Article

Description:
Partimage is a Linux utility which saves partitions having a supported file system to an image file. Most Linux and Windows file systems are supported. The image file can be compressed with the gzip / bzip2 programs to save disk space, and they can be splitted into multiple files to be copied on CDs / DVDs, Partitions can also be saved across the network since version 0.6.0 using the partimage network support, or using Samba / NFS. If you don't want to install Partimage, you can download and burn SystemRescueCd. It's a livecd that allows to use Partimage immediately even if your computer has no operating system installed (useful to restore an image), and it allows to save an image on a DVD on the fly.

http://www.partimage.org

This helps us in Creating/Restoring Linux image.
Optimize setup time.

Steps to take image and store it on the same machine

1. Create a separate partition on your windows machine [this is to store your image].

   Ex: Go to Diskmanagement
   Create new partition and format it using ntfs file system.

2. Boot with partimage CD and navigate using default options.
3. To mount an ntfs system do the following:
   

   sudo mkdir -p /mnt/windows
   sudo umount /dev/sda1
   sudo mount -t ntfs-3g /dev/sda1 /mnt/windows
   sudo lsof /dev/sda1
   
   

4. Go to /mnt/windows
   cd /mnt/windows
5. Type partimage press Enter
6. Observe the part image GUI.

Select which partition you wish to take image like:
C: partition [Example /dev/sda1/ or /dev/hda1].
Press tab key
Enter image file name [FYI: it will add .000 at the end of file name]
Press tab key

if(Creating Image == “true” ){
Select = “Save Image option and press F5”;
  }
else {
Select=”Restore Image option and press F5”;
       }

	   

Press OK button..

It will start creating/restoring imaging.

Trouble shooting:

1. If you’re unable to mount partition, do normal Restart of your device 1 or 2 times.