Can I backup my internal hard drive to a USB drive?

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"Dodgr Rereksin" <ericksor@aol.com> wrote in message news:<dA8ec.12314$wb4.11628@okepread02>...
> My laptop is an IBM T40. Can I backup my 30 Gb hard drive onto a USB drive?
>
> I purchased a USB floppy drive and am able to boot into DOS. With
> Powerquest's Drive Image and Partition Magic I am able to access the T40's
> 30 GB intenal hard drive. If I purchase a USB hard drive say 80 GB, will I
> be able to use it for backing up and restoring the 30 GB drive?
>
> I currently use Drive Image 5.0 and Partitionmagic 7.0. I have read about
> Drive Image 2000 and Drive Image 7. But I can't find anything definite, how
> DOS might work with large USB hard drives.

If the USB hard drive is also recognized in DOS, you should have no problem.
Mine isn't, but then I have an older notebook where the BIOS won't allow me
to boot from a USB device, either.

Rick Carter
carterrk@despammed.com
Chair, Paradox/Delphi SIG, Cincinnati PC Users Group

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"Dodgr Rereksin" <ericksor@aol.com> wrote in message
news A8ec.12314$wb4.11628@okepread02...
> My laptop is an IBM T40. Can I backup my 30 Gb hard drive onto a USB
drive?
>
> I purchased a USB floppy drive and am able to boot into DOS. With
> Powerquest's Drive Image and Partition Magic I am able to access the T40's
> 30 GB intenal hard drive. If I purchase a USB hard drive say 80 GB, will
I
> be able to use it for backing up and restoring the 30 GB drive?
>
> I currently use Drive Image 5.0 and Partitionmagic 7.0. I have read about
> Drive Image 2000 and Drive Image 7. But I can't find anything definite,
how
> DOS might work with large USB hard drives.
>

Partition your USB drive to have a 30GB partition
and everything should work fine (which is not to
say that larger partitions won't work).



dk

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

I have some doubts what I want to do will work, that is, copy my laptop IDE
hard drive onto a USB hard drive using Drive Image under DOS. The reason is
that I have a USB memory card, 64 megabyte, that is not being recognized
after booting into DOS with the USB floppy, on the laptop.

However, on my late model PC Giga-byte tower, that is not a problem . The
USB memory card is recognized as a drive, when booting into DOS with the
floppy. And a small image can be copied onto the memory card after
formatting in fat98. I'm guessing the recognition is is due to differences
in BIOS's between the laptop and tower.

If the USB memory card isn't being recognized by DOS on the laptop, I
wouldn't think a USB hard drive would be recognized either.

If anyone knows differently I'd like to hear from you. My main issue is I
haven't figured out a good way to backup my laptop, and restore, in case I
somehow hose up the hard drive, after some unsuccessful experiment, software
checkout or test.



"Rick Carter" <carterrk@despammed.com> wrote in message
news:ad2aabdb.0404111638.24bd1765@posting.google.com...
> "Dodgr Rereksin" <ericksor@aol.com> wrote in message
news:<dA8ec.12314$wb4.11628@okepread02>...
> > My laptop is an IBM T40. Can I backup my 30 Gb hard drive onto a USB
drive?
> >
> > I purchased a USB floppy drive and am able to boot into DOS. With
> > Powerquest's Drive Image and Partition Magic I am able to access the
T40's
> > 30 GB intenal hard drive. If I purchase a USB hard drive say 80 GB,
will I
> > be able to use it for backing up and restoring the 30 GB drive?
> >
> > I currently use Drive Image 5.0 and Partitionmagic 7.0. I have read
about
> > Drive Image 2000 and Drive Image 7. But I can't find anything definite,
how
> > DOS might work with large USB hard drives.
>
> If the USB hard drive is also recognized in DOS, you should have no
problem.
> Mine isn't, but then I have an older notebook where the BIOS won't allow
me
> to boot from a USB device, either.
>
> Rick Carter
> carterrk@despammed.com
> Chair, Paradox/Delphi SIG, Cincinnati PC Users Group

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"Roger" <ericksor@cox.net> wrote in message news:<dxRec.3742$c%3.467@okepread02>...
> I have some doubts what I want to do will work, that is, copy my laptop IDE
> hard drive onto a USB hard drive using Drive Image under DOS. The reason is
> that I have a USB memory card, 64 megabyte, that is not being recognized
> after booting into DOS with the USB floppy, on the laptop.
>
> However, on my late model PC Giga-byte tower, that is not a problem .

