Image 2 hard disks to 1 new one
 

This may be a weird request but here goes.. I currently have 2 hard disks installed on my box; hard disk 1 is 13Gb and is my primary bootable disk. It boot to lilo which then boot XP from disk 1 or Slackware from disk 2 (20Gb). Here is my "df -h" to give you a better idea :-

As you can see I mount hard disk 1 under Slack to be /winxp.

Thing is I am thinking of buying a 300Gb disk for this box and would like to devote half to WinXP and half to Slackware (I run Slackware 11 with a 2.6.17 kernel. I have spent AGES configuring my Win and SLack installations to be just how I like them and was wondering whether there was a way to "image" or "ghost" my existing partitions from the 2 hard disks to new (and obviously much larger) partitions on the new 300Gb disk so my system worked as it does now but with LOTS more space ? I know I would have to change my lilo configuration for the new booting from a single disk but I reckon that is the easy part - it's the "imaging" bit that worries me! I really don't want to have to install all my apps for both OS's again and tinker with all the settings I have taken months getting just right. The 2 existing disks would then be put into another box for other uses. Hope this is possible but I realize it may be a long shot. Thanks in advance..

Using tar command may help!

Cheers

Norton Ghost is alledgedly the best program for the job, as far as Windows software goes. (This is NOT my choice, just a relatively common sentiment). There is a VERY good chance that Windows will no longer work if you copy it by another means, and this is why I will suggest reinstalling it. The Windows half of the equation will likely be a pain in the neck, if there is one to be had here.
If it were me, (assuming you have 4 ide plugs) I would:
Plug the NEW drive in.
boot Slack, and log in..
Partition the NEW drive how you want it (root partition, swap, ntfs, etc.).
Reboot into Windows from the Windows CD.
Install Windows, and reboot the OLD windows and save your settings to export with files and settings transfer wizard (never used it, but I think it does that).
Boot the new Windows and import your settings using Windows files and settings transfer wizard to configure the Windows the way you have it now.
Copy all your other stuff from Windows OLD to Windows NEW.(Most Windows apps will not like being copied; I wouldnt expect them to work. This is why I suggest that you will likely have to reinstall much of it, unless you have good cloning software like Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image)
Exit Windows and boot Slack. Log in as ROOT.
Mount the new drive's Slack partition.
Recursively copy everything from the Slack Installation over to the new drives Slack installation.
Fix/reconfigure LILO by ADDING the new Slack installation's information, but DONT yet delete the old info from lilo.
Test the system to make sure you can boot the new Slack.
If you can boot the new Slack, do so and run LILO again to fix/add the new Windows installation to it.
You'll prolly need to add some/all of these NEW partitions to the Slack etc/fstab file too during this process, to simplify things.

* I think I covered everything.
** There are likely MANY ways to do what you want to do; this is just the plan that I would consider, and if it failed, I would cross that bridge when I got to it :). This MAY not be the best route, but it should give you ideas.
*** I'm not responsible for what you do ;)
**** Someone else may have a better idea.

Not quite with you here - I thought "tar" was to create archive files under nix. I need to address the windows side of things as well as my Slackware partitions with all the requirements of MBR settings, partition tables etc. So basically, so far as I know, my new harddisk has to be bootable, run lilo to give the option of booting to an XP partition (which will be an image of my existing XP disk but larger and will now be a partition on the disk), or Slackware - which will also be an image of my existing Slackware disk - but with larger partitions. Sorry if this is confusing but I can't think of a better way of describing the scenario...
Cheers.. Hopefully I can get what my current "df -h" shows but with all partitions being on hda1 and a lot BIGGER whilst maintaining all installed progs, etc.

Just save your configs and reinstall ... guess that might be a bit easier on one OS than on the other :D

Sorry GrapefruiTGirl - my reply was meant for v.tieubao - I was composing that reply as you where posting yours !! Anyway - initially you seem to have grasped exactly what I'm on about so I'm about to study your suggestions - thanks a lot...Cool reply !!

Cheers...

