I don't know what "dd" is . . .

However, BootItNG will do it, as a matter of fact; I just like Drive Image. I am never sure with BootIt whether there have been any errors in the image making/restoration process, altho the BootIt people contend that it warns you.

My primary beef, I guess is with the lack of drivers for hardware.

The other problems can be worked around, and I am glad to know about the Photoshop business as was pointed out to me earlier in the thread.

Karl

Hello,

I love Linux....

I think the situation has radically improved in just the last year or so - Mandrake 10.1 in particular has been fantastic in this regard alone. Hell, even my blessed Sagem F@st 800 modem worked straight out of the box!!

But yes, for some hardware it can be tricky, I agree. Perhaps when hardware vendors start to provide Linux drivers for their products (and I do believe that we may start to see that happen more often) the burden will be shifted to an extent. As it is, nVidia, HP (printers), Epson, VIA, even ATI - I think they're all to be appluaded for at least trying to offer some Linux support for their products.

Moved: This thread is more suitable in General, and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

That said - we've had/are having a whole truckload of
threads like this, and there was NO need to re-animate
this one

just don't buy a computer on the bleeding edge of development and expect linux to have drivers for your stuff.