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Resolved Question

Image-Back up-Windows 7/ Linux dual boot

Aug 7, 2011 9:04AM PDT

I currently dual boot Vista w/ Ubuntu. Soon I'll be dual booting Linux Ubuntu Natty w/ Windows 7 as I've just ordered a new machine w/ Win 7 pre-installed.
I've also ordered an external hard drive (2 TB) which I plan to use for images and backups.

I've never imaged before. And I'm none too proficient at backing up, either.

My new machine will have one single--1 TB hard drive. I plan to separate this hard drive into only 2 partitions, one for Windows and one for Linux.

Does my dual boot rig pose any special problems for saving images?
Will an image capture both operating systems?
Will I need to image each O.S. separately?
As to "ordinary backups", I'm pretty certain that I will need to backup each O.S. separately.
Is this correct?

And does anyone have any recommendations for an imaging program? Free is nice, but I'm ready to spend a few bucks for a more reliable program.

Discussion is locked

SquigleyQ9x has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Have you ever visited a tar pit?
Aug 7, 2011 10:58AM PDT

While CLONEZILLA will image the drive, your ideas about imaging one or the other OS is going to enter a tar pit if you ever attempt to restore those areas. Rather than repeat all that's been written why not image the entire system?

This mess is a result and many folk but there is no one partition to backup for either OS and then if you restore one or the other SET OF PARTITIONS and they are not in the same order and even then neither will boot.

I fear that some feathers go well with this idea.
Bob

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Simplification-Clarification of original question
Aug 8, 2011 8:02AM PDT

I appreciate your reply, R Proffitt, but it left me a bit confused.
I think I included too many questions in my original post. I'll try to simplify this.
I have a single hard drive with Win 7 and Ubuntu Natty installed alongside each other, each in its' own partition.

Will an image capture both operating systems with a single imaging procedure?

You mentioned Clonezilla as a possible solution. I have also read up on Acronis True Image, which seems to have the capacity for doing incremental backups to supplement the initial image, which appeals to me.

Does anyone have a preferred imaging program? Free or for-pay; I'm considering everything.

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"I have a single hard drive with Win 7 and Ubuntu Natty
Aug 8, 2011 9:59AM PDT

"I have a single hard drive with Win 7 and Ubuntu Natty installed alongside each other, each in its' own partition."

This would be the first time I've ever seen this happen. Windows 7 now has that other partition about 100MB and the OS partition. Linux usually has 3 partitions so I'd like to believe you but today I have yet to find either OS on a single partition.

"Will an image capture both operating systems with a single imaging procedure?"

Why YES! And it's a snap to do with CLONEZILLA.

Sorry after too many failures with incremental images I don't write about them since I have no kind words.
Bob

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Thanks, Bob
Aug 9, 2011 6:27AM PDT

I'll definitely give Clonezilla a good look. I still have a couple of weeks before I'll get around to doing an image and I'll use that time to read up.

As to "partitions"...

FWIW: I hope you'll excuse my abuse of terminology; I realize that misusing words can cause some confusion. The partitions I do have in my current dual boot setup are as follows:
Ubuntu--ext4 and Swap. That's it. Just the 2.
Vista (I began this thread to prepare for my soon-to-arrive Win 7 machine)--Just one partition. As sent from the factory, it had 2 Windows partitions. But I deleted the Recovery drive/partition/whatever on my 2nd clean install. Since I never bothered to create a Data partition as many folks seem to prefer, I have just that one.

And since you don't think too highly of the incremental idea, what would you recommend as an alternate strategy for keeping current with what has changed in the time since doing the image?

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What we can't lose?
Aug 9, 2011 7:25AM PDT

I have images and I have files I can't lose. SYNCBACK, Goodsync do a fine job and now I have a few things up on DROPBOX.

The key is to have more than one copy. Two copies means its time to make a third copy since losing one means we have no backup copy.

Bob

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Thanks again
Aug 10, 2011 9:28AM PDT

I'll check out your suggestions. Thanks for all your help.