I'm presuming the answer to "why don't you just try it?" is that you haven't
yet invested in the USB hard drive? If so, two other things you could consider:
(1) Consider networking your laptop and your tower, and backing up to the tower.
A second internal hard drive for the tower might not be a bad investment, if
you need the space.
(2) If you go ahead with buying the external HD and find it's not recognized
in DOS, create another partition where you do a minimal installation of Windows
and your Drive Image software, and boot from there to back up your main partition.

Rick Carter
carterrk@despammed.com
Chair, Paradox/Delphi SIG, Cincinnati PC Users Group

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

My understanding of the issue is that in neither DOS nor safe mode are
usb drivers loaded.
You don't mention which OS is on the T40. I'm currently using 98se and
I'm limited to moving files smaller than ~2GB unless I use DOS. I don't know
what limitations other OSes have with file size.
Can't you use a dvd writer to make your backups?

I don't know what else to tell you.

Tom



"Roger" <ericksor@cox.net> wrote in message
news xRec.3742$c%3.467@okepread02...
> I have some doubts what I want to do will work, that is, copy my laptop
IDE
> hard drive onto a USB hard drive using Drive Image under DOS. The reason
is
> that I have a USB memory card, 64 megabyte, that is not being recognized
> after booting into DOS with the USB floppy, on the laptop.
>
> However, on my late model PC Giga-byte tower, that is not a problem . The
> USB memory card is recognized as a drive, when booting into DOS with the
> floppy. And a small image can be copied onto the memory card after
> formatting in fat98. I'm guessing the recognition is is due to
differences
> in BIOS's between the laptop and tower.
>
> If the USB memory card isn't being recognized by DOS on the laptop, I
> wouldn't think a USB hard drive would be recognized either.
>
> If anyone knows differently I'd like to hear from you. My main issue is I
> haven't figured out a good way to backup my laptop, and restore, in case I
> somehow hose up the hard drive, after some unsuccessful experiment,
software
> checkout or test.
>
>
>
> "Rick Carter" <carterrk@despammed.com> wrote in message
> news:ad2aabdb.0404111638.24bd1765@posting.google.com...
> > "Dodgr Rereksin" <ericksor@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:<dA8ec.12314$wb4.11628@okepread02>...
> > > My laptop is an IBM T40. Can I backup my 30 Gb hard drive onto a USB
> drive?
> > >
> > > I purchased a USB floppy drive and am able to boot into DOS. With
> > > Powerquest's Drive Image and Partition Magic I am able to access the
> T40's
> > > 30 GB intenal hard drive. If I purchase a USB hard drive say 80 GB,
> will I
> > > be able to use it for backing up and restoring the 30 GB drive?
> > >
> > > I currently use Drive Image 5.0 and Partitionmagic 7.0. I have read
> about
> > > Drive Image 2000 and Drive Image 7. But I can't find anything
definite,
> how
> > > DOS might work with large USB hard drives.
> >
> > If the USB hard drive is also recognized in DOS, you should have no
> problem.
> > Mine isn't, but then I have an older notebook where the BIOS won't allow
> me
> > to boot from a USB device, either.
> >
> > Rick Carter
> > carterrk@despammed.com
> > Chair, Paradox/Delphi SIG, Cincinnati PC Users Group
>
>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Hard drive storage on the tower is not a problem and is in place. I just
don't know how to create the laptop image in DOS and copy to the tower hard
drive at the same time. What are the details for that to happen?

