Image CF Card install for later use?

Blip · 17 February 2009, 14:48

Hi!

After a clean install of workbench onto a CF Card using real hardware, is it possible to copy the installation (CF Image) to file for later re-installation?

I have successfully mounted the CF card using the hardfile option in uae. Is there a tool available to manage Hardfiles maybe?

Thanks for any help.

Supamax · 17 February 2009, 16:44

I'm interested in an answer, too!

I mean: Ok, I can save my CF contents by copying all files to the PC.
But is there a way to backup it as a whole (maintaining the boot sector, the FAT etc.)?
Something similar to making the .iso image of a CD.

Does exist a general CF/SD/..-dumping program for the PC (or even Amiga, in case we don't want to physically take the CF out of the Amiga)?

Retro-Nerd · 17 February 2009, 16:58

Quote:

I'm interested in an answer, too!

I mean: Ok, I can save my CF contents by copying all files to the PC.
But is there a way to backup it as a whole (maintaining the boot sector, the FAT etc.)?
Something similar to making the .iso image of a CD.

Does exist a general CF/SD/..-dumping program for the PC (or even Amiga, in case we don't want to physically take the CF out of the Amiga)?

There are tools like R-Studio, but it's not free. It's probably easier under Linux.

http://www.haage-partner.de/datenrettung/RStudio.html

Amiga1992 · 17 February 2009, 17:05

I don't understand if this CF is in the IDE or PCMCIA.

You can make an image in many ways. You can make an HDF or other type of image f or sure.

Toni Wilen · 17 February 2009, 17:07

Click "Add harddrive", select drive, click "Create hard disk image file". Can't be any simpler.

Supamax · 17 February 2009, 17:13

Thanks, Toni!
Will this include all informations (boot sector, file structure etc.) ?

Can the image be written back to a bigger memory card?
Can it be even written back on a different media? E.g. .hdf CF image on SD, or SD image on HD etc.

Toni Wilen · 17 February 2009, 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supamax

Thanks, Toni!
Will this include all informations (boot sector, file structure etc.) ?

Can the image be written back to a bigger memory card?
Can it be even written back on a different media? E.g. .hdf CF image on SD, or SD image on HD etc.

It copies all blocks, everything, it does not care about filesystems etc. (WARNING: Windows 2000 may not be able to read last few blocks! Use only XP or newer)

There is no support (yet?) for copying complete image back to another card (or harddrive, whatever) but copying to bigger disk will work except extra space won't be available (except by adding more partitions, not sure if hdtoolbox support disks that "grow"..)

Supamax · 17 February 2009, 17:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toni Wilen

It copies all blocks, everything, it does not care about filesystems etc. (WARNING: Windows 2000 may not be able to read last few blocks! Use only XP or newer)

There is no support (yet?) for copying complete image back to another card (or harddrive, whatever) but copying to bigger disk will work except extra space won't be available (except by adding more partitions, not sure if hdtoolbox support disks that "grow"..)

Ok

. So, writing back the image on the same card is supported, though?

Toni Wilen · 17 February 2009, 17:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supamax

Ok

. So, writing back the image on the same card is supported, though?

No, I won't make it too easy to accidentally overwrite your PC formatted drives..

Supamax · 17 February 2009, 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toni Wilen

No, I won't make it too easy to accidentally overwrite your PC formatted drives..

Mmmm... there's some sense in this

.

I forgot an important question: is it possible somehow to backup a CF from within the Amiga? For example, from the internal CF to the PCMCIA/CF.
Is there a dumping utility on the Amiga side?
Taking out a CF/hard disk (every time I want to make a backup) from within the Amiga is uncomfortable..

Blip · 17 February 2009, 18:42

As supamax suggested I would like to be able to write the image back to a cf card so i could have my prefered 'clean setup on tap', any future plans for this feature toni?

Also, Is it possible to boot a cf card installed via ide from pcmcia slot?

FOL · 17 February 2009, 20:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blip

As supamax suggested I would like to be able to write the image back to a cf card so i could have my prefered 'clean setup on tap', any future plans for this feature toni?

Also, Is it possible to boot a cf card installed via ide from pcmcia slot?

As toni said, mount the CF as harddrive. Then mount your backup image as another HD, then use Dopus or shell Copy command to copy the data to CF.

Thats all I do.

Amiga1992 · 17 February 2009, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supamax

is it possible somehow to backup a CF from within the Amiga? For example, from the internal CF to the PCMCIA/CF.

