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Best Linux Distro for Windows HDD recovery

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techidave:
I have been trying out some Linux rescue disks like BootMed, Avira Rescue Disk, UBCD for windows hard drive recovery.  I am considering installing Linux on a old computer just for this purpose.  Is there a certain distro that comes with lots of recovery tools built into the OS?

appreciate the help

Dave

40hz:
Re: Best Linux Distro for Windows HDD recovery

The two that get used most are the SystemRescueCD and the Trinity Rescue Kit.

They're both kinda "techy," so I'd advise downloading and getting familiar with them before you need them. Sitting in front of a dead PC is not the time to get acquainted with tech tools.

Additional resources:

Darik's Boot & Nuke (DBAN) - secure disk wiper

GParted - the most comprehensive partition tool and drive formatter

Clonezilla - the universal drive/partition copy/restore tool.

FWIW, I prefer to stay within the OS when it comes to system recovery. So I'd definitely try to use the most Windows specific recovery tools available before I'd try using Linux-based ones. I see that more as a last ditch sort of thing rather than the preferred way. The one place where I would definitely use a Linux solution is when attempting data recovery from a heavily infected Windows system. So far, malware doesn't straddle multiple operating systems that well. So there's a much smaller chance of propagating a Windows infection going in with Linux to get the user's data off the drive. Truth is, almost any live distro disk could be used for that.

For Windows systems I prefer using Hiren's BootCD.

YMMV :Thmbsup:

techidave:
Actually I do try Windows first to see if I can copy files.  But it doesn't do any good when Windows doesn't see the drive.  But Linux can.  I usually use UBCD for a lot of stuff, but in my last case, it didn't do me any good.

So I thought instead of using a live cd, i would just install Linux.  But I guess with a live cd, i can always get the latest and greatest release.

I am somewhat familar with all the ones  you listed above.

thanks for the recommendation.

40hz:
I'd suggest booting of a live linux distro and copying your user data over to an external drive. Most of the mainstream Linux distros can read DOS/FAT/FAT2/NTFS formats out of the box. Mint and Ubuntu definitely can. Once your data is safe you could just install or reinstall whatever OS you like. Data is data.

Luck! :Thmbsup:

MilesAhead:
For Windows systems I prefer using [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiren%27s_BootCD]Hiren's BootCD.
-40hz (December 02, 2014, 01:17 PM)
--- End quote ---

Does it support UEFI secure boot GPT etc?  I'm reading at the home page now but I thought I'd ask you also since I suspect you know quite a bit about it.  :)

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