Best rescue CD/USB?

[Qqmike]

Any opinions based on recent experience what is the "best" rescue CD to have on hand? Free, as in beer. It should be current, up-to-date, mainstream (maintained). It should have:
a browser;
graphical partitioning tools;
testdisk, photorec;
a terminal;
what else?

Of course, three standards might be:
SystemRescueCD http://www.sysresccd.org/SystemRescueCd_Homepage
Knoppix http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
UltimateBootCD http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

I've got GParted Live CD, but am disappointed in its web browser and terminal.

Opinions, tips?
Thanks.

[dibl]

I remain partial to my Parted Magic live USB stick. It is not the latest version, by a couple, but it sure comes in handy once in awhile. It does not have all your "recovery" utilities, unfortunately -- but it does cover all of the basics.

[TWPonKubuntu]

I found this list, it is from 2010, but most are still current.
I'm looking for a good rescue disk also. I'll post more as I find it.

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-...machines/1458/

[Qqmike]

KNOPPIX ... that was a turn-off. MD5sum OK'd. Tried both USB (via UNetbootin) and LiveCD (a k3b burn), both results the same: "sh: can't access tty; job control turned off" and dropped to a root shell (that I didn't know how to use). I never had this issue before with KNOPPIX and thought this was precisely what KNOPPIX was known for NOT doing. Anyone know what's wrong, btw?

Time to try another rescue option.

[Qqmike]

oops, stupid me, looks like I downloaded the wrong file from KNOPPIX; am trying it again, hopefully this time w/the correct file!

[Qqmike]

I just ran the latest KNOPPIX, and it wouldn't open GParted.

[Qqmike]

I'm beginning to think that the best way to go is to simply make your own. Use Puppy and add things persistent. Or, better, use Live Kubuntu.

Question, for those who have kept up with progress:
What is the status of Kubuntu live USB persistence? Does it work OK?

If so, on the USB, one could simply install a few things, like TestDisk, PhotoRec, MC, whatever. Kubuntu, I believe, already comes with gparted.
Of course, you can install and use whatever programs as needed in a live Kubuntu session, but it would be nice to have some things persistent on the thumb drive, ready to go.

[Qqmike]

Just tried SystemRescueCD. After a few reboots/tries, I left disappointed.

cryptic, un-documented rant:
I don't recall these CDs being so bad. Maybe I missed something. Often, the documentation doesn't match the current CD. Looks like development has been dropped. Often difficult to figure out how to use what IS there during a live session--might have to rescue yourself from the rescue CD. Terminal experts may be OK. Good luck to GUI users, though. [end of such]

Yeah, use your live Kubuntu CD, install programs needed while in live session; keep handy a Super Grub 2 Disk, Gparted disk, TeskDisk disc (or install the latter in session).

So now, my question/quest is to determine if Kubuntu is easily placed on a USB w/persistence (which I think UNetbootin will do).

[Qqmike]

Just had another thought. Puppy might do for a rescue CD/USB, it used to work that way. Also, I had an old sidux USB I found today, ran it live, and it would have done pretty good as a helper in a "rescue" mission. Perhaps the new aptosid on live USB is the ticket, esp if it can be configured on the USB w/persistence.

[Qqmike]

(talking to myself here ...) Being short on time, for now, for me, I think copies of live CDs/USBs for SGD, gparted, and TestDisk/PhotoRec are going to have to do. I think knowing how to use the Kubuntu Live CD is a good idea, installing programs as needed in a live rescue session; having KNOPPIX and SystemRescueCD is not a bad idea, but be prepared for glitches.

One ideal solution surfaces (again, for me): a Live aptosid USB, persistent. That will be on my ToDo list sometime.

My How-To has some stuff on it:
RESCUE Partitions & Data
https://www.kubuntuforums.net/showth...l=1#post116466

Reply #6 is on PhotoRec: https://www.kubuntuforums.net/showth...l=1#post161927

Reply #7, sidux Live Persistent Flash Drive:
https://www.kubuntuforums.net/showth...l=1#post170998


sidux came with a lot of good rescue programs already on it, and I believe so does aptosid.
BTW, you do NOT want aptosid installed to the USB as a HDD installation but rather as a live USB-persistent installation--this is best if you plan to use the rescue USB on different computers.

Some of my how-to is outdated (e.g., use of GRUB legacy). However, the how-to, Post # 7, tells How to set up and run TestDisk & PhotoRec from a personal directory, and that method is useful (e.g., on a persistent aptosid flash drive)

All that said, I noticed two helpful things about this material:

-- The TestDisk/PhotoRec site is very well done and has been improved to include more detail and up-to-date information. (Under Live CD method, you may want check his comments about KNOPPIX and test to see that those issues are no longer a problem, if you plan to use KNOPPIX.)

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

-- The aptosid Manual is very well done and up-to-date and includes excellent material and tips on making persistent USB flash drives.

http://manual.aptosid.com/en/welcome-en.htm
http://manual.aptosid.com/en/hd-inst...romiso-persist

[dibl]

... Also, I had an old sidux USB I found today, ran it live, and it would have done pretty good as a helper in a "rescue" mission. Perhaps the new aptosid on live USB is the ticket, esp if it can be configured on the USB w/persistence.

The installation method shown in the aptosid manual also works great with a siduction live ISO:

dd if=/home/mike/Downloads/yoursiduction.iso of=/dev/sdx

One reason to use siduction is that the 2013.2.1 iso is a year newer than the last aptosid release. I just happened to need to do a new installation and I used it and found it works flawlessly.

[67GTA]

I'm beginning to think that the best way to go is to simply make your own. Use Puppy and add things persistent. Or, better, use Live Kubuntu.

Question, for those who have kept up with progress:
What is the status of Kubuntu live USB persistence? Does it work OK?

If so, on the USB, one could simply install a few things, like TestDisk, PhotoRec, MC, whatever. Kubuntu, I believe, already comes with gparted.
Of course, you can install and use whatever programs as needed in a live Kubuntu session, but it would be nice to have some things persistent on the thumb drive, ready to go.

This is what I've started doing, but I actually just install it to the USB drive. After installing the lowfat package, tweaking, and disabling everything not needed it works fine. Then just install whatever tools you need. It is modular enough to boot on almost every machine I've tried. I went with 32 bit for compatibility with 32 and 64 bit. The only catch is the 32 bit install won't run boot repair on a 64 bit OS. I recently had a problem with Kubuntu/openSUSE and UEFI. I had to use a 64 bit DVD and install boot repair to fix it. I can list all the tools I have installed if anyone wants them.

[jpenguin]

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/multibo...sb-from-linux/

Download several Rescue systems & put them all on a flash drive

[Qqmike]

dibl, thanks, I'll look into siduction. But, if one installed aptosid on live flash drive, and it was persistent, wouldn't the updates do the trick to bring it current?

(I'm skeptical of this, if you remember going back to the live flash drives were were building manually some years ago ...)

[MoonRise]

As far as persistence with a Kubuntu boot I've had no issues. However, being able to boot is a hit or miss due to some odd BIOS issue. At least for my desktop here. I've NEVER been able to boot from my recovery USB for some odd BIOS reason. Boots the CD-ROM fine. Has something to do with the FS I believe? Don't remember. Anyway, persistence works when I can boot it from a system that "sees" it properly unlike my DT.