System Rescue ISOs

[Amelith Nargothrond]

All my life I've been using multiboot rescue disks/usb flashes, but lately options are limited if you are looking for something WinPE based bundled with tools, although linux based rescue disks are plenty.

15 (?) years ago I felt the need for one such rescue environment and I made one for myself, WinXP based, bundled with drivers and freeware, I can still remember one of the tools I used, nlite. It was free back then. And then I found out about Hiren's, looking for Norton Ghost free alternatives. Not particularly legal at the time, but... used it anyway, cause' everybody was using it. They got in trouble later so changed the entire bundled software.

So... what are you using (doesn't matter on what media, cds, dvds, usbs)? Are they bundled with different tools?

 

[Nuno]

Last time I needed one, I used Kaspersky Rescue Disk, which I'm guessing it's considered an antivirus live cd?
I've only needed it twice as I do not work in IT business yet. But it was enough to take all my files out, even though it didn't actually manage to disinfect my system.

Regarding bundled software, as far as I can remember it was a linux based OS with the general and basic stuff: A terminal, a file manager, a browser and Kaspersky already installed in it.

 

[_CyberGhosT_]

Cloning is my "Custom Rescue" plan, no ISO needed. Dual 2TB FireCuda's from SeaGate.
Never failed me yet

 

[Amelith Nargothrond]

Cloning is my "Custom Rescue" plan. Dual 2TB FireCuda's from SeaGate.
Never failed me yet

What about when you need to help a friend who has no system images? Such ISOs might be useful

 

[_CyberGhosT_]

What about when you need to help a friend who has no system images? Such ISOs might be useful

You asked what "we" use, not what we would use to help a friend. ?

 

[Evjl's Rain]

I'm using SARDU to create a multiboot rescue USB
- ESET SysRescue (very fast scanning speed with great detection rate, unlike kaspersky, can't wait 1 day for it)
- Hirenboot CD 10.6 (rebuilt edition) with mini windows XP
- Windows 10 x86 PE
- boot repair disk
- a tool which can load windows ISOs to install

 

[shmu26]

Just this morning, I used Macrium Reflect rescue disk, to fix an unbootable system. It's the best boot fixer.

 

[Amelith Nargothrond]

You asked what "we" use, not what we would use to help a friend. ?

Asking in general, as there are more occasions to help a friend i guess. So, what would you use to help a friend who's system crashed?

 

[_CyberGhosT_]

Just this morning, I used Macrium Reflect rescue disk, to fix an unbootable system. It's the best boot fixer.

I agree, and i always have this option in the event a clone should fail for some reason.
The premium home version of this is a god send, its what I do all my clones with.
Thanks for reminding me @shmu26

 

[_CyberGhosT_]

I'm using SARDU to create a multiboot rescue USB
- ESET SysRescue (very fast scanning speed with great detection rate, unlike kaspersky, can't wait 1 day for it)
- Hirenboot CD 10.6 (rebuilt edition) with mini windows XP
- Windows 10 x86 PE
- boot repair disk
- a tool which can load windows ISOs to install

Good lord Evil, your not planning for a fail are you brother

 

[Amelith Nargothrond]

Just this morning, I used Macrium Reflect rescue disk, to fix an unbootable system. It's the best boot fixer.

Did that system had images? Or you used the tools within Macrium to fix the mbr?

 

[Amelith Nargothrond]

I'm using SARDU to create a multiboot rescue USB
- ESET SysRescue (very fast scanning speed with great detection rate, unlike kaspersky, can't wait 1 day for it)
- Hirenboot CD 10.6 (rebuilt edition) with mini windows XP
- Windows 10 x86 PE
- boot repair disk
- a tool which can load windows ISOs to install

Advanced stuff, i like it

 

[shmu26]

Did that system had images? Or you used the tools within Macrium to fix the mbr?

When you boot into the Macrium recovery environment, one of the options you get is boot repair. That is what I used. You can use the Macrium boot repair tool even if you never made a system image in your life.

 

[Amelith Nargothrond]

When you boot into the Macrium recovery environment, one of the options you get is boot repair. That is what I used. You can use the Macrium boot repair tool even if you never made a system image in your life.

Yep, i know, it was exactly the tool i was referring too. You can even convert mbr to uefi/gpt with it, even images, though a little bit more to click around.

 

[shmu26]

you used the tools within Macrium to fix the mbr?

Macrium rebuilds MBR, and it does a few other things as well. I don't understand all the things it tries to do, but sometimes it can fix the boot even when the other rescue CDs fail.

 

[509322]

It amazes me how many people will create a rescue CD, but not test it, only to discover when they need it the most it fails them.

 

[Amelith Nargothrond]

It amazes me how many people will create a rescue CD, but not test it, only to discover when they need it the most it fails them.

Who did create a rescue CD and not used it, so he/she could realise that it was a failure in the end?
Don't understand where you're going with this idea. Care to elaborate please?

 

[509322]

Who did create a rescue CD and not used it, so he/she could realise that it was a failure in the end?
Don't understand where you're going with this idea. Care to elaborate please?

Search the forums. You will find many posts "I created rescue disk and it don't\won't work!"

Ask user "Did you test it when you made it ?"

User "No..."

 

[Amelith Nargothrond]

Search the forums. You will find many posts "I created rescue disk and it don't\won't work!"

Ask user "Did you test it when you made it ?"

User "No..."

So? What's your point? Still don't understand, sorry.
I used rescue disks my whole life, saved many PCs/laptops/servers with them, diagnosed hundreds of PCs with them, and they did work. Some i tweaked myself, some worked out of the box. I've met many technicians so far, some still work with me after many years, some work somewhere else, we all use rescue disks. It's a must have tool for someone who's diagnosing/fixing PCs.

 

[Ink]

It amazes me how many people will create a rescue CD, but not test it, only to discover when they need it the most it fails them.

Because we expect it to work as advertised.