Software to copy an entire disk to another ?

Hello !

An hard disk partition table is corrupted and one of its partitions is
no longer accessible/visible.

Before using a partition recovery tool, I'd like to make a copy of this
entire disk - including the areas which are now in "twilight zone".

Most, if not all, disk imaging/cloning softwares I know will
image/clone existing partitions - which would obviously exclude the
unaccessible partition of the corrupted disk.

Can you recommend a software to make an exact bit-per-bit copy of the
entire disk ?

Thanks

PS: while on the subject, any experience/opinion on partition recovery
softwares such as Acronis Disk Director or Active@ Partition Recovery ?

Previously Louis <not_valid@spam.com> wrote:
> Hello !

> An hard disk partition table is corrupted and one of its partitions is
> no longer accessible/visible.

> Before using a partition recovery tool, I'd like to make a copy of this
> entire disk - including the areas which are now in "twilight zone".

> Most, if not all, disk imaging/cloning softwares I know will
> image/clone existing partitions - which would obviously exclude the
> unaccessible partition of the corrupted disk.

> Can you recommend a software to make an exact bit-per-bit copy of the
> entire disk ?

> Thanks

> PS: while on the subject, any experience/opinion on partition recovery
> softwares such as Acronis Disk Director or Active@ Partition Recovery ?

dd_rescue under Linux, e.g. from a Knoppix Linux CD. Similar
functionality to dd, but you get a progress indicator.
Comparison for same contents can be done with the standard
utility "cmp" under Linux, just use the disk device
special files as input, e.g. "cmp /dev/sda /dev/sdb".

Arno

> Before using a partition recovery tool, I'd like to make a copy of this
> entire disk - including the areas which are now in "twilight zone".

Under Linux, you could use dd.

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Man-wai Chang ToDie wrote:
>> Before using a partition recovery tool, I'd like to make a copy of
>> this entire disk - including the areas which are now in "twilight zone".
>
> Under Linux, you could use dd.
>

And you should copy/dd the entire disk to another disk A, and then
attempt recovery on disk A rather than original. DO NOT touch/write
anything to the original (watch out for those automatic stuff).

--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Xubuntu 7.04) Linux 2.6.23.13
^ ^ 20:52:01 up 4:05 0 users load average: 0.00 0.00 0.00
? ? (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_...ub_addressesa/

On Jan 10, 12:12*pm, Louis <not_va...@spam.com> wrote:
> Hello !
>
> An hard disk partition table is corrupted and one of its partitions is
> no longer accessible/visible.
>
> Before using a partition recovery tool, I'd like to make a copy of this
> entire disk - including the areas which are now in "twilight zone".
>
> Most, if not all, disk imaging/cloning softwares I know will
> image/clone existing partitions - which would obviously exclude the
> unaccessible partition of the corrupted disk.
>
> Can you recommend a software to make an exact bit-per-bit copy of the
> entire disk ?
>
> Thanks
>
> PS: while on the subject, any experience/opinion on partition recovery
> softwares such as Acronis Disk Director or Active@ Partition Recovery ?

I've found Partition Table Doctor works

Michael

Man-wai Chang ToDie wrote in news:47861561_1@rain.i-cable.com
> Man-wai Chang ToDie wrote:
> > > Before using a partition recovery tool, I'd like to make a copy of
> > > this entire disk - including the areas which are now in "twilight zone".
> >
> > Under Linux, you could use dd.
> >
>
> And you should copy/dd the entire disk to another disk A, and then
> attempt recovery on disk A rather than original. DO NOT touch/write
> anything to the original (watch out for those automatic stuff).

Moron.

Louis wrote:

>Can you recommend a software to make an exact bit-per-bit copy of the
>entire disk ?

I know that WD has software on their Web site for this, if the drives
are WD. Other manufacturers may provide this utility as well.

Louis <not_valid@spam.com> wrote

> An hard disk partition table is corrupted and one of its partitions is no longer accessible/visible.

> Before using a partition recovery tool, I'd like to make a copy of this entire disk - including the areas which are
> now in "twilight zone".

> Most, if not all, disk imaging/cloning softwares I know will
> image/clone existing partitions - which would obviously exclude the unaccessible partition of the corrupted disk.

> Can you recommend a software to make an exact bit-per-bit copy of the entire disk ?

The most important consideration is whether the drive is dying and thats whats produced
the problem or whether its purely a software problem thats made that partition invisible.
The best way to see if the drive is fine is with the Everest SMART report.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181

If the drive is fine, you can use any of the major imagers like True Image
or Ghost and image the entire physical drive at the sector level.

You can also use forensic cloners like CloneDisk
http://invircible.com/resq.php

> PS: while on the subject, any experience/opinion on partition recovery
> softwares such as Acronis Disk Director or Active@ Partition Recovery ?

I prefer Easy Recovery Pro myself, but it isnt cheap if you have pay for it.

On Jan 10, 1:08*pm, "Rod Speed" <rod.speed....@gmail.com> wrote:
> Louis <not_va...@spam.com> wrote
>
> > An hard disk partition table is corrupted and one of its partitions is no longer accessible/visible.
> > Before using a partition recovery tool, I'd like to make a copy of this entire disk - including the areas which are
> > now in "twilight zone".
> > Most, if not all, disk imaging/cloning softwares I know will
> > image/clone existing partitions - which would obviously exclude the unaccessible partition of the corrupted disk.
> > Can you recommend a software to make an exact bit-per-bit copy of the entire disk ?
>
> The most important consideration is whether the drive is dying and thats whats produced
> the problem or whether its purely a software problem thats made that partition invisible.
> The best way to see if the drive is fine is with the Everest SMART report.http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181
>
> If the drive is fine, you can use any of the major imagers like True Image
> or Ghost and image the entire physical drive at the sector level.
>
> You can also use forensic cloners like CloneDiskhttp://invircible.com/resq..php
>
> > PS: while on the subject, any experience/opinion on partition recovery
> > softwares such as Acronis Disk Director or Active@ Partition Recovery ?
>
> I prefer Easy Recovery Pro myself, but it isnt cheap if you have pay for it.

The other thing to watch out for, is bad sectors....I have used ghost
and other proggies and have had some issue with that in the past. I do
not know if the other version works better or not......

Thanks for your reply,

> If the drive is fine, you can use any of the major imagers like True Image
> or Ghost and image the entire physical drive at the sector level.

The drive is fine.

Are you referring to a specific version of Acronis ? I looked at True
Image Workstation version 8 and True Image Home version 10 and I can't
find any indication that imaging an entire disk would include the non
partitionned disk areas.