Ghost Machine?

Installation
1

Hi everyone,

I have recently experienced some strange issues with my Home Assistant setup. While there may be a logical explanation, the situation is quite confusing to me.

For several months, I have detected issues within my Home Assistant configuration, specifically regarding settings, scenes, scripts, automations, and connection problems. Because of this, I recently decided to start fresh by installing a new version of Home Assistant on my x86 hardware.

However, even after wiping the entire hard disk twice across four different attempts, the problem persists. When I reinstall Home Assistant and add the File Editor as my first and only add-on, I still see remnants of my previous profiles, such as configurations and other data. Additionally, the File Editor always opens to the same page and folder, even on a brand-new installation.

I even tried using a brand-new hard disk, but the same thing occurs. I also discovered yesterday that the system always retains the same IP address during configuration. I have tried to clear my browser cache, but it does not seem to help.

The original reason for reinstalling was that my configuration folder appeared empty; I could enter code and press save, but the changes were never visible the next time I started Home Assistant. While I am not a computer specialist, this is very puzzling. Has anyone experienced something similar where personal information or settings seem to be stored remotely or linked to an account?

Thank you in advance for your help!

2

I can answer the IP address thing. Your router (DHCP server) will remember the mac address of you HA sever, this is coded into the LAN port. Your router will then just issue the same address as before. So you will have the same IP until your router decides the lease is up, it may then change it. Best practise is to set your HA server ip to static in the router, it will always be the same then.

Maybe offer some more info about how you are wiping the disk and reinstalling HA, this may help others diagnose your issues.

2 Likes
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As Arh above explain there is a natural explanation to the same IP
As for all the other weird issues, you might look beyond HA, and your hardware

I.e Are you a fan of i.e Google, an adapt/consume whatever they “spread/infect” your devices with, and you have little knowledge of these consequences. ?
I’m thinking about storing i.e login credentials(these are not wiped by browser-flushing)
Google/Microsoft auto-back-up / Sync, or similar ?

I can understand that you might want same name for your Device/HA-Installation, But consider using another User-Name for your Main-HA-Admin account, next time you wipe and re-install

What you are describing (beside facts you don’t tell/think of) is basically Not possible , considering the way you describe it.

How ever Your device from where you install from sounds like the “Key” to your issues, and the way you install ( and hopefully you don’t re-install with i.e a previous backup )

I recommend you download the latest HAOS Version(for your hardware) , And install it using the official documentations(for your hardware)
Then when done Create Another Username/Credentials during Onboarding

This way you will/could circumvent what ever “unknown” stored info you might have on the device you use to log into the HA from.

Best would be to think about/figuring out/knowing these Devices/services, which you use daily, whether it’s Microsoft/Google, or Apple/Google, as if you have little knowledge of what/how these Companies do, your life and devices is in their hands

Or Android/HA App , If you have an “old/previous” HA-app installed on your phones/ipads , Uninstall these ! , and install new when you have installed HA again, Google even stores other info on your devices where you have the HA-Phone-App, so you should also Clear i.e -Google-Play Storage Cache, in fact All Google’s Caches, Via Apps, on Androids/Iphones

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You’re saying “wiping the entire hard disk”, but what does that really entail? Just a reformat of the drive and reinstall of HA? That’s what most assume a wipe is. It is, albeit, a very soft wipe that often leaves traces of older data in fragments. @Arh and @boheme61 provide very valid insight. I would like to counter the idea of “wiping a hard disk”. A true wipe will write binary across the entire drive multiple times, decimating most fragmentation and overwriting the data thoroughly, which can, in some cases, expand the space on the drive close to it’s factory glory. You’ll need software like AOMEI to do it. It can be a rather lengthy process that will take most consumer electronics hours to complete, especially older hardware. It also depends on how “thorough” you want the wipe to be.

1 Like
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True, 3rd part tools is often needed, in specific if one try to format Linux-Disks with Microsoft UI Disk-Manager

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Most of this is normal operations, designed to make onboarding new installations easier for newcomers.
Yes, there are default landing pages, automatic recognition of discovered devices on your LAN, and the normal process of HomeAssistant self configuration. Your router allocates IP Addresses as required, using DHCP if static IP Addresses have not been configured.
The fact that it is consistent is cause for celebration, not concern.
Cost saving hint: Rosary beads not required!

Are you saving to memory only, a virtual machine? Are you shutting down your system normally, allowing it to save the current state, or just abruptly pulling the plug?