Hi,

Pls suggest me a very "simple" CD / USB bootable based software which can create an image of my HDD (FC9) -- ONLY USED SECTORS.

I use Acronis for creating a windows image. Its a very simple and easy software. Just insert Acronis bootable CD/USB, select Windows partitions or FULL HDD, click next-next-next and it will create a .tib file for you where ever you want.

Is there a similar tool for Linux too ??
(Acronis for Linux is damn expensive.)

I have read about `dd` / PartImage / `cat`, but they seem complicated to me. A very simple application will be of great help.

I am using g4l, but it does a sector-by-sector copy HDD to HDD.
I have only used 24GB of my 160 GB disc. Hence a sector-by-sector image is not a good option.

I just want a directly restorable image file of the used sectors.

I hope I have been able to explain well.

I look forward to suggestions from members.

Thx
Vai

Partimage Live CD or Clonezilla Live CD would be my choices.

CloneZilla is wat you need.
Works very good, even with Windows partitions and disks.

http://www.clonezilla.org/

@farslayer, @vanstra,
Thx for your inputs.
I am looking at CloneZilla and I believe this is indeed what I need.


Just some quick questions pls:
Does CloneZilla detect a USB pendrive to backup the image ?
I would like to save the Device Image to a locally connected 16GB pen drive.
Then I can connect the same pen drive to another PC and restore it there.

"device-image" means the image of the whole HDD right?

Is it sector-by-sector or only the data with compressions ?
I have a 160 GB SATA with 24 GB of data only

Thx for your help!
Vai

Clonezilla does all that and more.

Disk, partition, Data only, bit-for-bit. a whole variety of cloning methods.
Should be able to clone to a USB drive, Network share, or another Hard drive.
More options than you can shake a stick at.

Here is the step-by-step on making a backup of a 40 GB hard drive onto an external USB drive
http://goinglinux.com/articles/ClonezillaLive.html

Excellent step-by-step instructions!
I will try this tomorrow and post my experience.

Thx again.
Vai