Windows 10: Imaging a Linux (or Windows) Disk without Macrium -- Not cloning

Hi folks

Again the wonders of DD -- if you need to image (not clone as that's simple enough) a disk for use as a backup and you don't have an available copy of Macrium to hand it's very easy to use DD to image a disk to a file and restore it. Works on any type of disk.

Preferably from say a VM boot a live distro -- fedora is an easy "Windows like" system or use the WSL in Windows

I prefer storing these images on another external drive but it can be done on local HDD if enough space - but if doing this inside a VM it's better to use an external device for obvious reasons !!

so mount the external drive -- mount /dev<device> -t auto -o rw /mnt (/mnt will exist on your live distro)

and simply do the following dd if=/dev/sda conv=sync,noerror bs=128K | gzip -c > /mnt/image.gz





This might take a little while to run depending on size of HDD being imaged so go for a beer or whatever.
To restore -- again boot live distro and as root :

gunzip -c <your image file.gz> | dd of=<target disk>

You can also do this in the WSL on Windows (both backup and restore)

Don't be afraid whether using Windows or any other OS to use the command line !!

Cheers
jimbo

:)

 

Macrium and Linux Disks cloning

Hi folks
just in case some people don't realize it but it's 100% possible to clone Linux formatted HDD's / SSD's with Macrium (from within Windows too --you don't need to use the stand alone program).

Ensure though when you attach the Linux drives / SSD's you ignore Windows request to format them or any messages about "incompatible file systems"

Simply select clone disks and carry on. The target SSD / HDD can be smaller than the source provided that the /home and / partitions (on Linux) are large enough on the destination drive.

If you know this already - then OK but I know some people on these Forums use Linux for playing with etc and might not know about easy ways of backing up Linux systems (VM's are easy - this is for physical HDD's/ SSD's)






The target disk should be bootable in nearly every case -- it'a always worked for me --just remember NOT to format the disks at windows prompt and ignore incompatible file system messages from Windows.

cheers
jimbo

 

Restoring Windows 10 Image using Macrium Reflect


In addition to the above. Here's my suggestion in step by step.
I assume you have Macrium Installed in your current HD and already made a backup copy.

1. Connect your new HD via USB port and boot up.
2. Run Macrium, click on Restore tab then select the Backup Image that you made to restore
3. click on "select a different target disk" then select your new HD as destination
   
   
   
4. Proceed to restore then Shutdown and disconnect the old HD and replace with the new HD
5. Boot up with your new HD.

 

Macrium and Linux Disks cloning

Hi folks

@CountMike

if you guys are messing around with Linux and want to clone things like USB sticks / micro sd cards

why not use the simple linux dd command -- you can output to a file as well if you want. your micro sd device might be shown as /dev/mmxxxxxx or just a bog standard /dev/sdx device. Use lsblk to list block devices on your system.

From within Windows if you use the WSL and the WSL can see the devices then use the dd command as well.

Macrium usually works for cloning an entire HDD but if you are trying to "Stretch" its capabilities you shouldn't expect it to work 100% -- nice when it does but that's not what it was designed for. !!!

(as su / sudo : dd if=<input file / device / partition> of=<output file / device /partition> bs=64M status=progress) .

Cheers
jimbo