MBR problem when cloning xp workstations
A partition and disk imaging/cloning program
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Hello,
I just installed clonezilla and started testing it. Everything seems to work, except for the fact that it's unable to write the mbr properly. When i try to boot the computer after cloning the screen just remains black and there's a cursor blinking in the top left corner. I've tried playing around with options, taking the -g auto off (i guess this should be off if you clone xp (?)), and using -j0, but it just doesn't seem to write a proper mbr. Tested around a bit yesterday, and when i used hiren's boot cd and wrote "a generic mbr" with one of the tools, the machine booted, so it definately seems to be about the mbr.
Any idea why clonezilla doesn't write one or fails to do it properly? I'm using debian etch and the standard packages for clonezilla (2.2.1-5) and drbl (1.8.0-15).
Sometimes it's because of CHS values of the harddrive are different.
Did you try to use "-t1" ? That should work. If any chance, try that and tell us your results.
Thanks.
Seems i had an older version installed, the "-t1" option was not available. After i updated the software i had it right there in the menu. It refuses to restore the disk image with that option however, perhaps that's due to that it was saved with an older version (?). I left it to restore the disk with the usual options after i had upgraded the software.
If this doesn't work, i'll try to save the image again with the updated software and try to restore the new image with the -t1 option.
BTW, the machines are totally identical. I'm mostly cloning lenovo machines, the ones i'm testing are new T61 laptops with sata drives.
Clonezilla refuses to clone with the -t1 option. When i boot the target machine using the -t1 option it just gives me a login prompt and tells me how to run the cloning command manually. If i try to enter the -t1 option manually it just gives me the same help information. I have tried to make a fresh image with the updated software and restore it with the regular options but this does not seem to help. Any advice?
Which command are you using with -t1 option ?
Actually the -t1 option just do one command for your target disk:
cat /opt/drbl/pkg/syslinux/mbr.bin > /dev/hda
You can try to manually run that, remember to replace /dev/hda with your device.
//NOTE// This command is dangerous, remember to run that in your "target" disk carefully.
Sorry, this was my bad. I did run drblsrv -i after updating the software, but i forgot to run drblpush so i guess the -t1 option was not available to the client. Now it actually appears to be working (i de-select the -g auto and select the -t1 in addition to the defaults)!
Just got a new set of identical machines and i look forward to testing the multicast feature :)