Copy HDD contents to USB media automatically????

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thatisit1

37 posts

Geek

#56946 29-Jan-2010 12:57

Does anyone know of a way to copy the entire contents of a HDD including user data and program files to USB media like an external HDD or a large USB flash drive automatically and to be unnoticeable when the drive is inserted into the PC??? I cant have any software already on the computer however the flash drive would be able to install software when it is inserted. So in theory I should be able to walk up to a computer insert the flash drive and have it copy the HDD contents. (It wouldn't need encrypted files or user documents just the software and settings).

Ragnor

8279 posts

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#294321 29-Jan-2010 13:16

Most systems are set for the OS to ask you want to do when a USB device is connected rather than blindly autorun an executable, this is for security reasons.

Imagine the havok you could wreck with a virus on a USB device if you could just go around inserting it into PC's and having it be automatically run.

Basically you can't autorun something off a USB device without a confirmation diaglog being shown as far as I know.

dontpanic42

1574 posts

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#294326 29-Jan-2010 13:33

The only thing I can think of that comes close to what you are wanting would be something like Toucan, which is part of the PortableApps suite.

Like Ragnor said, it is unlikely that you would be able to just "plug and play", without at least some user interaction.

You might be able to set up a simple batch script for Toucan that will do a full copy of a HDD (it may be possible, but I haven't used Toucan enough to know), but it will most likely still require at least a little user interaction.

Hope that helps.

thatisit1

37 posts

Geek

#294330 29-Jan-2010 13:49

Thanks for the replies! It wouldn't matter if it would have the autorun dialogue but the system that i may be using would be something old like windows 2000 so i don't think that it has an autorun prompt. Will try Toucan.
Thanks :)

Ragnor

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#294407 29-Jan-2010 17:11

If a dialogue is fine it's just a simple matter of making an autorun.inf file in the root of the usb device that launches whatever portable backup program/script you feel like using.

Inside a txt file called autorun.inf on the root of the usb drive:

[AutoRun]
OPEN=MYAPP.EXE
ICON=MYAPP.EXE
ACTION=Start my application
LABEL=My Drive

Will result in something like this

OldRepublicJedi

53 posts

Master Geek

#294408 29-Jan-2010 17:11

There is a fantastic proudct available to do this. Of course, make sure you read exactly what it does and doesn't do so you don't get caught by any "gotchas"

http://www.tomshardware.com/ne...

It is available in NZ... hopefully it is what you are after but like I said, make sure you read all the facts.