I searched for a docking station for the laptop and came acrossing this
item:

ThinkPad 2nd Hard Disk Drive Adapter for Ultrabay Slim

That may be the solution with the addition of a 30-60 GB IDE hard drive
installed in the bay. DOS should recognize both hard drives allowing for
image storing of the boot drive.



"Rick Carter" <carterrk@despammed.com> wrote in message
news:ad2aabdb.0404131524.3026d6fc@posting.google.com...
> "Roger" <ericksor@cox.net> wrote in message
news:<dxRec.3742$c%3.467@okepread02>...
> > I have some doubts what I want to do will work, that is, copy my laptop
IDE
> > hard drive onto a USB hard drive using Drive Image under DOS. The
reason is
> > that I have a USB memory card, 64 megabyte, that is not being
recognized
> > after booting into DOS with the USB floppy, on the laptop.
> >
> > However, on my late model PC Giga-byte tower, that is not a problem .
>
> I'm presuming the answer to "why don't you just try it?" is that you
haven't
> yet invested in the USB hard drive? If so, two other things you could
consider:
> (1) Consider networking your laptop and your tower, and backing up to the
tower.
> A second internal hard drive for the tower might not be a bad investment,
if
> you need the space.
> (2) If you go ahead with buying the external HD and find it's not
recognized
> in DOS, create another partition where you do a minimal installation of
Windows
> and your Drive Image software, and boot from there to back up your main
partition.
>
> Rick Carter
> carterrk@despammed.com
> Chair, Paradox/Delphi SIG, Cincinnati PC Users Group

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Dodgr Rereksin wrote:
> I searched for a docking station for the laptop and came
> acrossing this item:
>
> ThinkPad 2nd Hard Disk Drive Adapter for Ultrabay Slim
>
> That may be the solution with the addition of a 30-60 GB
> IDE hard drive installed in the bay. DOS should recognize
> both hard drives allowing for image storing of the boot drive.

Yes, the Second Hard Drive Adapter is a ThinkPad's best friend. I've always
used them for my backups on all of my ThinkPads.

It's just another IDE drive, so it's compatible with *everything* with no
driver hassles at all. Highly recommended!

-Mike

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"Roger" <ericksor@cox.net> wrote:
> I have some doubts what I want to do will work, that is, copy my
> laptop IDE hard drive onto a USB hard drive using Drive Image
> under DOS. The reason is that I have a USB memory card, 64
> megabyte, that is not being recognized after booting into DOS
> with the USB floppy, on the laptop.

That's generally true. When run from DOS (the best way, IMHO), DI cannot write
directly to USB drives because no USB drivers are loaded.

I have multiple partitions on my laptops, so I boot into DOS, make an image of
C: on the other partition, then boot back into Windows with network support and
copy the image file over the network to my tower. (I don't have a CD burner
for my laptop, but do on the tower. It's easy to restore my laptop OS from a
boot floppy and CDR, but trying to guarantee I'll have USB or network support
when I need to restore is a little trickier.)

Another alternative is to ditch DI and use BootIt-NG (www.bootitng.com), which
makes images similar to what DI does. You boot BING from a floppy and can
write directly to many USB 1.x or USB 2.x hard drives (as well as CDR drives).
A CD ISO image is also available to make a bootable CD if your laptop doesn't
have a floppy drive to boot from.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

> I have multiple partitions on my laptops, so I boot into DOS, make an
image of
> C: on the other partition, then boot back into Windows with network
support and
> copy the image file over the network to my tower

Yes, now that I have a bootable USB floppy, using DOS I should be able to
reduce the size of my 25 GB (its suppose to be 30 GB, I think IBM has some
type of wonderful, hidden, restore software on the other 5 GB) into maybe
two 12.5 GB partitions using PartitionMagic, keeping the first for XP for
boot/system, and the second for image retention. And multiple images can be
saved on the tower's larger hard drive by networking. Windows XP is
reporting I currently use 8.1 GB, with 16.0 GB free. While splitting seems
doable, I'm a concerned that I would only have 4.4 GB free afterwords on the
boot partition. After a year, that free 4.4 GB is undoubtably going to be
much much less. Maybe its an old wive's tale, but I remember hearing or
reading that 50% of your hard drive partition should be free for efficient
continuous write/read operations.

