From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Sat Feb 21 03:12:12 2004 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 9CAF316A4CE for ; Sat, 21 Feb 2004 03:12:12 -0800 (PST) Received: from mail006.syd.optusnet.com.au (mail006.syd.optusnet.com.au [211.29.132.63]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id B694543D2D for ; Sat, 21 Feb 2004 03:12:11 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from tfrank@optushome.com.au) Received: from marvin.home.local (c211-28-241-189.eburwd5.vic.optusnet.com.au [211.28.241.189])i1LBC9g07438; Sat, 21 Feb 2004 22:12:10 +1100 Received: by marvin.home.local (Postfix, from userid 1001) id 6BBE81B6; Sat, 21 Feb 2004 22:12:09 +1100 (EST) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2004 22:12:09 +1100 From: Tony Frank To: Tig Message-ID: <20040221111209.GJ98919@marvin.home.local> References: <20040221213841.76391b1c@piglet.goo> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <20040221213841.76391b1c@piglet.goo> User-Agent: Mutt/1.4.2.1i cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Copy old drive to new drive - is it possible? X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2004 11:12:12 -0000 Hi there, On Sat, Feb 21, 2004 at 09:38:41PM +1100, Tig wrote: > Hi, I have a hard drive which is on its last legs. I also have new hard > drive to replace the old one. I was wondering if it is possible to > simply copy everything from the old drive to the new (after formating > the new drive) and have my system back up and running, or do I need to > reinstall the OS and everything else? Yes this is quite possible & happens regularly. Check out the handbook chapter 12: http://marvin.home.local/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/disks-adding.html This example is for a new disk alongside existing system. If you plan to replace the original disk altogether you can do: 0. Backup all important data, settings, configuration & hard to replace items. 1. Physically install new disk together with old disk 2. Install boot blocks if necessary 3. layout filesystems on the new disk (can use fdisk & disklabel) 4. Create new filesystems (newfs) 5. mount new filesystem in temporary location 6. copy data across. Many ways exist: tar cpio dump / restore 7. shutdown system 8. Remove old drive, install new drive in old position. Ie if IDE primary master is your old disk, put the new into the same position. If it all goes to pieces reinstall on the new drives and restore your backups. You can use /stand/sysinstall to do steps 2,3,4 - the handbook covers this part quite well. > Tips, URL's or a simple 'from personal experience, best to reinstall' > comments more than welcome. It depends on how comfortable you are in a procedure like the above. It may be reinstall is easiest / best option for you. Regards, Tony