Copy existing SD Card

[ankonaskiff17]

Can I copy the whole SD card of an existing MM + Raspian OS on to a second SD card. I have a spare Pi and a donor monitor but not so proficient in Linux based commands and my copying experience more at the file/folder level.

[sdetweil]

@ankonaskiff17 you really have to clone the card… look at the dd command

https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/linux/filesystem/backup.md

[ankonaskiff17]

@sdetweil Thanks. Seems easy enough. There seem to be more than one way to skin that cat. Which is preferred?

[sdetweil]

@ankonaskiff17 the first one only copies the /home/pi folder
the second copies the sd card, my mistake (the preferred)

The copy, depending on the size of the SD card, can take ten or fifteen minutes, and when complete you should have a clone of your current installation on the new SD card. You can test it by putting the newly-copied card into the Pi’s SD card slot and booting it; it should boot and look exactly the same as your original installation, with all your data and applications intact.

the sd copier copies the card to an img file so you can put it on another card any time

SD card image
It may be sensible for you to keep a copy of the entire SD card image, so you can restore the card if you lose it or it becomes corrupt

[DJBOOB66]

Raspian OS has an SD Card Copier app just use that it in the Accessories section I use a SSD and copy to a backup SSD all the time.

[ankonaskiff17]

@djboob66 I have a portable Toshiba drive plugged in to the very Pi I want to make the copy of. Originally bought to upload camera images from my camera’s SD card. Plugged in a few months ago to see how the Pi would respond.

[bugsounet]

Really, lost time…

just do a copy of your config.js file, any token or credentials (if needed)

-> MagicMirror have an update every 6 month
-> any maintened module every month (and dependencies too !)
-> OS of the pi every month or week

So for me not really needed, a clean install is better, all modules are in github so clone it and install (you have the list on your config.js file!)
After if you enjoy to do backup of your pi … (it’s a micro-computer) … don’t forget to do again a backup of your personal computer !

[BKeyport]

@ankonaskiff17

Yes, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

I wouldn’t even copy the config.txt file from one to another. Just burn a new card, and install programs fresh, copying over data and modifying config as needed.