looking for a good emergency boot disk

[Sheepdog]

hi all,

i would like to have a pretty much all-purpose boot disk, which is compatible with both Windows (FAT 32, maybe even NTFS) and Linux file systems, and preferably is on CD-ROM, though i'll gladly use a floppy instead.

that way, if something goes chernobyl on one of my computers, i can make a daring attempt at fixing the problem, or at the very least recover important data off the hard disk.

so, what would be the best thing to go with? maybe a tiny Linux like Knoppix, or something? or a MSDOS boot disk?

[Seasanctuary]

Could try this.

[$cirisme]

be sure have fdisk on it, it has saved my life on several occaisions.

[Sheepdog]

ooh... Sea, consider taht bookmarked

Cir, i know! i figure fdisk or cfdisk (the Linux variant, i think) is essential to a good bootup disk. i don't know why WIndows doesn't include fdisk when you use their system to make a Windows boot disk

[$cirisme]

i don't know why WIndows doesn't include fdisk when you use their system to make a Windows boot disk

XP doesn't make ANY boot disk any more, unfortuneatly.

[flipper]

This is probably me being ignorant, but why would you need a bootdisk for XP, if you have a working CD drive? Just for the partitioning benefits of fdisk?

[Sheepdog]

i don't have an actual windows install cd. i don't recall if i'm able to use the Compaq "Quick Restore" CD to boot to windows.

Cir, you still can make an MSDOS boot disk. that is what i meant.

[Seasanctuary]

XP doesn't make ANY boot disk any more, unfortuneatly.

You're thinking Win2k. Making a ME-based bootable floppy is a check box option when formatting a floppy from within XP.

Your friendly Windows networking guru,
Seasanctuary

[$cirisme]

Sorry, I meant that it wouldn't create a boot disk with all the nice little utilities like fdisk, etc. I didn't mean it wouldn't make a bootable disk. My bad for being unclear.

[Seasanctuary]

Gotcha. Yeah, that's what the XP install CD is for, like you said.

Unless you have HP/Compaq, in which case you're out of luck.

[Augustine2004]

Gotcha. Yeah, that's what the XP install CD is for, like you said.

Unless you have HP/Compaq, in which case you're out of luck.

I own a HP Pavilion 501n. I also have a CD-R burner. I was thinking maybe one could copy the necessary files from the recovery partition to a new cd blank. However, maybe the cd blank won't have enough capacity to hold all these files. Also, maybe those files aren't really suitable for copying to an homemade install disk.

If the cd can hold all the Windows install files, I need a way to copy the files in the recovery partition. I guess I would have to go into DOS safe mode, but I need a program to copy from the recovery partition to a folder in the regular partition. Afterwards I can then slipstream the SP2 update.

[Seasanctuary]

I own a HP Pavilion 501n. I also have a CD-R burner. I was thinking maybe one could copy the necessary files from the recovery partition to a new cd blank. However, maybe the cd blank won't have enough capacity to hold all these files. Also, maybe those files aren't really suitable for copying to an homemade install disk.

If the cd can hold all the Windows install files, I need a way to copy the files in the recovery partition. I guess I would have to go into DOS safe mode, but I need a program to copy from the recovery partition to a folder in the regular partition. Afterwards I can then slipstream the SP2 update.

The way HP/Compaq machines typically work is that they have a heavily modified pre-installed Windows...er, installation. It includes all the drivers that came with your system, some utilities that HP technicians can use to spy on (I mean, help you fix) your computer, and various bits of junk software packages.

The "recovery partition" should include a full image of what this pre-installed Windows horrorshow had as shipped. If you see some boot-time options to recover your computer back to its original state, that's what it is. If you wipe your partitions, you can order something like a 9CD set from HP/Compaq which images your whole drive to factory state...adding insult to stupidity, you might even be charged to have this sent to you.

The two major problems with this setup are:

1) Even though you are given a Windows XP Home install key, you cannot get a "normal" copy of XP Home and install it, making a clean system. The install key is...keyed...to the hardware and HP/Compaq does not release CDs that allow you to install a normal copy of XP.

2) Since the drivers come along on your pre-installed Windows, HP/Compaq do not in general offer the drivers as individual downloads on their tech support site. So, even if you go out and buy a full, retail version of Windows XP...you might not be able to make your hardware work. HP/Compaq often has slightly modified hardware revisions so that even if you do manage to identify the parts, the manufacturer's standard drivers may not work. (But you can check their pre-installed Windows' Device Manager to at least see what you have.)

Basically, Compaq/HP wants you to buy a whole new computer if your system ever gets messed up by spyware or if your hard drive fails. They don't even provide lifetime free phone/email support like Gateway or Dell.

In case you couldn't tell, I have just this week accepted a complete reinstall assignment of a home HP system and am a little...bitter...about their business practices.

[Augustine2004]

I got Knoppix to run off the CD in the HP. Very slow to load, but all the software that I tried (not many) seemed to work OK. Seas, let me know when you got this assignment done. It would be interesting to know your solutions, if you have the time and inclination. Thanks for the post!

[Sheepdog]

yeah, for this whole reason alone i probably won't go Compaq or HP again (i believe E-Machines is the same way... i've heard they were bought out by Gateway, though).

my Compaq is a great computer. i just don't like how they do the restore process if you do a reformat.

[Seasanctuary]

I got Knoppix to run off the CD in the HP. Very slow to load, but all the software that I tried (not many) seemed to work OK. Seas, let me know when you got this assignment done. It would be interesting to know your solutions, if you have the time and inclination. Thanks for the post!

Well, I had already finished it by my last post. I got a new retail copy of Windows XP...and luckily Microsoft had good-enough drivers to cover the devices. But not everyone's like the client who got XP Pro for $10 due to a university pact with the Microsoft.