what is the procedure to do an HD backup before doing the bypass?

does it need to be unlocked? and if so do you have to relock it?

is it a simple matter of connecting to a laptop or something and doing a drive image with ghost or acronis?

TIA

what is the procedure to do an HD backup before doing the bypass?

Ok, here comes the hand holding.... It's all in the sticky in this section:

http://www.avic411.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728

does it need to be unlocked?

Yes, it's about $50.

and if so do you have to relock it?

No, I would recommend disabling the relocking in case you want to hook it back up again to the PC.

is it a simple matter of connecting to a laptop or something and doing a drive image with ghost or acronis?

PC not a laptop. The unlock software needs it to be hooked to the secondary master IDE connector (with an adapter). Tough to do that in a laptop. Yes, you can use either of those.

TIA

After following the info in that post above, back it up as you would any other drive. If you like Acronis or Ghost, whatever...

awesome reply!!!

thanks so much