The article also provides a brief overview of GNU `ddrescue`, a utility for copying drives, partitions, or files in a way that handles media read-errors, allowing as much data as possible to be recovered from the source. It further explains the three modes of `ddrescue-helper.sh` operation: unmounting, mounting, and fsck a drive or partition; copying or scanning; and reporting affected files, plotting performance and zapping blocks. The article concludes with a list of command examples, dependencies for macOS and Linux, notes and warnings, a discussion on the sanity of continuing to use a drive with media errors, background on the development of the script, and a list of potential improvements and fixes.
Key takeaways:
- `ddrescue-helper.sh` is a bash script designed to simplify the use of GNU `ddrescue` on macOS and Linux by hiding command details and ensuring source and destination volumes are unmounted during copy.
- The script offers functionality such as unmounting, mounting, and FSCK volumes, copying or scanning a drive, partition, or single file, reporting on files affected by read-errors and slow-reads, plotting read performance, and zapping bad blocks.
- GNU `ddrescue` is a utility that copies drives, partitions, or files in a way that handles media read-errors, allowing as much data as possible to be recovered from the source.
- `ddrescue-helper.sh` operates in three modes: unmounting, mounting, and FSCK a drive or partition; copying or scanning; and reporting affected files, plotting performance, and zapping blocks.