
                  +----------------------------------------+
                  |                                        |
                  |            Partition saving            |
                  |                                        |
                  |    http://www.partition-saving.com     |
                  |  Copyright (c) 1999-2006 D. Guibouret  |
                  +----------------------------------------+

                                     HOWTO

Table of contents 
-----------------

  1- Preamble 
  2- Some definitions 
  3- Some DOS commands 
     a) Change drive 
     b) List directory contents 
     c) Change directory 
     d) Execute a program 
  4- Preparation 
  5- Saving 
  6- Restoring 


1- Preamble 
-----------

This is not the Partition Saving manual. This is a short description of how to
use this program in a standard case. To have more details, please read manual 
and FAQ. 


2- Some definitions 
-------------------

A drive is a partition on a hard disk, a floppy drive or any other device that
allows storing data. With DOS it is identified with a letter between 'A' and 
'Z' followed with ':'. 

A directory (or folder) is an element of a drive that allows grouping files 
(or sub-folders) together. Directory organisation on a drive is called a tree.
A directory inside another directory is called a sub-folder, a directory that 
contains a sub-folder is called parent directory (or upper directory) of 
sub-folder. The upper directory into tree (those that corresponds to drive) is
called root. 


3- Some DOS commands 
--------------------

DOS is an OS that run with command line. Here are some commands that could be 
useful. All commands given here must be validated with Enter key to be 
executed. 

  a) Change drive

To change drive, you have to enter "<drive letter>:". 

Example: 
--------
To go on floppy drive, you have to enter "A:". 

  b) List directory contents

To list what a directory contains, you have to enter "dir". If you enter "dir 
<directory name>" you will get contents of <directory name>. If you do not 
give directory name, you will get contents of current directory. If there was 
more files into a directory than it could be displayed on screen, you could 
enter "dir <directory name> /p" to stop command between each screen. 

Example: 
--------
"dir savepart". 

  c) Change directory

To change directory, you have to enter "cd <directory name>". If you do not 
give <directory name>, current directory name will be displayed. If <directory
name> is equal to ".", nothing is done, if it is equal to "..", you go into 
upper directory, if it is equal to "\" you go into root directory. You could 
cross over several directories by separating them with "\". 

Example: 
--------
If you have following directory tree: 
C: 
|- savepart 
|  |- doc 
|     |- en 
|     |- fr_ansi 
|     |- fr_ascii 
and you are into C:. If you enter "cd savepart", you go into savepart 
directory (enter "cd" to check this). Then if you enter "cd doc", you go into 
savepart\doc. A faster way to be into this directory from C: is to enter "cd 
savepart\doc". Once you are into savepart\doc, you could enter "cd .." to go 
back into savepart, "cd \" to go into root directory (C:). 

  d) Execute a program

To execute a program, you have to enter its name. DOS begin to search a file 
"<program name>.bat", "<program name>.com" or "<program name>.exe" into 
current directory, then into all directories given into "PATH" variable (to 
know what contains this variable, enter "path"). You could also give directory
name with program name for the DOS to search it directly into this directory. 

Example: 
--------
With considering that you have savepart.exe into savepart directory from 
previous example directory tree and that you are into C:\, you could enter 
"savepart\savepart" to run program, or enter "cd savepart" then "savepart". 


4- Preparation 
--------------

Here are elements to be done before saving/restoring a partition: 

  - To be able to save/restore a partition, you need a boot floppy disk or 
    CDROM (or DOS >= 3.3 or Windows 3.x, 9x, Me installed on your hard disk). 
    To know how to create one, you could read FAQ Q10 or search for "boot 
    disk" into Windows help. You have to check that fdisk.exe, sys.com and 
    format.com are on it, they could be useful.
    Copy savepart.exe on it (or on another floppy disk if there is not enough 
    place on it). This is not needed in case it is already on a FAT partition,
    but you must do it if it is on a NTFS partition else DOS will not be able 
    to read it.
  - To avoid saving useless things, it is better to remove temporary and 
    useless files, .... Swap file could also be moved onto another partition 
    to avoid saving it (from V3.00 version, there is an option to not save 
    it).
  - It could be better to defragment partition before saving it to group all 
    data at beginning if you will restore it onto a smaller partition.
  - If you think to clone a Windows NT/2000/XP partition on another computer, 
    you have to prepare Windows to this. For this purpose, please read 
    Microsoft site and search for sysprep tool.
  - You need a FAT or NTFS partition or a device that could be written by DOS 
    to create saving files. Writing CD directly from DOS is rarely available. 
    In this case you need to create saved file on hard disk then go back to 
    your usual OS to burn CD. For USB devices, it seems that some generic 
    drivers exist to access them from DOS. If you have several types of 
    partition (like NTFS and FAT) into a logical partition, you have to put 
    FAT partitions before the others (else DOS seems not to be able to find 
    them).
  - To be able to find easily which partition to choose, it is better to give 
    a name to each partition. This will avoid confusion in case matching 
    between partition and corresponding letter is wrong. For this: 

    * Launch Windows Explorer.
    * Right click on drive you want to save and select the properties menu 
      (last option). 
    * Set a name into volume name text field. 
    * Click Ok to close properties window.

