 |
| Register | Login | |||||
 |
Main
| Memberlist
| Active users
| Calendar
| Chat
| Online users Ranks | FAQ | ACS | Stats | Color Chart | Search | Photo album |
|
| | ||
|
| Register | Login | |||||
|
Main
| Memberlist
| Active users
| Calendar
| Chat
| Online users Ranks | FAQ | ACS | Stats | Color Chart | Search | Photo album |
|
| | ||
| 0 users currently in Hardware / Software. |
| Acmlm's Board - I3 Archive - Hardware / Software - Copying hard drives |
New poll |  |  |
| Add to favorites | Next newer thread | Next older thread |
| User | Post | ||
Zer0wned Koopa                   Since: 12-09-05 From: Torrance, ca Last post: 6588 days Last view: 6588 days |
| ||
| I'm going to need to figure out how to create exact copies of data from an existing hard drive, onto an exterior hard drive (doesn't have to be an exterior, but it is preferred).
Then of course how to write this information onto a new hard drive. I'm willing to use linux (but I think my boss would prefer the use of windows), and my boss had mentioned something about using Norton Ghost. Any tips/tricks/preferred methods? |
|||
neotransotaku Sledge Brother Liberated from school...until MLK day   Since: 11-17-05 From: In Hearst Field Annex... Last post: 6433 days Last view: 6430 days |
| ||
| If it is just a data drive, (i.e. does not contain the operating system), then you can just simply select all the folders of the drive (i.e. select all the folders in D:\ and then copy). However, if you want a more automated solution (or you also want to backup the operating system) then Norton Ghost works. | |||
|
Zer0wned Koopa Since: 12-09-05 From: Torrance, ca Last post: 6588 days Last view: 6588 days |
| ||
| Yeah, it's for programs, master boot record and the operating system, because we have a bunch of computers that need the same programs and settings. Since I'm handling the computers now, we'd like to have something that'll streamline the process of complete operating system replacement when necessary. I nor my boss has ever done disk copying with system files involved, and since it seems like such a lengthy process (especially if I screw up), so I'd like to try to get it right the first time.
So I guess I'll tool around with norton ghost now... |
|||
FreeDOS + Giant Red Koopa Legion: freedos = fritos  Since: 11-17-05 From: Seattle Last post: 6430 days Last view: 6430 days |
| ||
| If you're using NTFS, just plain use ntfsclone from the RIP Live Linux CD (the non-X version is smaller, I prefer it for that reason). This is the most safe and complete cloning of NTFS, though it requires a competency at CLIs (Linux experience is a bonus, but it's easy enough). RIP also has a utility to backup/restore the MBR, you can't miss it, it's noted at the login prompt.
If you're using FAT, then you'd be fine with using PartImage, also on RIP. PartImage is fairly easy to use, and makes a backup of the MBR in the same file. (though it has NTFS support, it's not yet as good as ntfsclone, thus why I didn't recommend it in the previous paragraph). |
|||
|
Zer0wned Koopa Since: 12-09-05 From: Torrance, ca Last post: 6588 days Last view: 6588 days |
| ||
| yes, it is NTFS
Sounds more like what I'm looking for, do you know if I have to manually mount or go through some kind of schpeil when trying to detect an external HDD? or is it a pretty automatic function? (I have almost no experience with external drives, especially under linux) |
|||
|
FreeDOS + Giant Red Koopa Legion: freedos = fritos Since: 11-17-05 From: Seattle Last post: 6430 days Last view: 6430 days |
| ||
| Linux likes to pretend that USB drives are also SCSI drives in the /dev file-tree (probably just out of laziness of inventing new naming schemes). Your drive might show up as /dev/sda, but use the command dmesg | grep usb to double-check.
In order for you to store the image, the drive will need to have a filesystem on it already. FAT is very likely not possible due to limitations (4GB max file size), full NTFS write support in Linux so new (about a week and half ago), it probably won't be in RIP for some time. So if you don't mind, you'll want to use ext2 which won't be accessible from Windows without special tools/drivers (though the importance of accessing from Windows is neglible, if you're only using it to backup a filesystem). So your first step with the disk is to make one partition that is at least one and a half times the size of the filesystem you're trying to back up (the reason for more is that ext2 will take some space itself, and plus there's space used by NTFS that Windows doesn't tell you about). Set it to type 0x83 just for safety's sake (Linux doesn't care about partition types, but the number is reserved for Linux and it's a good idea for other OSes). What you use to make the partition really shouldn't matter, but you don't want to rely on commercial software to make the filesystem (eg, PartitionMagic and the like tend to screw up; if you use such software, ignore that they attempt to make an ext2 filesystem and head on to making it yourself). Assuming that it's the first partition on the USB disk, and the disk is on /dev/sda, simply type the command mke2fs /dev/sda1; if it's not /dev/sda, then replace the last three letters appropriately, if it's not the first partition, replace the number with 1-4 for primary, 5+ for logical (even if there's less than four primary; also, if you're confused for the partition number, try typing fdisk -l /dev/sda). Mounting is important, you can't use the filesystem otherwise! This is very simple. First create a directory to mount it in, like this: mkdir /mnt/usb. then mount it with this command: mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/usb Whew, I never thought such fundamental set-up steps would take so many words. Really, it's not difficult at all, just don't be nervous and you should be fine. After the disk and filesystem set-up is done, you have the simple task of using backup-mbr and ntfsclone. I've not used backup-mbr, but simply typing the command displays usage information. ntfsclone is a bit more complex ("ntfsclone" all by itself shows a usage summary, you can use man ntfsclone for more detail), but I'll summarize what you'll likely do: ntfsclone -O /mnt/usb/ntfs.img -s /dev/hda1 (This outputs into the image /mnt/usb/ntfs.img, using a special format (makes it easier for ext2 by not having to worry about sparse parts), from the partition /dev/hda1 (assuming that the NTFS filesystem is the first partition on the first IDE disk)). Restoring NTFS is just like backing it up: ntfsclone -O /dev/hda1 -r /mnt/usb/ntfs.img (edited by FreeDOS + on 07-26-06 06:13 AM) |
|||
|
Zer0wned Koopa Since: 12-09-05 From: Torrance, ca Last post: 6588 days Last view: 6588 days |
| ||
I found a trial of Acronis True Image, not very customizeable, but pretty fast (and it works... which is important). doesn't let you copy individual partitions which is kind of annoying (maybe I just missed it  )
Norton was a pain and tried to run itself in the background without my permission as usual.. god I hate norton  . |
|||
Dwedit Rope フクト オン フォニクス  Since: 11-17-05 From: Chicago! Last post: 6432 days Last view: 6431 days |
| ||
| I had to copy a partition from my laptop drive to a new hard drive once. I used Knoppix and dd to do the job. First I created a second partition with the exact same size as the first, then used dd to copy to source partition to the destination partition. And it was fully bootable, and there were no problems. Yes it was NTFS, but dd doesn't care about what filesystem you have, since it's a raw copy.
One thing though with knoppix, watch out, since sometimes it doesn't properly enable USB2, I had to dig around to find out how. (edited by Dwedit on 08-05-06 05:55 AM) |
| Add to favorites | Next newer thread | Next older thread |
| Acmlm's Board - I3 Archive - Hardware / Software - Copying hard drives |
| |
