[Snow-i]

Hi,

I'm using VM ware fusion to run a boot camp partition and time machine to back up.

Does time machine back up all of the information on the Fusion VM/boot camp partition? If not, how can I? I have critical docs that I'm manually backing up to a seperate HD right now, not being sure if TM is backing up the VM.

I'm using the latest of Fusion and OS X 10.5.7, soon to be 10.5.8 when I get home.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[ibook_steve]

No, TM does not backup Boot Camp partitions. You'll need to use something else to back up the FAT or NTFS partitions used by Windows. I don't know what to use offhand, but others should be able to answer.

I'm keeping this thread here, for now, but I may move it to Alternative Operating Systems, where you may get more responses.

Steve

[Snow-i]

Ah ok,

where ever you think it might get the best responses.

I thought time machine backed up the fusion VM, which includes the xp files? It got into a grey area when talking about a VM that points to a seperate boot camp partition.

My only purpose is to ensure that the files are backed up in case of total system/HDD failure...I don't care if I can't access individual windows files. I heard somewhere that it works but it counts the entire VM as one file, so individual files can't be retrieved without restoring the entire drive.

[Art Vandelay]

It will back up a VM image but not a Boot Camp partition used for your VM.

[Snow-i]

so from the VM image, I can restore the entire windows VM correct?

Do i have to do anything to make it back up the whole VM image or does fusion make that for me automatically?

[Cold Warrior]

from fusion, choose import, then your boot camp partition. It will import it as a vm. However this will only function as a vm and is not like a clone that can be used to restore a windows partition on your Mac.

For easy, great boot camp partition cloning and restoring, use winclone.

[Snow-i]

wait, did you mean that it will only back up if i'm using a straight up VM without a seperate partition? Or that Fusion will make a VM image while in use and that will be backed up?

I'm so confused :-(

[Snow-i]

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior 

from fusion, choose import, then your boot camp partition. It will import it as a vm. However this will only function as a vm and is not like a clone that can be used to restore a windows partition on your Mac.

For easy, great boot camp partition cloning and restoring, use winclone.

so how do i make it seamless and without user input?

Will i need a seperate disk partition on the external? Should I just daisy chain multiple FW externals?

[Cold Warrior]

you have to import your boot camp partition for fusion to create a vm from it. Otherwise it just uses your boot camp partition, which is fine, but it won't create a vm that way and if that bc partition gets erased or hosed, that's it.