> Another alternative is to ditch DI and use BootIt-NG (www.bootitng.com),
which
> makes images similar to what DI does. You boot BING from a floppy and can
> write directly to many USB 1.x or USB 2.x hard drives (as well as CDR
drives).
> A CD ISO image is also available to make a bootable CD if your laptop
doesn't
> have a floppy drive to boot from.

BootIT-NG may not meet the criteria for a laptop, and that's a question.
The main reason for doing any of this is that sometimes Windows gets hosed
and won't boot. On bootitng's site it talks about writing image files to a
CD-R/RW or DVD+RW/+R/-R/-RW or network drive but neither the DOS or Windows
version mentions writing to a USB drive, which DOS on my laptop isn't seeing
anyway. My laptop has a CD-R/RW and its DVD functionality is ROM. Even if
I had a writable DVD, with a partition size is 8.1 GB, multiple pieces of
4+ GB media would be needed to hold the entire boot image. On a laptop I
have a hard time envisioning how I could be restore from a network drive.
My guess is that BootIT-NG best serves PC systems where multiple hard drive
partitions are available, and may not hold any significant advantages over
Drive Image. While there's different obviously more than one kind of
networking environment, the only one I have access to is type Microsoft.
I'm wondering if BootIT-NG can write to and restore from Microsoft network
partitions, outside of an active Window OS on the system being saved or
restore. That would be interesting for PC use, and very interesting if
true for laptop use. I'd like to hear from Bootitng users and what they
think about it.

A large second IDE laptop drive may be the best choice for now, for saving
and emergency partition restoration.











"Dg1261" <dg1261@cs.comnojunk> wrote in message
news:20040414043048.13399.00000384@mb-m18.news.cs.com...

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"Dodgr Rereksin" <ericksor@aol.com> wrote:
> > Another alternative is to ditch DI and use BootIt-NG
> > (www.bootitng.com), which makes images similar to what
> > DI does. You boot BING from a floppy and can write
> > directly to many USB 1.x or USB 2.x hard drives (as well
> > as CDR drives). A CD ISO image is also available to make
> > a bootable CD if your laptop doesn't have a floppy drive
> > to boot from.
> ...(snipped)...
>
> BootIT-NG may not meet the criteria for a laptop, and that's
> a question. The main reason for doing any of this is that
> sometimes Windows gets hosed and won't boot. On bootitng's
> site it talks about writing image files to a CD-R/RW or
> DVD+RW/+R/-R/-RW or network drive but neither the
> DOS or Windows version mentions writing to a USB drive,
> which DOS on my laptop isn't seeing anyway. My laptop
> has a CD-R/RW and its DVD functionality is ROM. Even if
> I had a writable DVD, with a partition size is 8.1 GB, multiple
> pieces of 4+ GB media would be needed to hold the entire
> boot image. On a laptop I have a hard time envisioning how
> I could be restore from a network drive.
> ...(snipped)...
>
> A large second IDE laptop drive may be the best choice for
> now, for saving and emergency partition restoration.

I wonder if perhaps you're looking at TeraByte's "Image" program instead of
"BootIt-NG", as there is no DOS or Windows version of BING. It is its own
bootable mini-OS - you don't run BING from DOS or Windows, you have to boot
from the BING floppy. (BING contains within it a custom version of TeraByte's
Image-for-DOS program). At any rate, they don't rely on DOS having USB
drivers, they load their own USB drivers, and the programmer recently added
support for USB2.

As far as BING writing directly to CD/DVD, yes it would take more than one CDR
disk, but the program spans disks, so it stops and waits for you to swap in
blank media when necessary. (And don't forget that the size of your image will
probably be about 50-60% the size of your data.)

But all that aside, if a second IDE laptop drive is available to you, using
that with your DOS version of DI would by far be the easiest solution.