  - Perform the same thing (but choose another name) for partition where you 
    want to create saving files.
  - In case you can create saving files only on a NTFS partition (this part is
    not needed if you want to create files on a FAT partition), you have to 
    create some files from Windows (program needs to have entries into 
    directory, it is not able to create them from DOS): 

    * Launch savepart.exe.
    * Choose "Create some files on NTFS drive".
    * Click on "Automatic naming" or if you do not have mouse, use Ctrl+Tab to
      go to "Options" window then space bar to activate checkbox.
    * Into "File:" field enter the name of the first file (with full pathname 
      or with going first to drive where to create files by using "Drives" and
      "Directories" lists), then click Ok.
    * Give number of files you need: n = <partition occupied size> / <size of 
      saving files> / 2 + 3, then click Ok. <size of saving files> depends on 
      what you want to do with them once they have been created (630 MB to 
      burn them to 650 MB CDROM, 680 MB for 700 MB CDROM, 2047 MB for DVD or 
      to let them on disk). "/ 2" is in case you use compression. "+ 3" is 
      some margin because the "/ 2" factor for compression is not exact (it 
      depends on partition content). Example: if you have a 2 GB occupied 
      partition that you want to save on 700 MB CDROM, you have to enter 5 
      (2048 / 700 / 2 = 1.5, rounded up to 2 then with adding 3 margin, you 
      get 5).

  - The part that is better to save is system partition (the one where OS is).
    If system is installed on a partition and programs on another, as they 
    could be links between them (example: register base and DLL for Windows), 
    you have to save both partitions with running program twice. Saving 
    partition table or MBR could be interesting in case one day a virus 
    infects your computer (some of them destroy this data). 
    As a good way of doing, it is better to create at least 2 partitions: one 
    with OS and programs, second with your data (that do not need restoring in
    case of problem with OS). If it is not the case, before restoring, you 
    will have to save your data somewhere to avoid them being erased with an 
    older version.


5- Saving 
---------

Here are steps to save a partition: 

  - Boot to DOS.
  - Launch "savepart.exe" at prompt (change floppy disk before if it is on 
    another one, or go to directory where it is in case it is on disk).
  - You have to begin with choosing "Save an element" info first window.
  - Then you have to choose support. As a general rule, system partition is on
    disk number 0, so it is this one that you have to choose. "DOS devices" 
    choice should be used only if element to save is not on a hard disk or a 
    floppy disk.
  - Choose the partition you want to save (use the one with the name you give 
    at beginning, do not rely on drive letter in case you have some NTFS 
    partitions as DOS does not see them). If you get only one partition with 
    dynamic disk type, that means that disk is dynamically managed, so you can
    not save it with Partition Saving.
  - Choose what you want to save. To have smallest size, choose "element 
    without swap files". In case you have only one partition (so saving file 
    will be on saved partition), you must choose "element on itself" or 
    "element on itself without swap files" option. If you choose first option 
    (all sectors) or if this window does not appear, it means you will be able
    to restore partition only to a partition of the same size at the same 
    place on a disk having the same format. Choosing one of the 4 last options
    allows you restoring partition on a different partition.
  - If you choose one of the two "without swap files" options, you have to 
    give directory name where swap files are. Program searches them always on 
    root directory and into directory you give here. In most cases swap files 
    are into root directory or Windows directory, so choose Windows directory.
  - If you have to create saving files on a NTFS partition, you have to first 
    mount it (not needed else). For this: 

    * Click on "Mount partition" button (or go to the windows by pressing 
      "Alt+Tab", then choose button with "Tab" and press "Enter").
    * Choose disk containing partition where to create saving files.
    * Choose partition where to create saving files. A window tells you which 
      drive letter is affected to this partition. 