No worries ;) Here's another idea for the Windows: You may have a faster time using NTBACKUP, and backing up the ENTIRE Windows installation over to the NEW drive after installing the new windows ( the backup will be huge) and then using the new windows installation, RESTORE that backup.
Windows really is a pain to 'move' but if you're so inclined, You'll figure it out.
If I can help further, I'll be happy to, I have lots of Win experience.
:)
PS - OH and another idea; Do you know how to make a "slipstreamed" windows install disk?
Of not, look it up, read about it; you can create a bootable Windows install CD containing ALL of your service packs, hotfixes, patches, etc, and it saves a LOT of reinstalling stuff after using one.
I slipstreamed my XP 5.1 SP2 and it was a breeze. Then you just need to deal with applications, because the WIN install will be up to date already.You can add other stuff too, within the limits of the CDR (or if you can burn DVD's, you can include pretty much the entire system ;)

I keep a backup of my Slack partition, using tar as so:
This works very well for Linux partitions. I can't help you with the Windows ones.
Regards,
Bill

Thanks loads for your time - never heard of "slipstreamed" install disks so i'm off to make friends with Google again ! Once again - I really appreciate your time with my problem. All the best...

P.S. Now I see it may be possible to perform the transfer I am about to order my nice new big disk !! No more shuffling round downloads. Take care...

The thing you need to make the Slipstreamed disk is called 'ISO-BUSTER', if I recall correctly, and it is very easy to use.
Google ISOBUSTER, and stuff like 'slipstreaming XP'.
Also you need the SP2 Cabinet installer package, in the XP-hotfix format, so I hope you have that on disk, or you have Highspeed internet and you can download it from MS.
You will know you found the correct slipstream instructions if they explain the following:
-- getting the SP2 package.
-- extracting it to the C drive in a new directory.
-- copying your XP disc to a new folder in C:\
-- using isobuster to extract the boot .IMG from the original XP disc
-- Finally, using ISObuster & Nero to assemble and burn the new XP boot disc.

Again, you're welcome; I've gotten loads of help from here. Happy to return some. I'm pretty new to Slack, but not to Win, though I no longer have it installed since it ate my old hard drive :P
LOL, Take care.

Nice one !! Had a quick Google around at slipstreaming install disks but one thing worries me - I have installed LOADS of updates to XP after my initial SP2 update with M'soft automatic update and wonder whether I can replicate these to an install disk ? I.e. all these security downloads will have to be re downloaded ? As you obviously know there seem to be almost daily updates to WinXP and Office applied via Automatic Update - i.e. my windows dir is full of kb* entries. Can I retain these across my migration ?

As long as the installers (the KB files = XP-hotfix files) are present, YES it will let you include all patches and hotfixes you currently have.
It's been a little while, so I can't recall all the details, but that's the idea: you don't have to do the automatic updates crap for days on end; it will all be included in the Slipstream disk, as if it were the original Windows install disk, only newer :)
When you find that tutorial, it will tell you how to do it and where to go if you need more stuff to do it.
Generally, Windows keeps all the necessary stuff *somewhere* in some directory.. But if you can't find it, then you will have to download the hotfixes but DONT install them, ONLY download them, so that they can be included in the slipstream.
Same with SP2 : You need it downloaded but NOT installed. You will have to (in command prompt) extract SP2 INTO the copy of your original disc on the hard drive; this will 'integrate' it into the whole thing. Instructions are in the tutorial.
MS also offers for download to genuine-windows users service pack mini-collections, for example, you can download a package of hotfixes containing everything SINCE SP2, in one lump. That makes it faster too.
You may need to browse the MS downloads site for a llittle while, cuz theres millions of things there, it can be tricky to find stuff.

Nice on Mr Gates - nice one GrapefruiTgirl, all is good - hopefully. I must admit I'm a little nervous about this project having spent a LONG time getting my system just how I like it with XP and Slack. Oh well - nothing ventured nothing gained as they say... Thanks again... I thought I was pretty much clued up with Windows but now I know - unfortunately I'm not.... Best Wishes...

Well, nervousness is understandable, I was too, but just read,read,read and understand the directions. It sounds like a big job, but you will laugh at how easy it was when all done.
DONT RUSH! Take the time to do it right, even if you hafta download a bunch of stuff from MS. Believe me, the slipstream idea really is a lifesaver, specially considering how accident prone Win can be at times. Having one of these discs around is VERY good insurance.
I don't think there is a 100% foolproof way of recreating Win exactly as it is/was elsewhere, but this is the closest I've seen.
PS - If you need more help along the way, email me via my profile if you like, I'll help where I can. I say this in case we end up putting too much Windows stuff in here in the Slack forum.
NOTE TO MODERATORS: If this thread needs to be moved/continued elsewhere, or if left here is fine, please advise.
:)
...off to bed for me. Good luck!

Sasha

another approach:

you could make partitions the same size as your old partitions and pipe dd through ftp (e.g dd <options> if=/dev/hda1 | ftp).

i've never done this myself, but a friend of mine had success. should be fast!

EDIT: http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Dd