Best way to make complete back-up/image of hard drive?
#1
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Best way to make complete back-up/image of hard drive?
What is the best (easiest?) way to make an entire back up of my hard drive? I will be moving soon but will continue working on my current work project so I need to back everything up and take it with me. It would be best if I can get a 100% back up everything - including email and things... essentially take my hard drive/computer with me (without, of course actually taking it with me )
#2
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This will work for any operating system. This is the BEST way to do it as it is
a complete image of the hard disk.
1 grab a copy of Ubuntu, put it on a USB stick.
2 put an empty hard disk in the computer
3 get the disk names from the disk utility in Ubuntu.
4 boot Ubuntu, drop to the command line and type:
where /dev/sda is the original and /dev/sdb is the new backup. This copies disk A to disk B.
Restore backup is:
Each hard disk in Linux is assigned a device called /dev/sd*, just figure out which device is which first. the dd command makes a direct disk image with an Input File and and Output File.
http://www.cyberciti...up-with-dd.html
This is totally free except for the cost of your backup media.
a complete image of the hard disk.
1 grab a copy of Ubuntu, put it on a USB stick.
2 put an empty hard disk in the computer
3 get the disk names from the disk utility in Ubuntu.
4 boot Ubuntu, drop to the command line and type:
Code:
dd if=/dev/sda of=/dev/sdb conv=noerror,sync
Restore backup is:
Code:
dd if=/dev/sdb of=/dev/sda conv=noerror,sync
http://www.cyberciti...up-with-dd.html
This is totally free except for the cost of your backup media.
#3
Moderator
There's also RAID mode 5. This is setup in the bios.... you have 3 disks with 3 parts of the disks on them. Any one hard disk on a RAID mode 5 drive can fail.
DiskA contains
Part 1 Part 2
Disk B contains
Part 2 Part 3
Disk C contains
Part 3 Part 1
using this mode you won't need to worry about hard disk failure at all.
DiskA contains
Part 1 Part 2
Disk B contains
Part 2 Part 3
Disk C contains
Part 3 Part 1
using this mode you won't need to worry about hard disk failure at all.
#4
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Acronis True Image. If all you want to do is use a program to copy a hard drive without learning how to deal with a new operating system, Acronis, hands down. Bonus points if your hard drive manufacturer makes it available free at their web site.
#5
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I've heard Norton Ghost is good for that kind of thing. Not sure if you can get your hands on a copy but I would look into it if you can.
#6
Super Moderator
I just did this to replace a drive with "hopelessly many" bad sectors. The current attitude online is that Ghost has gone downhill, but any PITA program is better than losing all your data.
#7
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I use an old version of ghost still. Another cloning tool I use is the partedmagic linux boot disc that has a few different disk cloning utils on it.