0. Prerequisites:
- Reference: http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=226402
- Download "Rescue CD": http://www.sysresccd.org/Download
REMARK: The credit goes to user "Frank Golden" whose thread I have taken as a reference in the first place.
1. Boot from RESCUE CD & type:2.1. Backing up (screenshot 1):
- Create mount-point:
mkdir /backup- Checking partition tables:
fdisk -l- Mount backup partition; xxxx stands for your partition that serves as a backup device (e.g. hda1, sda1):
mount /dev/xxxx /backup- Start Partimage:
partimage2.2. Backing up (screenshot 2):
- Choose partition you want to backup.
- Type "Image file to create/use":
/backup/your_backup_file- Choose "Action to be done" = "Save partition into a new image file".
- Press F5.
- Choose "Compression level" = "None".
- Choose "Image split mode" = "Into files whose size is:...".
- Select size bigger than your partition in MB (left).
- Hit F5.
2.3. Backing up (screenshot 3):
- Enter any description (or leave it blank).
- Press <enter> to continue.
2.4. Finalizing backup:
- Hit <enter> when prompted to confirm backup size, disk space, etc.
- That's it!
IMPORTANT NOTE: When I used "Compression level" Gzip to compress my backup file I was unable to restore it later on. I cannot remember the exact error message, but I have avoided it ever since. When backing up your data, I recommend to use option A which is "None" (no compression). It's also the faster option.
3.1. Restoring (screenshot 4):
- Select partition to restore.
- Type "Image file to create/use" (note the extension .000):
/backup/your_backup_file.000- Choose "Action to be done" = "Restore partition from an image file".
- Press F5.
3.2. Restoring (screenshot 5):
- Select "Options" = "Simulation of the restoration..." in order to test your backup file. I highly recommend this extra step. Leave it blank to go ahead without simulation.
- Hit F5.
3.3. Finalizing restoring:
- Confirm all remaining operations with <enter> when prompted.
Partimage has been fairly reliable so far (well, except for the mentioned issue with GZip compression) but I appreciate if anybody else can contribute ideas & comments. Should I have left out important (or less important) step, please drop me a line.
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