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There are a few unanswered items here. I assume you are going to re-install xp when you dual boot. If that's the case you can use xps file and transfer wizard to just back up what you want to save like my documents, mail, bookmarks,etc. Formatting is always a good idea. Use sys admin to format the usb drive the same as your system.
Partitioning depends on whether you just plan on using the usb drive as a temporary or permanent storage. xp comes with everything you need to do this. No point in re-inventing the wheel
Distribution: (U/K/X)buntu 6.1 (newer box) / D*mn Small Linux (older box)
Posts: 326
Original Poster
Rep:
Quote:
Originally Posted by leandean
There are a few unanswered items here. I assume you are going to re-install xp when you dual boot. If that's the case you can use xps file and transfer wizard to just back up what you want to save like my documents, mail, bookmarks,etc. Formatting is always a good idea. Use sys admin to format the usb drive the same as your system.
Partitioning depends on whether you just plan on using the usb drive as a temporary or permanent storage. xp comes with everything you need to do this. No point in re-inventing the wheel
leandean, i don't plan on removing my current install. i will shrink the partition and then add the linux partitions.
i should have said i want an image of my current hard drive so i can install the image should something blow up on me.
You could possibly boot off a CD with Knoppix or SuSE Live and then use dd copy. I haven't done it that way but I use it at work occasionally when I have to install a pre-configured OS on multiple machines. That way you wouldn't have to format the usb drive. If you want to partition the usb, give it about 10% more than you current drive size to be on the safe side. Your distribution entry says you have an older box so I would try it out on that machine first. Then after you do the image to the usb, use dd copy to copy it back to make sure everything is okay.
Or you can set your bios to boot off the usb drive to see if the OS comes up (if your bios supports it, of course).
Distribution: (U/K/X)buntu 6.1 (newer box) / D*mn Small Linux (older box)
Posts: 326
Original Poster
Rep:
Quote:
Originally Posted by leandean
You could possibly boot off a CD with Knoppix or SuSE Live and then use dd copy. I haven't done it that way but I use it at work occasionally when I have to install a pre-configured OS on multiple machines. That way you wouldn't have to format the usb drive. If you want to partition the usb, give it about 10% more than you current drive size to be on the safe side. Your distribution entry says you have an older box so I would try it out on that machine first. Then after you do the image to the usb, use dd copy to copy it back to make sure everything is okay.
Or you can set your bios to boot off the usb drive to see if the OS comes up (if your bios supports it, of course).
when you say dd, i think disk druid. is this correct?
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