My hard disk is going to crash!!
 

Hi
I think my hard disk is going to crash!:( :(
I have a Win XP and a Redhat 7.5 on my hard disk and I want to save the files, programs and settings of my Linux. What should I do? Is there any way to mirror the linux?
Any help is highly appreciated!
Soheyl

First
buy another hard drive

second
get a copy of Knoppix if you can

floppy

How can I use Knoppix to transfer all the settings of my previous Redhat installation?
Look. I have many programs on my redhat installation with many settings that will take me a long time to setup again (Actually some of the programs and their settings aren't setup by me!). Can Knoppix transfer all of them, without requiring more labour?
Thanks
Soheyl

if you copy every file over to the new drive all the settings willbe the same as before
I think settings are stored in /etc and /home/user/.program/ but you should copy everything in / over

Use

dd to copy the harddrive ..

dd if=/dev/<source> of=/dev/<dest> bs=512 count=1

Be really careful when you use this command .. Check your source and destination correctly
./thanks
ilaiy

It is easier then you know.

Buy a second hdd.
Create partitions on new hdd, maybe like on your old one.
Format new partitions.
Boot e.g. from Knoppix or other bootable cd.
Then mount old and new hdd with e.g.
mount /dev/hda /mnt/
mount /dev/hdc /mnt2/

and then copy all old files on new partition with:
cp -av /mnt/* /mnt2

and execute your favorite bootmanger e.g. grub-install.

"cp -Rav" would probably work better. . .

There's a guide to backing up partitions at the bottom of the "Getting started with Linux" link in my sig., soheyl

a includes R.

I stand corrected :)

Thank you all
I have another question (maybe a silly one):
Do I have to use Knoppix or other bootable CD. If I install a new version of Redhat, is it impossible to mount the older partition and then copy all files over the existing (and maybe in-use) ones?