to
    qube using the normal Ctrl+Shift+V shortcut.

Using screenshots makes it difficult for users to follow, cant be
indexed in search, etc. If screenshots must be used then it’s always a
good idea to provide a summary or description. Now you can.

I never presume to speak for the Qubes team.
When I comment in the Forum I speak for myself.

2 Likes
7

I installed fedora-43-xfce and replaced default-dvm's old template with it, made another backup attempt but I still got the same error as before.

8

Do you also see this “Exec format error” message printed if you run

$ qvm-run --service --pass-io disp1234 qubes.Backup <<</tmp

in a dom0 terminal?