Bootable Utilities

[#686578]

I've used several bootable utilities before, everything from knoppix, password recovery utilities, UBCD4W, UltimateBootCD, BartPE, etc

Today I was presented with a unique situation in though, it seemed like to repair this Windows system I needed to replace a corrupted Windows file, but when using a common Windows XP CD to boot into the recovery console there was some sort of error and it could not progress I assume because of the file I was trying to replace. I've already reformatted the machine so I dont really want to talk about how to fix that.

Instead, I want to know if there's a utility out there that can boot into a DOS like environment and actually write data to a windows disk. I've tried a couple of different utilities and loading NTFS support is for read only, recovering as much data as possible before having to reformat. Is there a way around that?

I have sort of a specific idea in mind. Basically I want to customize one of the better built packages out there already like UltimateBootCD and put the i386 folder on there, so that I can have an alternative to the Windows recovery console. I'm not even sure if this is possible though, I'm starting to infer from many the two or three utilities that I've tried that only had read only support that it's not possible.

But I think it should be based upon certain password recovery tools and the windows recovery console. I'm not certain of what it could be but these types of utilities allow you to make changes to the harddrive not just read it, so it has to be possible, and I dont want to sound stupider so I'll reserve my thoughts as to why.

Additionally if anyone has any particularly helpful boot utilities or guides on creating boot CDs/USB please feel free to mention them, I like collecting them.

[orinthia]

You can try http://www.hirensbootcd.net/ for some things, or try the "repair install" option on a normal xp/vista/7 install disc (it's not recovery console). I've used it several times to bring hosed installs back to life without needing to reformat (keeps everything else intact), but it won't get rid of any deep virus infection (should still backup and reformat if infection).

[#686578]

Have you ever tried using that yourself before? It looks like it's using a linux boot environment which I know has problems with NTFS partitions.

For instance I found a copy of Fedora earlier today that I was able to boot from disk and was able to fumble around until I could remember the commands to mount harddrives correctly but it was lacking support to properly interact with NTFS partitions.

[Kryssan]

Other than using some of the things you've mentioned, my main way of fixing this is simply removing the drive. If you just need to replace files, I find it easiest to pull the drive out and connect it externally to another machine and make the necessary changes and then reinstall. Of course, that method only works if you're not talking about RAID.



I haven't used them, but there are people who've setup Windows Preinstallation Environments (WinPE) that run entirely from RAM booted off of a CD/DVD that will let you supposedly do anything you normally could from an environment similar to that of Windows. You can find some versions for sell, basically for this particular market, but I think you could probably build yourself something similar without paying someone else for it after a little trial and error.

[#686578]

Other than using some of the things you've mentioned, my main way of fixing this is simply removing the drive. If you just need to replace files, I find it easiest to pull the drive out and connect it externally to another machine and make the necessary changes and then reinstall. Of course, that method only works if you're not talking about RAID.



I haven't used them, but there are people who've setup Windows Preinstallation Environments (WinPE) that run entirely from RAM booted off of a CD/DVD that will let you supposedly do anything you normally could from an environment similar to that of Windows. You can find some versions for sell, basically for this particular market, but I think you could probably build yourself something similar without paying someone else for it after a little trial and error.

I did try connecting it as an external but the adapter I had didnt seem to be working with any drives so I guess I broke it somehow.

Anyway the WinPE I have heard of and that could definitely work I'm going to try and get something like that working. I think Bart might have something in this line.

[Kryssan]

I did try connecting it as an external but the adapter I had didnt seem to be working with any drives so I guess I broke it somehow.

Anyway the WinPE I have heard of and that could definitely work I'm going to try and get something like that working. I think Bart might have something in this line.

If you're referring to BartPE, it hasn't been updated in years. If not, well, carry on good sir.

[Ratatapa]

Have you ever tried using that yourself before? It looks like it's using a linux boot environment which I know has problems with NTFS partitions.

For instance I found a copy of Fedora earlier today that I was able to boot from disk and was able to fumble around until I could remember the commands to mount harddrives correctly but it was lacking support to properly interact with NTFS partitions.

I personally use it alot, they have alot of Linux and Windows based programs. Also you can start a knoppix but it's a mini Windows XP instead

[orinthia]

Have you ever tried using that yourself before? It looks like it's using a linux boot environment which I know has problems with NTFS partitions.

From the cd contents page ( http://www.hirensbootcd.net/cd-conte...-hbcd-105.html ) under "Browsers / File Managers":
>>Mini Windows Xp: Portable Windows Xp that runs from CD/USB/Ram Drive, with Network and SATA support.

Give it a shot. Disc has a ton of other options to try as well. It's only a cheap cdr to burn and it has more tools then most other boot discs out there, so it's not much a loss if it doesn't quite work in one way.

Can also try looking for vista or 7 preinstallation environment based discs, or make your own, as those boot up much faster then xp based ones and have fuller access to stuff. Something to try anyway.

[bungiefan]

Ubuntu 9 and 10 have been able to write to NTFS without issues for me just off a base install. They were one of the things I tried when troubleshooting my dying motherboard. I can even manage files just booting from the CD, which I used to recover files off a crashed 1 TB hard drive my brother had that Windows said was unformatted, but Linux could read everything on it and copy the files to another drive.

[#686578]

If you're referring to BartPE, it hasn't been updated in years. If not, well, carry on good sir.

Yeah I was, but I hadnt looked into it yet so.

Ubuntu 9 and 10 have been able to write to Linux without issues for me just off a base install. They were one of the things I tried when troubleshooting my dying motherboard. I can even manage files just booting from the CD, which I used to recover files off a crashed 1 TB hard drive my brother had that Windows said was unformatted, but Linux could read everything on it and copy the files to another drive.

Probably just my version then, I was just looking through old CDs.

As far as hirensbootcd I'm going to try it out shortly to see what I can make of it