Recommendations on cloning a bootable main disk

[Bruce Labitt]

Totally unexpected fly in the ointment.  Option in BIOS to boot to USB 
has disappeared. Arggghhhhhh!!!!!

American Megatrends BIOS Version 2.15.1226 ca. 2012

There were 4 boot options - now there is only 3, and no (apparent) 
option to get a 4th option back.  I took a picture of the screen, but I 
won't clutter up the list.

I *will* have to fix the bios, or I won't be able to boot from USB.

Temp fix - just to get on with life, is to create a boot DVD.  Not even 
sure where I keep the DVDs anymore...  Fortunately, my laptop has a DVD 
writer.


I did visit the AMI website, but it wasn't obvious how or if I could 
upgrade the BIOS.  I sent them a tech support request, on upgrade, and 
in particular about the disappearing option, maybe I will get an answer 
next week.

At the moment, I'm not feeling very confident.  This all seemed easy a 
day ago, now its gotten complicated...

Bruce


On 12/1/18 3:18 PM, Tom Buskey wrote:
> Clonezilla is awesome for that.
>
> On Sat, Dec 1, 2018 at 2:07 PM Dan Jenkins <dan at rastech.com 
> <mailto:dan at rastech.com>> wrote:
>
>     We use Clonezilla off a bootable USB flash drive.
>
>     On December 1, 2018 12:51:34 PM EST, Bruce Labitt
>     <bruce.labitt at myfairpoint.net
>     <mailto:bruce.labitt at myfairpoint.net>> wrote:
>
>         It' apparent that one uses a variant of dd.  What isn't apparent is how
>         one goes about cloning one's primary disk (active).  From searching it
>         appears it is not recommended to use dd when the disk is active, either
>         the source or the destination.
>
>         I'm trying to clone my nearly full SSD with the OS (Ubuntu 18.04) to a
>         new larger SSD.
>
>         Is there a tiny linux I can boot into that I can run dd from?  Or can I
>         make the main disk ro?  What do you suggest?
>
>         I have backed up home.  I really don't want to re-install the OS, since
>         I have had troubles with gdm3 screwing up (different topic).  (Black
>         screen, no consoles)
>
>         Recommendations/recipes on the cloning process sought.
>
>         I was simply going to use
>
>         # dd if=/dev/sda of=/dev/sdc bs=4096 conv=sync,noerror
>
>         I've seen lots of comments about block size and optimal setting, but I'm
>         not sure what is optimal if there are unknown (but few) source drive errors.
>
>         Thanks,
>
>         Bruce
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