Create backup or copy of RACHEL SD card image in Windows

[Jeremy Schwartz]

Perhaps someone handed you a RACHEL SD card, or you just one to make copies of the one you've got and you don't have the original download.  You're going to want to "read the SD" card image to your computer.  A guide is below.

 

Needed items:

• Windows computer w/ SD card reader and 64GB of free storage
• Win32DiskImager
• Additional SD cards of the exact same type (internal SD card usable storage varies, a different brand or model SD card may not have sufficient storage)

Step 1:

Put SD card (w/ RACHEL on it) into your SD card reader. RACHEL will show up as a small drive, not the size of the SD card.  Drive F: in the below.  Check for the correct drive.

Step 2:

Open win32diskimager:

 

Click on the folder icons at the end of the white box for “image file”

 

Step 3:

The window that opens will say “Select a disk image” – this is misleading.  You will be creating a disk image, not selecting one.  Navigate to the folder you want your image to go to.  The image should be stored on your desktop, and not a portable hard drive if you intend to make more copies immediately. (a limitation of the software)

Step 4:

Create a name for your RACHEL image.  Use a helpful name.  I would suggest (RACHEL_Pi_64GB_LANG_dateofcreation).  Below I typed in “RACHEL_Pi_64GB_ESP_20140330”

 

Step 5:

Click Open.  The window will close and you will be back at the main screen for Win32diskimager

 

Make sure the “Device” drop-down menu now references the existing RACHEL SD card.  As you saw in step one, this was Device F:\ for me (yours will likely be different).  I have to now select Device F:\ from the drop down

Step 6:

Click “Read” which now clickable.  In a couple of hours, your computer will read the image from your SD card.  You will have a backup image on your computer.