Aargh! Now I cannot successfully clone! Need help with Expert Parameters
A partition and disk imaging/cloning program
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steven_shiau
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Hi all,
Now that I have successfully restored a backup I need to clone a drive onto another drive but once the cloning completes successfully I am getting a flashing cursor on the left hand side of the screen with no successful boot.
I had the same problems with restoring a backup ([https://sourceforge.net/p/clonezilla/discussion/Help/thread/52a6860f8d/]) with the same symptoms and I finally guessed that I needed to select -j1 (default: unchecked): "Write MBR (512 B) again after image is restored. Not OK for partition table differ from that of the image" for the restored backup to correctly boot up so I am hoping it is just an incorrect parameter that I have set/unset.
I have tried various expert parameters but it keeps failing to boot up after cloning.
The drive I am cloning is a complex setup as it has a total of 6 OS's on it with the Windows 10 boot manager (BCD) managing the boot selection.
I have attached a photo of one lot of the settings that I used that I believe should have worked.
If someone can point out what settings I should be including or excluding that would be appreciated.
I couldn't find an explanation of some of the expert settings so I am unsure what some of the settings mean.
Regards,
fbagnato
It looks like the issue is on the boot manager. Hence maybe you can try to use the native environment (MS Windows boot CD/USB stick?) to reinstall your boot loader.
Steven
Hello Steven,
But should the settings I used work?
What settings would ensure that the boot manager will clone correctly onto the new drive?
I would like to use Clonezilla instead of Acronis True Image which is what I used to use.
What should I select in the advanced settings to successfully clone the drive?
Surely I am selecting something wrong!
I tried the next lot of settings as per the attached photo and there was no difference, the system would not boot.
Regards,
fbagnato
Last edit: Flavio Bagnato 2020-12-30
Since you mentioned your hard drive is complicated... You can only try then you might be able to find that. Try enable "-t1" or "-j1", disable "-e1 auto"... Many combinations...
Steven
Hello again Steven,
I have tried selecting and deselecting -t1, -j1 doesn't exist in the cloning parameters (is this intentional????) and again tried selecting and deselecting -e1 but no joy.
The interesting thing is that it was the selection of the --j1 (default: unchecked): "Write MBR (512 B) again after image is restored. Not OK for partition table differ from that of the image" was what fixed the drive to restoring correctly when I had problems restoring this drive. I would love to try this setting but it is not a parameter in the cloning expert parameters.
The hard drive is complicated in the sense that I have multiple OS's installed that's all.
Basically it is DOS, FreeDOS, Windows Me, ReactOS, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 10 installed in separate partitions installed in that order. Windows 10 has the BCD boot manager to select the OS to boot.
To just try different combinations isn't the preferred way to resolve this as each attempt takes hours to try and I have basically run out of ideas with sensible combinations of the parameters.
What I was hoping was that someone experienced with Clonezilla (and I am not implying you Steven) would tell me select THESE options and that will correctly clone the drive.
I could then determine whether Clonezilla is working or not and act accordingly.
Re the parameters:
-g - Have tried both selected and unselected but I believe as I do not have grub installed deselected should suffice
-e1 - Again tried both selected and unselected but I think I should have it unselected
-e2 - Again tried both selected and unselected but I believe I should have it selected
-j2 - Selected but in my setup I believe it is irrelevant
- r - Again tried both selected and unselected but I think I should have it unselected
- t1 - Again tried both selected and unselected but I think I should have it unselected as I believe selecting it will clone a premade boot manager from Clonezilla, not the source's boot manager
- All remaining parameters I think should be unselected except -ps which is just a handy feature so I hear when the cloning has completed.
Now if some Clonezilla expert can see what is wrong with my selections please let me know what I am selecting incorrectly and what should work with my setup.
I would like just to use Clonezilla (without needing to take further steps) and end up with a bootable cloned drive.
Is my previous statement possible????
Regards,
fbagnato