[xubuntu-users] Help with Mint

[Ralf Mardorf]

In the future consider to backup the complete install. You can't backup
an install while running it, you need to boot another Linux, IOW you
need a dual-boot or run a Linux from a live media, but then you only
need to cp or tar everything. There's no need to learn how to use rsync
or something similar. Assumed you are using MBR, consider also to dd
the first 512 bytes of the drive were the bootloader is installed.

Is anybody aware of a command that can backup a complete Linux
install while running it? IIRC a running FreeBSD can backup itself using
the "dump" command.

For the install e.g. copy each partition like that:

cd /mountpoint/root-boot-var-whatsoever-of-the-linux-you-want-to-backup
tar -czf /mnt_point_backupdrive/dir/backupname_1 * .hidden_thingy

Usually the * should be ok, but assumed there are hidden files or
directories in a parent directory you want to backup, then regarding
globbing, you need to add the individual hidden files and directories,
IOW everything that starts with a dot.

MBRs can be backuped like this:

dd if=/dev/sd... of=/mountpoint/directory/backupname_2 bs=512 count=1
             ^^^ a, b, ... what ever the device is named

It's easier to regular backup and restore from a backup, if needed,
then making a complete new install.