Backup OS and GRUB before changing distro












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I'd like to change my current distribution to some other distribution - especially I had to do a lot of experiments and would like to clean it up a bit. Before starting migration though I'd like to make a backup of my current installation just in case. I have dual boot (Windows + Debuab) and I'd like to leave Windows untouched.



The question is how can I backup entire Linux (including Grub settings) just in case I need to revert changes afterwards. I don't ask about backing up home directory, package list and some etc settings as this part is clear - I would like to have a recovery copy (and procedure) in case new OS doesn't run smoothly and I run out of time for fixing problems during holiday.



I have external HDD with more than enough to fit entire laptop drive (4TB vs 512GB) and pendrive for preparing bootable distro. I thought about just dd entire GRUB and linux partition but how can I copy it back when something goes wrong?










share|improve this question






















  • I don't think dd entire grub is needed since you can leave that part of grub(embedded in MBR) untouched when installing new distro. Personaly I suggest you just backup whole filesystem(of the original distro) using rsync. If you really want to, why don't you just dd backup the entire laptop disk?
    – 炸鱼薯条德里克
    Dec 25 '18 at 5:58
















0














I'd like to change my current distribution to some other distribution - especially I had to do a lot of experiments and would like to clean it up a bit. Before starting migration though I'd like to make a backup of my current installation just in case. I have dual boot (Windows + Debuab) and I'd like to leave Windows untouched.



The question is how can I backup entire Linux (including Grub settings) just in case I need to revert changes afterwards. I don't ask about backing up home directory, package list and some etc settings as this part is clear - I would like to have a recovery copy (and procedure) in case new OS doesn't run smoothly and I run out of time for fixing problems during holiday.



I have external HDD with more than enough to fit entire laptop drive (4TB vs 512GB) and pendrive for preparing bootable distro. I thought about just dd entire GRUB and linux partition but how can I copy it back when something goes wrong?










share|improve this question






















  • I don't think dd entire grub is needed since you can leave that part of grub(embedded in MBR) untouched when installing new distro. Personaly I suggest you just backup whole filesystem(of the original distro) using rsync. If you really want to, why don't you just dd backup the entire laptop disk?
    – 炸鱼薯条德里克
    Dec 25 '18 at 5:58














0












0








0







I'd like to change my current distribution to some other distribution - especially I had to do a lot of experiments and would like to clean it up a bit. Before starting migration though I'd like to make a backup of my current installation just in case. I have dual boot (Windows + Debuab) and I'd like to leave Windows untouched.



The question is how can I backup entire Linux (including Grub settings) just in case I need to revert changes afterwards. I don't ask about backing up home directory, package list and some etc settings as this part is clear - I would like to have a recovery copy (and procedure) in case new OS doesn't run smoothly and I run out of time for fixing problems during holiday.



I have external HDD with more than enough to fit entire laptop drive (4TB vs 512GB) and pendrive for preparing bootable distro. I thought about just dd entire GRUB and linux partition but how can I copy it back when something goes wrong?










share|improve this question













I'd like to change my current distribution to some other distribution - especially I had to do a lot of experiments and would like to clean it up a bit. Before starting migration though I'd like to make a backup of my current installation just in case. I have dual boot (Windows + Debuab) and I'd like to leave Windows untouched.



The question is how can I backup entire Linux (including Grub settings) just in case I need to revert changes afterwards. I don't ask about backing up home directory, package list and some etc settings as this part is clear - I would like to have a recovery copy (and procedure) in case new OS doesn't run smoothly and I run out of time for fixing problems during holiday.



I have external HDD with more than enough to fit entire laptop drive (4TB vs 512GB) and pendrive for preparing bootable distro. I thought about just dd entire GRUB and linux partition but how can I copy it back when something goes wrong?







linux backup restore






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asked Dec 25 '18 at 5:31









Moby04

1185




1185












  • I don't think dd entire grub is needed since you can leave that part of grub(embedded in MBR) untouched when installing new distro. Personaly I suggest you just backup whole filesystem(of the original distro) using rsync. If you really want to, why don't you just dd backup the entire laptop disk?
    – 炸鱼薯条德里克
    Dec 25 '18 at 5:58


















  • I don't think dd entire grub is needed since you can leave that part of grub(embedded in MBR) untouched when installing new distro. Personaly I suggest you just backup whole filesystem(of the original distro) using rsync. If you really want to, why don't you just dd backup the entire laptop disk?
    – 炸鱼薯条德里克
    Dec 25 '18 at 5:58
















I don't think dd entire grub is needed since you can leave that part of grub(embedded in MBR) untouched when installing new distro. Personaly I suggest you just backup whole filesystem(of the original distro) using rsync. If you really want to, why don't you just dd backup the entire laptop disk?
– 炸鱼薯条德里克
Dec 25 '18 at 5:58




I don't think dd entire grub is needed since you can leave that part of grub(embedded in MBR) untouched when installing new distro. Personaly I suggest you just backup whole filesystem(of the original distro) using rsync. If you really want to, why don't you just dd backup the entire laptop disk?
– 炸鱼薯条德里克
Dec 25 '18 at 5:58










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