Install the PET below. It makes the folder /opt/gnost3 containing two items - the clickable script "gnost" and the folder "gnostcode". The 32bit binaries in gnostcode come from the partclone.org project.
Do NOT run Gnost from /opt/gnost3! You will need another partition to hold the backup image files. It should be formatted as ext and the safest place is on an external USB drive. However, your "backup drive" could be another ext partition on your main hard drive. It is also possible to use an NTFS partition as the backup location, if your USB drive is already formatted that way, but this method is UNSUPPORTED.
Go to the folder /opt/gnost3 and copy the two items onto your backup drive. Gnost will also work in subfolders. Right-click on the "gnost" file and make it executable.
Note: Gnost uses lzop compression instead of gzip and Puppy has Busybox lzop. But the "full" version of lzop has shown to be MUCH faster. A PET of lzop made from Debian packages is attached below.
NTFS Partitions
Gnost is a reliable solution for backing up a Windows partition. Assuming that you have Windows installed in an NTFS filesystem, here are the steps.
Boot the target Windows computer off a Puppy CD or flash drive. Connect your USB drive and open the backup partition.
Left-click on the "gnost" file and follow the steps. Use a descriptive name for the image file, like "dell-xp-sda1-ntfs". The image will be saved in the current folder.
Ordinarily, you will use Gnost to backup/restore an image to the same Windows partition. But you may eventually need to upgrade your hard drive or replace a failing unit. In this scenario, you will be transferring the image to a new drive whose geometry may be different than the original. So some extra steps are required.
Before running Gnost, you must prepare the new drive by making an NTFS partition and setting the boot flag. Make sure that the new partition is at least as big as the original.
Run Gnost. Check the "to different location" box. After Gnost restores the image, it will expand the NTFS filesystem to fill the new partition, update the boot sector and write a new WinXP MBR.
If you have Vista or Win7 and need the matching MBR, get the newer ms-sys program here. Run either
Code: Select all
ms-sys -i -w /dev/sda # for Vista or
ms-sys -7 -w /dev/sda # for Win7
Ext Partitions
If you have a basic Puppy frugal install, your backup procedure is easy. You already have the core Puppy files on its Live CD, so you just need to back up your pupsave file/folder. Read here. However, if you have a full install or have content stored outside of the pupsave, you can use Gnost instead.
The target partition must be unmounted. If necessary, boot the computer off a Puppy CD using "puppy pfix=ram". Connect your USB drive and open the backup partition. Click on the "gnost" file.
Gnost will run an initial filesystem check on the source partition. Because Puppy does not always shut down cleanly, you may be asked some Yes/No questions before continuing.
If you are transferring a Linux partition to a new location AND it is a bootable partition, you may need to reinstall your bootloader.
FAT Partitions
Use the same procedure. Check with Gparted after a restore.
Networking
Gnost can also work across a network using Samba. The server admin will define a writable share to hold the image files, and put the Gnost setup in the share directory. The client user mounts the share as usual and runs Gnost from inside the share window.
Updates
The Info button makes a report of the partition structure of the selected drive and saves it in the current directory. This can be a template for copying your system to a new disk.
Gnost v3.6 adds a feature for advanced users - the ability to backup/restore the target drive's MBR. This can help to recover a badly damaged system. Be aware that restoring an MBR may also require that you reinstall the bootloader.
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