Can you see files on the backup drive? It sounds like you are having a problem writing the image file to that drive, so there may be an issue with Linux seeing your boot drive.

Michael,

You're correct - /dev/hda: Permission denied Funny thing, I get the same response when I tried /dev/hdc ...

Is there a Linux "share" option for the C: drive?

Nothing that we know of - can you just use another drive to store a backup temporarily?

Michael,
Thank you for your prompt response to what must seem to be mundane and repeated questions.
I took your advice to try another drive, but I also used a different PC. Unfortunately, I wind up with the same results - Backup failed: /mnt/dos/tivo.bak: Success
The mfstools backup command starts out fine, reporting the size of the source drive correctly along with the # of recording hours. Then the backup to the FAT32 formatted boot drive (with 1.6GB free) starts with a line reporting the amount backed up and the percentage progress so far. Depending upon the option -1so - -9so used the progress varies sometimes up to as much as 65 complete, but then the failed report appears and the process is halted.
The mkdir /mnt/dos command creates the required empty directory upon which the mount /dev/hda command mounts the boot drive in preparation for the backup. The tivo.bak file appears in this /mnt/dos directory upon later inpsection.
I can only imagine the problem is a simple one, but heck if I can figure it out.
If you can afford the patience and energy for this one, I'll add you to my Christmas card list for all time.
Thanks again,
James

Michael,
It appears that the drive mount command string I used was in error. The following was used and now the backup is running like a charm:
/# mount /dev/hda1 /mnt/dos
I followed this with the following backup command string:
/# mfstool backup -o /mnt/dos/tivo.bak /dev/hdc
Thanks for your help.
Sincerely,
James

Great - glad you got it working!