Solved Problems making a 32GB microSD-Backup

[hanker]

Hello from Germany!

I recently installed Recalbox 4.0 final on a Sandisk microSD 32GB, everything except minor issues is great. As I have invested lots of hours scraping the Metainfo of my collection, I would like to backup my microSD now.

Problem is: Whenever I plug the microSD into my Windows 7 computer, the size reported by tools like Win32DiskImager is around 630 MB and only this partition is backuped.

I understand, that this is a problem of Windows handling multiple partitions on (micro)SDs and only one partition is shown in Windows.

But: Is there any solution for backing up the SD-Card using Windows?

Or should I try a Linux-Live-CD and the (one year old) instructions from https://github.com/recalbox/recalbox-os/wiki/Clone-your-SD-card-(EN) ?

Thanks a lot!

René

[paradadf]

To be honest, I've never tried to backup my sd card with Win32DiskImager, but the HDD Raw Copy Tool did the job for me (there is a portable version).
http://hddguru.com/software/HDD-Raw-Copy-Tool/

[hanker]

I just tried HDD Raw Copy Tool. It's the same problem. The microSD is only recognized as around 640 MB big and only this partition is saved to the image:

This is really annoying. I can generally access the full 32 GB of the card if I delete all partitions on the SD card using "diskpart" and "clean" and formatting using SDFormatter, but never after installing Recalbox.

Well, it seems I have to get my hands on a Linux LiveCD and using dd.

Can anybody confirm that the description at https://github.com/recalbox/recalbox-os/wiki/Clone-your-SD-card-(EN) is still correct for 4.0 final?

Greetings from Germany

René

[paradadf]

@hanker are you sure that those 630 MB aren't the complete USED capacity of your SD card? You won't get a 32 GB backup image if your card isn't using that capacity. Try adding more roms and you will see that the 630 MB increase

[hanker]

Hello again,

yes, I'm totally sure. I've added over 16 GB of ROMs...

Regards

René

[hanker]

Did just try another, newer laptop with build in microSD - card reader and Windows 10 instead of 7.

HDD Raw Copy Tool Portable did work flawlessly and the system recognized the whole 32GB instantly.

Problem solved, possibly old internal SD - card reader hardware and/or drivers in my own laptop.

René

[paradadf]

Glad to hear you figured it out

[hanker]

Tried to edit the wiki with the additional information. Didn't work, "Edit" button leades to "404" error.

Perhaps someone else could add the following:

• Windows : Win32 Disk Imager with the READ function, alternatively HDD Raw Copy Tool (makes compressed images, portable version available)

If your microSD - Card isn't recognized at full size and only the first partition is backuped, try updating the SD-card reader drivers or use an external USB - card reader.

Regards

René

[paradadf]

Everyone can edit the wiki, don't know why you got that error. Anyway, I'm on my phone right know but I'll add that later (if anybody does it before).

[hanker]

Just a short notice:

Could also write the Image onto another microSD-card which afterwards booted flawlessly.