[gentoo-user] backup tool for my Windows 98 desktop?

[gentoo-user] backup tool for my Windows 98 desktop?

[Zhang Weiwu]

Hello. Most of our computers in the Office runs Linux, however we have
to keep a Win98 desktop (dual-boot with Linux) so that we can test
several software. This is a purely testbed machine that need regular
re-install. e.g. once a month, because it's placed publically and breaks
frequently.

I am tired of re-installing Windows 98, and then complete with other
software (filezilla, 7-zip, extra editors..., OOO). I think perhaps it's
easier after I re-installed everything I make a backup of the Windows
partition onto a CDROM and later use that CDROM to restore the
partition.

The partition is 5GB but actual data on it is smaller then 600MB right
after Win98 and complementary software installed.

First I thought using gentoo live CD, use dd(1) to copy the partition to
a file and burn it on the live CD. However the file must be too big to
fit on CDR (en I think perhaps I can compress it), and yet how do I add
it to the live CD iso image so that cdrecord(1) can burn it? I think
perhaps I should first try borrow experience on gentoo user list.

How do you think is the best approach?

P.S. I know norton Ghost can do this but I don't think it's worth to buy
a copy.

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Re: [gentoo-user] backup tool for my Windows 98 desktop?

[Ryan Tandy]

Zhang Weiwu wrote:
> [...]

For creating a compressed version of the partition, try passing it 
through gzip or such between dd and the output file; something like

# dd if=/dev/(win98) bs=512 | gzip -9 > win98.gz

would probably do the trick.  To create an ISO image containing the 
file, you want mkisofs (included in cdrtools afaik):

# mkdir win98
# mv win98.gz win98/
# mkisofs -o win98.iso win98/

 From there, it's standard cdrecord procedure.  To restore the partition 
later, simply boot to Linux and:

# mount /mnt/cdrom
# zcat /mnt/cdrom/win98.gz | dd of=/dev/(win98)

If even gzip -9 can't get the partition small enough for you, I'm not 
sure what to do.  Try using DBAN (dban.sourceforge.net) to cover the 
partition in zeroes before doing the Windows install; the repeated 
zeroes in the unused space will probably help reduce the compressed file 
size.

HTH.
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Re: [gentoo-user] backup tool for my Windows 98 desktop?

[Joe Menola]

On Saturday 02 September 2006 8:41 pm, Zhang Weiwu wrote:
>  am tired of re-installing Windows 98, and then complete with other
> software (filezilla, 7-zip, extra editors..., OOO). I think perhaps it's
> easier after I re-installed everything I make a backup of the Windows
> partition onto a CDROM and later use that CDROM to restore the
> partition.
>
> The partition is 5GB but actual data on it is smaller then 600MB right
> after Win98 and complementary software installed.
>
> First I thought using gentoo live CD, use dd(1) to copy the partition to
> a file and burn it on the live CD. However the file must be too big to
> fit on CDR (en I think perhaps I can compress it), and yet how do I add
> it to the live CD iso image so that cdrecord(1) can burn it? I think
> perhaps I should first try borrow experience on gentoo user list.
>
> How do you think is the best approach?

Partimage was made for this... http://www.partimage.org/Main_Page

Use http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page if you don't want to install it 
locally. There's also a static version which is what I use.

-jm
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Re: [gentoo-user] backup tool for my Windows 98 desktop?

[Nick Rout]

On Sat, 2 Sep 2006 21:15:28 -0500
Joe Menola <menola@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> On Saturday 02 September 2006 8:41 pm, Zhang Weiwu wrote:
> >  am tired of re-installing Windows 98, and then complete with other
> > software (filezilla, 7-zip, extra editors..., OOO). I think perhaps it's
> > easier after I re-installed everything I make a backup of the Windows
> > partition onto a CDROM and later use that CDROM to restore the
> > partition.
> >
> > The partition is 5GB but actual data on it is smaller then 600MB right
> > after Win98 and complementary software installed.
> >
> > First I thought using gentoo live CD, use dd(1) to copy the partition to
> > a file and burn it on the live CD. However the file must be too big to
> > fit on CDR (en I think perhaps I can compress it), and yet how do I add
> > it to the live CD iso image so that cdrecord(1) can burn it? I think
> > perhaps I should first try borrow experience on gentoo user list.
> >
> > How do you think is the best approach?
> 
> Partimage was made for this... http://www.partimage.org/Main_Page
> 
> Use http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page if you don't want to install it 
> locally. There's also a static version which is what I use.
> 
> -jm

or g4u
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Re: [gentoo-user] backup tool for my Windows 98 desktop?

[Meino Christian Cramer]

From: Ryan Tandy <tarpman@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] backup tool for my Windows 98 desktop?
Date: Sat, 02 Sep 2006 19:11:15 -0700

> Zhang Weiwu wrote:
> # dd if=/dev/(win98) bs=512 | gzip -9 > win98.gz

dd if=/dev/(win98) bs=512 | 7z a win98.7z 

p7zip is the 7zip implementation of 7z for windows. My knowledge is
based on the Linux version. Both version should create
compatible arcgives. Look at the manual: There are several  options to
increase compression ratio. For me -mx=9 (1GB RAM needed) works fine. 
7z for windows should have equal/identical/similiar setting available.

The compression ration of (p)7zip using LZMA compression is far better
than that of gzip -- and it costs more time to compress...

...
 
> # mount /mnt/cdrom
> # zcat /mnt/cdrom/win98.gz | dd of=/dev/(win98)

  7z x -so win98.7z | dd of=/dev/(win98)

> If even gzip -9 can't get the partition small enough for you, I'm not 
> sure what to do.  

  ...then try 7z/p7zip.

 Ony my two cent -- your mileage may vary...
 Keep hacking!
 mcc

 PS: p/7zip is GPL'ed. Highest compression ratio for lowest price,
 hehehe :)


> Try using DBAN (dban.sourceforge.net) to cover the 
> partition in zeroes before doing the Windows install; the repeated 
> zeroes in the unused space will probably help reduce the compressed file 
> size.
> 
> HTH.
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> gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
> 
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