Image for Linux – Restoring a Full Backup

This tutorial walks you through restoring a backup when the backup file resides on an external hard drive connected to your computer through a USB port. The tutorial uses the options most people select when restoring a backup. You can restore from other types of devices and use other options; please see the Image for Linux manual for complete details. Using Simple Operations mode is not shown in this tutorial.

You can restore a backup to the same drive you used when you made the backup or to a different drive altogether. When you restore a backup, Image for Linux completely overwrites the target drive—the one receiving the backup—and replaces its contents with the information stored in the backup image. The image you use when restoring cannot reside on the target drive. In addition, the target drive must be large enough to accommodate the data from the backup image you are restoring.

While this tutorial shows using Image for Linux GUI, the steps are basically the same if using the CUI version. In Image for Linux GUI you can use both the mouse and keyboard to interact with the program. In Image for Linux CUI you use Tab and the arrow keys to select desired menu items and then press Enter to display the next screen. You can press the Esc key to undo menu selections and move back to the previous menu. Even if you press the Esc key, Image for Linux remembers the selections you have already made throughout the Image for Linux session.

1. Attach the external hard drive containing the backup image you intend to restore to a USB port on your computer.
   
   
2. Insert your Image for Linux boot media into the appropriate drive or USB port and boot your computer. If booting from CD/DVD and your computer contains more than one CD/DVD drive, please make sure that you insert your Image for Linux bootable disc in one drive and no other CD/DVD drive contains a bootable disc. After a series of on-screen lines of code, the Image for Linux desktop appears and Image for Linux starts automatically (Image for Linux CUI will display the Welcome to Image for Linux screen; press Enter to launch Image for Linux).
   
   To boot your computer using this boot media you might need to edit your computer’s BIOS settings to reorder your drives and permit your media (CD disc, USB flash drive, etc.) to boot your computer before the operating system. As your computer begins to boot, you should see a message—before you ever get to Windows or your operating system—that tells you what key to press to enter Setup—typically the Delete key, F2, or F12. Once in the BIOS, follow the instructions provided in your BIOS to reorder the boot sequence and permit your boot media (or drive) to be examined for boot information before your hard drive. If your system starts by offering you the option to select a boot menu, you can use the boot menu to identify the drive you want to use to boot.
   
   Note: If your computer tries to boot from the external hard drive you can remove the drive, reboot your computer to the Image for Linux boot media, and then connect the external drive.
   
   
   
   
3. On the Select Operation screen shown below, select Restore and click Next.
   
   Note: If your external hard drive isn’t attached, attach it, wait about 10 seconds, and then continue.
   
   
   
   
4. On the Restore/Select screen that appears, select Normal and click Next. If you made the backup you intend to restore using Image for Linux and you're restoring back to the same drive, you can select Automatic and you won't need to perform Steps 11, 12 or 14.
   
   
   
   
5. On the Restore From/Select File Access Method screen shown below, select File (Direct) and click Next.
   
   
   
   
6. On the Restore From/Select Drive Interface screen shown below, select Linux and click Next.
   
   
   
   
7. On the Restore From/Select File Drive screen shown below, select the hard drive that contains the backup you want to restore and click Next. In this example, you would select your external hard drive.
   
   
   
   
8. On the Restore From/Select File Location on HDn screen shown below, select the partition that contains the backup image you're restoring and then click Next.
   
   
   
   
9. On the Select the backup file to restore screen shown below, browse to the backup file and select it, then click Next.
   
   
   
   
10. On the Restore From/Select Item to Process screen shown below, select the drive, press the Spacebar (or check the box) to select it, and then click Next.
    
    
    
    
11. On the Restore To/Select Drive Interface screen shown below, select Linux and click Next.
    
    
    
    
12. On the Restore To/Select Target Drive screen shown below, select the hard drive onto which you want to restore the image you selected in Step 9 and click Next.
    
    
    
    
13. Image for Linux displays a warning that explains that the information on the drive you selected in Step 12 will be lost. Click Yes to continue.
    
    
    
    
14. On the Restore Options screen shown below, click Next to accept the default options. For an explanation of each option on this screen, see the Image for Linux manual.
    
    
    
    
15. The Summary screen is displayed, which summarizes the parameters of the restore operation you're about to perform.
    
    
    
    
16. Click Start. The restore process begins and a progress bar appears on-screen. A message appears when Image for Linux finishes, informing you that the Restore operation completed successfully.
    
    
    
    
17. Click OK or press Enter to redisplay the Select Operation screen for Image for Linux. Click Exit to close the program if you're finished with it.
    
    
    
    
18. Remove the Image for Linux boot media. In Image for Linux GUI, right-click the desktop (or press Ctrl-Spacebar) and select Reboot or Power Down from the menu. In Image for Linux CUI, highlight Reboot or Power Down the System and press Enter and then select the desired action from the next menu.