title: Python - Reading directly from hard drive
body: <p>I want to read bytes directly off a hard drive, preferably using python. How can I do this, provided it is even possible. Also, can I write directly to a hard drive, and how?</p>
  
  <p>I want to do this to make a complete clone of a hard drive, and then restoring from that backup. I'm quite certain there are easier ways to get what I want done, and this is partly simply curiosity ;)</p>