From: nospam@needed.invalid   
      
   On Tue, 10/21/2025 11:04 AM, Alan K. wrote:   
   > On 10/21/25 10:10 AM, s|b wrote:   
   >>     
   >>> Also, setup timeshift (not that it helps with torching $HOME, but...)   
   >> I got that option during installation and for some reason chose not to.   
   >> ouch   
   >   
   > My personal opinion is not to use timeshift.   But then that's me.  I've   
   never used it so I have no experience.   
   > I use Acronis True Image in Windows and make a partition backup there.  It   
   works great but of course only does a complete restore not partial.   
   >   
   > I also make backups with the mintbackup, backup tool.   The setup is a bit   
   complicated (probably as much as timeshift) but it also works.   
   >   
   > But my best backup is simply to copy the parts that I change and need.  My   
   stuff.   The Thunderbird folder, Firefox folder, Documents, Pictures, Music,   
   Videos.   
   >   
   > #!/bin/bash   
   > cd $HOME   
   > tar czf /backup.tar.gz \   
   > Music Documents Pictures Videos .thunderbird .mozilla   
   >   
   > You can put that into a shell script like "backup.sh" and just run it now   
   and then.   
   >   
   > When you plug in a usb drive in Mint, it mounts it as /media/<   
   sername>/ like /media/alan/Samsung.   It's not like drive   
   letters in Windows that sometimes change, like one day it's D: and then if you   
   already had a D: it mounts as E:.     
     Linux uses the name of the drive when formatted as the directory name.  And   
   it's always that name until you format the drive again or use some tool to   
   edit the name (which you can easily do).   
   >   
   > So the tar would be "tar czf /media/alan/Samsung/backup.tar.gz   etc"   
   >   
   > ...Enough schooling for the day.  Probably overwhelming you by now.   
   > I like your idea to show him how to reload though.  If he seems to grab on   
   and want to, it's probably the better way.   
   >   
   > Good luck.   
   >   
      
   I just back up a Linux EXT4 disk with Macrium.   
      
             +------+-----------------+---------------------------+   
   --------+-----------------+   
             | MBR  | ESP 500MB FAT32 |  Microsoft Reserved 16MB  |   SWAP  |   
   Slash EXT4 part |   
             +------+-----------------+---------------------------+   
   --------+-----------------|   
      
   Macrium      dd    smart/cluster               dd                   dd         
   smart/inode   
   Response   
      
   Clonezilla   dd    smart/cluster               dd                   dd         
   smart/inode   
                      partimage?                                                  
   partimage?   
      
      
   On Windows, Macrium in the OS can use VSS shadow copy.   
   This allows a backup while files are open (after a fashion).   
      
   But just as well, you can do offline backups from boot media.   
   A Linux installer USB stick would work, a Macrium Rescue CD would work for its   
   software.   
      
   Macrium has img2vhd.exe in one of the older versions of installer, and   
   that will convert a drive images of a 2.2TB or smaller disk, into a VHD   
   container. And the VHD   
   container follows rules a bit better in terms of being a parse-able format.   
   You can drill into a .vhd with 7ZIP for example. 7ZIP can open an EXT4 or an   
   NTFS in a VHD.   
      
   Macrium .mrimg files also mount, but EXT4 partitions would not have their   
   files exposed as the Macrium mounter is a Windows thing. Whereas the VHD   
   method,   
   7ZIP can open either kind of partition, within a VHD.   
      
   These are examples of a little less command line work.   
      
   People have demonstrated their scripting skills here, for automation purposes.   
   And some have problems with the scripting, which is understandable, as   
   not everyone is into that stuff. I have languages I like to work in,   
   and things I'd rather not, and I can't rescue just every script   
   that comes along :-) But occasionally, an individual bad command,   
   I might be able to spot the issue in it.   
      
   To script, you have to be a little familiar with looping constructs,   
   and that's a likely reason for me not writing scripts in just everything.   
      
      Paul   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)