how to backup before update

Solution 1:

Yes, you have an option to do this:

1. Boot an Ubuntu Live DVD.

2. Select Try Ubuntu.

3. Now, when you are in live environment, open GParted and look for the partitions you are trying to backup, i.e., /dev/sda1 or /dev/sda2

4. Next, open three terminals:

   a. In one of them write this command, do not press Enter now. Keep it open after typing the command:

   sudo ps aux | grep dd | awk '/root/ {print $2" "$11}'
   

   This command will give you the PID of the dd process used later on.

   After you run this command at a later time, you will get a name that would say only dd and a number infront of that, you have to take note of that number then.

   b. In the second terminal write this command, do not press Enter now. Keep it open after typing the command:

   watch -n 1 kill -USR1 THE NUMBER FROM STEP 4.a
   

   This command will show you the progress of the dd process in the third terminal.

   c. In the third terminal, type the following, and run it:

   After running this command, immediatly run the command from 4.a first and then the command from 4.b.

   sudo dd bs=4M if=/dev/sdXY of=/path/to/your/backup-directory/anyfilename.iso
   

   Here, /dev/sdXY is the partition you want to backup.

   This command will actually execute the dd command.

Now, keep tab on the terminal from 4.c and wait for the command to finish.

Backup completes on the completion of the command. Now, you can do whatever you want. Cheers!