Reducing an existing Linux partition for Windows use....

[Matt Graham]

From: Eric Shubert <ejs at shubes.net>
> You can use "dd" to copy/restore partitions and whole drives. You can even
> do so over a network when necessary, although it's quite a bit slower.

While you *can*, it's not a great idea.  dd copies everything, including
the parts of the filesystem that are not in use, so it takes longer than
filesystem-based backup methods.  It's usually better to use something
like partimage, which has a happy little ncurses menu-driven interface.
partimage can also back up MBRs, partition bootsectors, and probably the
slack space between the MBR and the start of the first partition.

> Knoppix works well for this in any case.

Just about any non-crippled LiveCD can be used as a rescue system by an
experienced Linux person.  I like SysRescCD, but YMMV.

-- 
Matt G / Dances With Crows
The Crow202 Blog:  http://crow202.org/wordpress/
There is no Darkness in Eternity/But only Light too dim for us to see