[NMLUG] drive duplication/backup

[Ed at Heron-ent.com (Ed Heron)]

From: "Peter Espen" <peter@espen.net>

> >   What is wrong with tar?
> >
> >   We all know tar doesn't make a drive bootable.  We also know that if
you
> > tar a partition (ie. tar c /dev/hda), when you untar, it doesn't resize
the
> > partition into the new size.  Tar just isn't designed for that kind of
> > thing.
>
> I think 'dd' and 'fdisk' are better tools for such things because they can
> copy boot blocks and such, which would have saved you the need to do all
> that Win95 boot disk stuff you describe below.

  Can dd change the size of the partition?  Since it does an image copy, I
was under the impression that the destination would then have to be 'fixed'
for any change in number of blocks.  Plus, the destination has to the same
size or larger than the source, doesn't it?

> ...

> >   The conclusion of all this is that I have a backup method for Win95,
98
> > and ME that isn't Windows based.  Also, with chroot, I can have a Linux
> > partition make itself bootable.
>
> Technically, it's partially Windows based because your method needed the
Win95
> boot disk you describe above.  Linux with 'fidks' and dd' can duplicate
Windows
> partitions and drives completely without needing any Windows software at
all.

  Yes, but in most cases, you must use the OS in a native environment to
convert a collection of files into a bootable system.  Unless you have
something that understands the rules.  I've used Partition Magic to resize
and move partitions around.  However, considering my recent success, I may
switch to tar.

  I think it may come down to what you are comfortable with.