Complete file backup (not image)

[sjewins]

I need to reformat my system to use 128 byte inode size instead of what it defaulted to (256 byte). Quickly, the reason is that third party tools like Ghost 14 and True Image 11 don't recognize 256 byte inode ext3 and will only do sector by sector imaging (too huge).

So, what will guarantee a successful file restore after I re-format?

Do I need to reformat and then re-install SUSE or can I just reformat and then restore all my files without a new installation?

What is the best way to get all my files to an external drive and then back that is not an image which would just copy back the 256 byte inodes?

Eg.

rsync everything to elsewhere, reformat using, perhaps, gparted. Drop to a shell and rsync everything back? What about the bootloader (GRUB)?

rsync everything elsewhere, reformat, reinstall a default set up then copy everything back (locked file issues, perhaps? Could maybe still use the CD boot shell idea, if so.)

Use something other than rsync in one of the above scenarios? (cpio??)

Something else completely that I haven't thought of.

I really don't want to lose the way I now have things set up so any expert help would really be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Simon

[hazel]

There's a program called cdtar that might work for you. It's basically a set of scripts hanging off a tcl/tk interface, which make a multi-volume tar archive of your system and record it onto as many cdr's as it takes.