Just copy all the files to a folder in the external CF/SD, that's how I back up...and when you need to put them back in another drive, you don't have to worry about the size, it can work on a bigger size card or whatever...

I have a folder in my WinUAE directory called "SD System Card", which is my base, fresh system for any card I want to build.

Blip · 18 February 2009, 15:26

Hi Akira
So do you mean clean install to the ide cf then copy all files to a partitioned/formated pcmcia cf card withing the amiga?

Amiga1992 · 18 February 2009, 20:17

NO
I mean, copy all the files to your PCMCIA CF adapter thingy.
From the Amiga, emulator or whatever, matters not.

Copy stuff from one place to another with a simple dir utility. It's not hard and I am not talking in chinese

FOL · 18 February 2009, 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akira

NO
I mean, copy all the files to your PCMCIA CF adapter thingy.
From the Amiga, emulator or whatever, matters not.

Copy stuff from one place to another with a simple dir utility. It's not hard and I am not talking in chinese

Yes but there is a problem there, some files dont like the FAT filesystem and corrupt the files.

Best to copy the perfect install to a HDF, and keep that safe. Then when needed copy that HDF contents back to CF, its best to all this in WINUAE.

Amiga1992 · 18 February 2009, 21:02

Never had a problem with a SYSTEM install except on Catalogue files with weird filenames, which I don't even use.

FOL · 18 February 2009, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akira

Never had a problem with a SYSTEM install except on Catalogue files with weird filenames, which I don't even use.

Yes, but alot of WHDLoad games screwup, so if you have certain games on it, then it breaks em.

Toni Wilen · 18 February 2009, 21:43

I don't know how many times I have said this: nothing gets broken if you unpack archives/modify files/whatever _inside_ the emulation.

FOL · 18 February 2009, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toni Wilen

I don't know how many times I have said this: nothing gets broken if you unpack archives/modify files/whatever _inside_ the emulation.

Sorry toni, thats what I was trying to say. Didnt come out right.

I was proberly thinking windows, when I should have been thinking winuae,

.

17 February 2009, 14:48	#1
Blip Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Aberdare, South Wales Posts: 37	Image CF Card install for later use? Hi! After a clean install of workbench onto a CF Card using real hardware, is it possible to copy the installation (CF Image) to file for later re-installation? I have successfully mounted the CF card using the hardfile option in uae. Is there a tool available to manage Hardfiles maybe? Thanks for any help.

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17 February 2009, 16:44	#2
Supamax Da Digger :) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Monza, Italy Posts: 2,822	I'm interested in an answer, too! I mean: Ok, I can save my CF contents by copying all files to the PC. But is there a way to backup it as a whole (maintaining the boot sector, the FAT etc.)? Something similar to making the .iso image of a CD. Does exist a general CF/SD/..-dumping program for the PC (or even Amiga, in case we don't want to physically take the CF out of the Amiga)?

17 February 2009, 17:05	#4
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,644	I don't understand if this CF is in the IDE or PCMCIA. You can make an image in many ways. You can make an HDF or other type of image f or sure.

17 February 2009, 17:07	#5
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,502	Click "Add harddrive", select drive, click "Create hard disk image file". Can't be any simpler.

17 February 2009, 17:13	#6
Supamax Da Digger :) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Monza, Italy Posts: 2,822	Thanks, Toni! Will this include all informations (boot sector, file structure etc.) ? Can the image be written back to a bigger memory card? Can it be even written back on a different media? E.g. .hdf CF image on SD, or SD image on HD etc.

17 February 2009, 18:42	#11
Blip Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Aberdare, South Wales Posts: 37	As supamax suggested I would like to be able to write the image back to a cf card so i could have my prefered 'clean setup on tap', any future plans for this feature toni? Also, Is it possible to boot a cf card installed via ide from pcmcia slot?

18 February 2009, 15:26	#14
Blip Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Aberdare, South Wales Posts: 37	Hi Akira So do you mean clean install to the ide cf then copy all files to a partitioned/formated pcmcia cf card withing the amiga?

18 February 2009, 20:17	#15
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,644	NO I mean, copy all the files to your PCMCIA CF adapter thingy. From the Amiga, emulator or whatever, matters not. Copy stuff from one place to another with a simple dir utility. It's not hard and I am not talking in chinese

18 February 2009, 21:02	#17
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,644	Never had a problem with a SYSTEM install except on Catalogue files with weird filenames, which I don't even use.

18 February 2009, 21:43	#19
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,502	I don't know how many times I have said this: nothing gets broken if you unpack archives/modify files/whatever _inside_ the emulation.

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