Thread: "Backup" with raw HDD-image of Windows?

i've bought eee windowsxp preinstalled. naturally first thought exorcise demon (windows) cross, stake , holy-water (and perhaps garlic), since i've have paid it, wondering if can chuck elsewhere...

thought use dd make raw-image of harddisk -- either complete harddisk (e.g. /dev/sda) or partition windows (e.g. /dev/sda1) -- compress (it should nothing, right), , store image on other drive. don't expect trouble this...

wonder about, if possible restore windows such image -- e.g. dd-ing uncompressed image disk, (probably) using whole disk (/dev/sda)... work? or there prevent working? intend make full image of disk; mbr, partition-table, partitions , all...

it's rather small harddisk, i' opting-out dual-boot... (besides, it's not intend use windows...)

thoughts?

method have used quite , found reliable remove files first , keep in separate backup, making backup of operating system , installed software , settings, (or lack of same if it's new, clean install).
resize partition small possible gparted.
finally, use dd command partition.
dd command not care operating system in partition or file system uses, anything.

you'll need have other operating system such usb flash memory ubuntu installation to , other media organized write resulting file such usb drive enough room in partition file.

code:

dd if=/dev/sda1 of=/media/otherusb/partition.image bs=4096 conv=notrunc,noerror

where 'partition image' name want give output file.
'otherusb' drive, mounted in /media, has room file want dd command make you.
where' '/dev/sda1' partition containing operating system wish make of.

have copied unbootable operating system off damaged hard disk once , onto new hard disk , got booting again using method, vista install too.

linux operating systems, use file system uuid numbers booting, command useful because we're making partition file, doesn't cause confusion boot loader might if copied disk , kept in same computer.

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