  - Select "Automatic naming" in case you want to use it (program will 
    automatically change file extension in case several files are needed, with
    setting second file with an extension ending with 01, third with 02, ...).
  - Enter the filename you want to use as first saving file (full pathname or 
    go to the directory by using "Drives" and "Directories"). Files created 
    with this program do not need any specific extension (do not give them an 
    extension used by another program to avoid confusion). Unless you choose 
    to save partition on itself, you should not choose the drive corresponding
    to saved partition. With DOS, names could be no more than 8 characters 
    long, followed by a 3 characters extension ("fichier00.part" will be cut 
    to "fichier0.par"). Filename could contains alphabetical and numerical 
    characters and '$', '%', ''', '-', '_', '@', '~', '`', '!', '(', ')', '{',
    '}', '^', '#' and '&' characters. DOS does not recognise NTFS partitions, 
    so it is normal the C:, D:, ... drives to not appear if they use NTFS or 
    to not be the same than under Windows.
  - Enter the maximum size you want the file to do (if more space is needed, 
    several files will be created). 
  - Select the compression ratio: use a low value in case your computer is not
    powerful (2 is a good value), something higher else (values above 5 give 
    very little gain in comparison with time spent).
  - From this point, saving begins. Do not rely on exact time because it is 
    counted as if all sectors are saved (so it will go faster if only occupied
    sectors are saved). If this file is filled up, another one will be asked 
    to you if you do not choose automatic naming option. Saving ends when 
    higher progress bar reaches 100% and "Ok" button becomes available.
  - Program asks you if you want to create an option file that will allow you 
    to save/restore this partition automatically next time. If you answer yes 
    here, program requests you its name.

Saving is complete. You could now boot back to Windows if you want to burn 
created file on CD (in this case, do not burn them at a too high speed because
DOS seems to have problem in case they are not very well burned). It is always
a good idea to check that burn CD are correct with booting back to DOS and 
checking them with the "Check a saving file" option. In case you created 
option file, you could need to modify it with a text editor to update file 
pathname ("file=" lines) as moving files changes their pathname. 


6- Restoring 
------------

If when saving you have created the configuration file and you want to do 
restoring on saved partition, you could enter "savepart -r -f <configuration 
filename>" and restoring will be automatic. Warning: in this case no 
confirmation will be asked. 
If you do not create configuration file or prefer to do restoring by hand, 
here are all steps: 

  - Begin with choosing "Restore an element" option in first window. 
  - In case saving files are on a NTFS partition you have first to mount it as
    when saving (see above).
  - You have to give name of first saving file: you should enter its full 
    pathname into "File" line (or double click on its name into "Files" list 
    after moving to its directory with "Drives" and "Directories" list). You 
    must be sure that this file is not on partition you want to restore. 
  - Depending on file contents and how your partitions are, program gives you 
    list of partitions that match the one into saved file. The one that is 
    identical to the saved one is marked with an 'X' into Id. column. 
    Notes: 

    * Restoring a partition obviously erases the current contents.
    * If you saved partition table and restore it, you will loose content of 
      all partitions on disk on which restoring is done.
    * In case partition where you want to restore does not appear, it is 
      perhaps because it has the wrong size (expected one is given into 
      "Potential size range" or "Size" line if first one does not appear), 
      type (expected type is given into "Element type" line) or does not have 
      exactly the same definition in case you saved all sectors.

  - You have to confirm your choice. 
  - Restoring begins. If saving was done into several files and you not choose
    automatic naming, program will ask you the following one when it reaches 
    end of current one. As for saving, do not rely on estimated time if you 
    saved occupied sectors only (if you used compression restoring should go 
    faster than saving, else is it nearly the same time). 
  - Once restoring is ended, you should not access to restored partition 
    before having booted your computer. This is because information that DOS 
    has into memory are no more coherent with partition content and so using 
    it will end with data corruption. After that, if you have saved partition 
    on itself, saving files could appear on restored partition, in this case 
    you could remove them as they are not valid and perform a check of 
    partition if it is not automatically done (I speak about the files that 
    could appear on restored partition, not those you use to do these 
    restoring which are always correct).
  - If you restore a partition onto a partition other than the one that was 
    saved (either it is not on the same disk or beginning of partition has 
    moved on disk) and you have Windows 2000 and XP, you have to update some 
    definitions into registry and into a file (BOOTSECT.DOS) used in case you 
    have several Windows installations (see chapters 11 and 12 of manual). For
    registry, if you restored your system partition, you will have to choose 
    it as Windows partition and as partition to change drive assignment and 
    set it the drive letter it has when saving.
  - If you restore a partition onto a partition other than the one that was 
    saved and that is launched using the Windows XP multiboot feature you have
    to update the BOOT.INI file with booting with Windows XP CD and using 
    bootcfg from console mode.
  - In some cases, if you restore system partition, it could be no more 
    bootable. You should begin with checking with fdisk that it is activated. 
    Then for FAT partition, you have to restore MBR with "fdisk /mbr", then 
    boot sector with "sys c:" (from boot floppy disk). For ext2fs partition, 
    you have to restore boot loader by using install CD used into rescue mode 
    (method to use depend on boot loader). For NTFS partition, you have to use
    fixboot, fixmbr and bootcfg commands by using repair console that could be
    obtained with install CD.
  - If the partition you restore is a partition used with Linux and you 
    restore this partition onto a partition other than the one that was saved,
    you have to update the /etc/fstab file and the boot loader if it is a 
    system partition. For this you have to boot with the Linux CD, use the 
    rescue mode and update mount point and boot loader.

------
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