Cloning hard drive with dd or other?

[Basil Chupin]

On 14/11/2010 04:47, Patton Echols wrote:
> On 11/12/2010 06:55 PM, Ric Moore wrote:
>    
>> On Fri, 2010-11-12 at 18:32 -0800, Patton Echols wrote:
>>
>>      
>>> I have a failing hard drive that boots WinXP for one of my work machines.
>>>
>>> I want to clone the drive while it's still alive and run from the
>>> clone.  I had expected to use dd and was reading to try and see if there
>>> are challenges I am unaware of. The comments to this article:
>>>
>>> http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/19141/clone-a-hard-drive-using-an-ubuntu-live-cd/
>>>
>>> say that it will not work if the drives have different geometries.
>>>
>>>
>>> Does anyone know of work arounds / other solutions that may accomplish
>>> what I need to do?
>>>
>>>        
>> Can you just backup the entire thing, (or just the data directories)
>> install the new drive and copy it all back? Might be safer in the long
>> run. I know, not very optimal, but I'd save the valuable data right
>> away ...like last night. Ric
>>
>>
>>
>>      
> Yeah, I have that covered.  All the mission critical stuff is backed
> up.  The big problem is a couple of proprietary database programs, the
> data is safe, but the "relicensing" is intentionally difficult per the
> vendor.  I've had to do it before and it takes a couple of business
> days.  If I can get it running over the weekend, then my staff member
> can work again starting monday, not wednesday.
>    


Aaah....Windows.....

Don't you have to have Windows re-authorised by M$ or some such because 
of the change in hardware? Change one component for Windows and the 
bloody thing won't run, or something?

There has to be a way to overcome this but I don't know it.

BC

-- 
A man kept complaining about not having shoes to wear - until he saw a man with no legs.