Bootup/Restore/Backup from Hard Drive

Forum: HD Install
Topic: Bootup/Restore/Backup from Hard Drive
started by: Rapidweather

Posted by Rapidweather on Feb. 02 2004,03:44

I've been working with several older computers that do not have USB ports for
the restoration, especially when MozillaFirebird is required, and have found that
a quick hard drive install works wonders. Here is my howto:
< http://www.angelfire.com/ms/telegram/general_howto >
This is not a "real hard drive install", but a way of placing a /knoppix folder in
Windows, and booting off a Damn Small Linux boot floppy. Big changes in the
way your system is restored, it's restored from another partition! No USB memory
stick required, and MozillaFirebird comes back every time with all your bookmarks,
history and settings!
Big speed boost over running off the CD, and very easy on your computer
compared to running MozillaFirebird in Windows 98. :;):

Posted by hasty on Feb. 02 2004,20:36

Good man. Clearly set out & expressed.
(My printer says 10 pages!)

You are obviously just the person John wants for his additional documentation

Seriously give it a thought.

I'd love to be able to do it myself but too little knowledge & not enough time (young kids).
Also a tendency to post without thinking.....lol

Posted by Rapidweather on Feb. 03 2004,02:26

You have your printer working in DSL? :laugh:

Posted by Rapidweather on Feb. 03 2004,02:50

I have revised (again) the filetool.sh file that controls where the backup file
backup.tar.gz goes (what partition):
It's here:
----------
< http://www.angelfire.com/ms/telegram/filetool_Storage >
---------
This script is a modified version of the orginal in DSL, and does not look for
a USB drive or floppy drive at all. Only a valid hard drive partition to put the backup in.
This one checks to see if you have a filetool.lst in the backup partition, and if
you don't, it just prompts you to put one there. The original copied the default
/home/damnsmall/filetool.lst (which does not have MozillaFirebird support) to the
backup partition, and I found that to be my undoing more than once.
I learned to backup my filetool.lst, and my backup.tar.gz somewhere, so I could get them back if need be. One way is to rename a good one like this:
#cp backup.tar.gz good_backup.tar.gz
and:
#cp filetool.lst good_filetool.lst
Then, if something happens, you can reverse the process :;):

I also, (shame, in Windows 98) burned copies to CD. That helps in
setting up new computers.
I still have not figured out how to do all this with one partition. Works
ok if you run off the DSL CDROM, and get your backup off the hard
drive, using a floppy with the filetool.sh script on it. That would work, I
suppose. Just don't know how to put a /knoppix folder in one partition
and then restore/backup to it also. DSL will stop you from writing the
backup to /cdrom (that's where /knoppix is), as it is a "read only file system"
----
Be interesting to see how the next edition of DSL does it. All the others,
SuSE and LindowsOS want you to run off the cd, and they backup to the
hard drive.
----
Speed advantages of running /knoppix off the hard drive are very good,
as compared to running off the CDROM. I have tried it on a bunch of
computers, and a P4 has a hard time keeping up with a 200mmx if the
P4 has to work from the CDROM. LindowsOS wants a fast computer, to
make up the differences :laugh: