How to rescue my data files before reconfiguring the 2 HD's of my desktop PC?!

[Franklin S Werren]

Bas Roufs wrote:
> Dear Everybody
>
> Attempts to repair the grub of the Kubuntu 9.10 partition at the
> desktop via a "grub rescue cd" finally failed yesterday - in spite of
> the major efforts of Goh Lip to carefully and skilfully assist me.
> Thank you, Goh Lip, anyway!
>
> Now, I am trying to rescue all the data files before totally revising
> the configuration at the 2 hard disks of the desktop PC. I am
> wondering how exactly to safely and effectively rescue my data files.
> I did already back-up most of them at an external HD - except some
> important recent files - amongst them the one generated by
> KAdressbook. Additionally, about one percent of my files have not been
> correctly saved as backup at the external HD. Only recently I
> discovered a safe method to correctly copy/ backup each single file:
> compressing them to a few archives at the external HD, then unzipping/
> uncompressing them there. That's why, I am trying to backup all the
> data files again,  I hope to get some useful advises via this forum.
>
> One hard disk, sda, has a capacity of 80GB, the 2nd one, sdb, 160GB.
> The sda disk contains 2 partitions: sda1 with Windows XP and sda5, a
> data partition.. The sdb disk contains 3 partitions: sdb1 with Kubuntu
> 7.10, sdb6 with only data files/ backup and sdb7 with Kubuntu 9.10
>
> So far, I have tried three approaches to do so:
> * the live CD of Kubuntu 9.10
> * "Puppy Linux" - both from a live CD and and a bootable USB stick;
> * the most recent regular version of "Knoppix", from a live CD.
> So far, I have been able to mount and navigate through each of the
> partitions, except the most important one: sdb7, the partition with
> Kubuntu 9.10., as well as various recent files I absolutely need to
> recover.
>
> However it may be, I really would highly appreciate your advise with
> respect to four questions.
>
> Which exact method(s) would you advise me to mount, file manage each
> of the partitions and COMPRESS (ZIP) from there the data files to my
> external HD? (I prefer to compress/ zip folders with data files
> because it is an efficient and safe method to copy the files without
> complications.)
>
> Which live CD and/or live USB stick would you recommend me to use for
> this emergency project: Kubuntu 9.10, Knoppix 6, Puppy Linux or any
> other recent distro? (The desktop computer can boot both from CD and
> USB. By means of my laptop and some small external device, I can
> produce live CD's without problems.)
>
> Which kind of boot medium suits best as platform for the OS enabling
> me to carry out the data rescue operation: a live CD or a live USB
> stick?
>
> Provided that I do manage somehow to mount and file manage sdb7, where
> and how exactly can I find the file generated by KAdressbook?
>
> Thanks in advance for your advise.
>
> Respectfully yours,
>
> Bas Roufs, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
>
>   
Hi There;

The easy way is to boot frtom the CD/DVD with a Ubuntu Disk
Then log in as a second user matching the log in  info of the
hard drive you want to get at...
In most cases copying the /home/user name directory will grab
all settings and files you need.
Then copy the directories to a jump drive of some sort...
Be sure you have enough room.
You will get all your mail settings and mail as well as all
other settings. Only the programs themselves will need to
be reinstalled after you do a clean install of Ubuntu.
I have done this many times myself.

Have fun!!!

Frank

-- 

Franklin S Werren admin at chautauqualake.net
www.chautauqualake.net

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