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easiest, simplest 'tard proof way of copying a hard drive

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danny_galaga:

using either linux OR XP. im not proud, i just want the absolute easiest way to do it. so that even a 'tard like me can do it

you know what its like. setting it up for your cab, with macros and settings etc to just suit. if you had to start from scratch, it would be quite tedious.

ive been meaning to do this for a while. i had a scare last night and realised i better do it before i WISH id done it. in fact, this drive is a copy a friend made for me from the original, so its certainly worth the effort.

so whats the best thing for me to make an ISO of it (i guess thats what i need to do) and then plug in another hard drive and put the image on that- ready to rock and roll again?

ive posted this question on the ubuntu forum as well, but it only takes about 30 minutes there before the thread is on the second page and gone for good (practically anyway)

MonMotha:

Easiest is probably in Linux.  From a command line:


--- Code: ---dd if=/dev/hdX of=/dev/hdY
--- End code ---

where hdX is the source device and hdY is the destination.

That will have no progress bar.  If you want a progress bar, grab a copy of "pv" ("apt-get install pv" might work on Ubuntu as the package is in Debian) and do


--- Code: ---pv < /dev/hdX > /dev/hdY
--- End code ---

where again hdX is the source and hdY is the destination.  That'll give you an indication of how much has been transferred as well as the speed.  Note that if your hard drives are SATA, these will probably be sdX and sdY instead of hdX and hdY.  Same idea.

You can also use this method to take an image (similar to an "ISO" image of a CD, but not an ISO-9660 or compatible filesystem) by replacing the output argument (/dev/hdY) with a file name.  Note that files >4GB cannot be placed on FAT32 partitions due to limitations of the filesystem.

There is a version of dd built for Windows floating around.  Usage is similar, but I think it takes drive letters as arguments.  There are also likely purpose built drive copiers.

ghettodish:

...or you can make an nlite version of xp with mame added to it.

danny_galaga:


--- Quote from: ghettodish on December 28, 2008, 02:25:07 am ---...or you can make an nlite version of xp with mame added to it.

--- End quote ---

how does that get me around not having to make macros etc for shutting the cab down?

if i have to start from scratch again, theres no reason for me to use anything other than what i was already using, which is win98. its a cocktail cab with games up to about 1991 vintage. it doesnt need drivers for bluetooth and hoosie whatsits  ;D

i guess im wanting to make an backup because that is the spirit of the original machines. you didnt need to program new stuff if something failed. you pulled out the broken part and put in a new one.

monmotha. i dual boot ubuntu/xp. but ive screwed things up before when i wasnt a hundred percent about what i was doing in the terminal. i was hoping for something equivalent to copying tapes like when we were kids. you didnt need a degree for that. you put the original tape in one deck, the blank tape in the other. press play/record. hey presto! exact copy!

im beginning to realise that there isnt an equivalent of that. that it can be done, but type something in wrong and you risk wiping over the drive instead of copying it! maybe norton ghost is exactly what i want, but i dont want to buy/steal...

i have copied all the unique files i could think of, including all the mame files, desk top image, macro settings (i think, its been years, dont remember how i made it in the first place!)

EwJ:

http://www.fssdev.com/products/casper/trial/
Casper - free 30 day trial.
Looks like it may suit your requirements.
Says trial copy doesn't work on 64-bit Vista(maybe ok for 64-bit XP?)

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/download/trueimage/
free 15 day trial.
I've heard people swear by this one - never tried it myself.

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads-image-for-linux.htm
Terabyte Image for linux 30 day free trial.
Same site has trial Image for Windows.


http://www.paragon-software.com/home/hdm-personal/download.html
Paragon free trial.


OPEN Source

http://www.clonezilla.org/

http://www.partimage.org/Main_Page


I was looking into doing a clone recently too- found these options.
Sorry - can't comment on the easiest - haven't tried any of them yet (just Ghost a long while back) - so I'm looking for info too, sorry to clutter up your thread - but maybe someone will get some use out of those url's.
I'm going to try Casper first - it's under 4mb and looks easy to use, although dd that MonMotha posted looks as straightforward as it comes -if you're sure of which drive/partition you're working with.
I'll comment on how it went if I ever get around to actually using it.

Would appreciate comments on what you used and how it went.

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