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#1 2011-02-11 03:40:20

japtar10101
Member
Registered: 2009-08-08
Posts: 57

Backing up Arch Linux partitions

Hello again.  Newbie question:

I have a single hard drive that I'll be installing Windows onto.  Since Arch is already installed on it, I want to back it up in an external hard drive.  After I install Windows, I'd like to restore my Arch backups in their respective (ultimately smaller) partitions.

First, what's the best back-up programs for this?  From what I understand, the most optimal choice is a program that backs up an image of a partition.  I use Ext2 and Ext4 file systems.

Second, after all the partitions are restored, what's the necessary procedure to make Arch (and Windows) work again?  I know that 1) the MBR has to be set to the GRUB partition, 2) GRUB's configuration has to change in reflection to the new hard drive configuration, and, 3) /etc/fstab has to be fixed.  Anything I'm missing?

Thanks in advance!

Last edited by japtar10101 (2011-02-11 03:41:07)

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#2 2011-02-11 04:50:25

thisoldman
Member
From: Pittsburgh
Registered: 2009-04-25
Posts: 1,172

Re: Backing up Arch Linux partitions

Take a look at fsarchiver.  It will save and restore partitions with altered sizes and keep the original UUIDs.  If your fstab uses UUIDs now, you can skip editing that file.  Fsarchiver is available on the SystemRescueCD: http://www.sysresccd.org.

If you're on a 64-bit system. if you reinstall grub via chroot, the kernel you boot up in also has to be 64-bit.

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#3 2011-02-11 05:03:52

ozar
Member
From: USA
Registered: 2005-02-18
Posts: 1,686

Re: Backing up Arch Linux partitions

Agreed... fsarchiver has worked perfectly for me each time I've used it (around 50 to 60 times).


oz

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#4 2011-02-12 16:11:55

v43
Member
Registered: 2011-02-03
Posts: 140

Re: Backing up Arch Linux partitions

i use acronis true image (with the boot cd). it's a windows application, but it works with ext2-4 too. i think it's the best around. it doesn't come for free, but... wink
you must install the program in windows in order to burn the cd. or maybe not.. http://torrentz.eu/any?q=acronis+true+image+boot+cd

Last edited by v43 (2011-02-12 16:12:12)

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#5 2011-02-12 17:54:57

japtar10101
Member
Registered: 2009-08-08
Posts: 57

Re: Backing up Arch Linux partitions

Found myself using fsarchiver, and...it worked smile!

Now I need to figure out how to get Window 7 loaded from Grub.  It tells me I might have a virus, then fail promptly.

Edit: Oh, never mind.  False alarm.  I simply had an incorrect boot location.

Last edited by japtar10101 (2011-02-12 18:05:43)

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