backup up a hd with dd

bucovaina78 · 04-26-2005, 06:55 AM

Hi,

I'm wanting to backup a few computers with m$ on it. I was wanting to use the command

dd if=/dev/hda of=/mnt/sda1/backup.img

But I suppose that dd is going to copy also the empty space. How can I make an image of the bootloader AND the space being used by m$? so when I restore the pc to it's original state by doing something like

dd if=/mnt/sda1/backup.img of /dev/hda

so that the bootloader and partition table of m$ is also being overwritten.

Wannes

veerain · 04-26-2005, 09:07 AM

To copy bootloader just do
dd if=/dev/hda of=/mnt/sda1/bootld bs=512c count=1
and to copy just partition where m$ is installed. For example if it's installed on hda1 then type
dd if=/dev/hda1 of=/mnt/sda1/backup.img

bucovaina78 · 04-26-2005, 11:47 AM

yes ok, but won't that copy also the unused space?

Wannes