How I saved my Co-workers Windows XP installation with Linux
Today one of my co-workers ran Partition Magic on his work box, to free up some contiguous free space to expand his C partition (System). However, as he was moving the non system partition to the end of the disk (to get contiguous free space) his computer shut off.
He then tried to boot up, and Windows came up with the normal “File missing or Corrupt”, on the file HAL.DLL. So I turned to what I think is the MOST VITAL TOOL when managing a Windows environment (I was previously a Windows Administrator, converted to Linux). So, I grabbed the Knoppix (5.0) CD and booted to it. Launched qtparted, and it saw no valid partition tables.
So I turned to a tool that I believe is a very useful tool, but doesn’t get the props it deserves. That tool is called testdisk. (note: it can be downloaded from here for you guys not running knoppix.)
With this tool, I analysed the disk, wrote the new partition table it had found, pulled up qtparted and verified that it was now accessible, and rebooted back into the Windows XP installation. It went through some Partition Magic stuff (finishing where it broke), rebooted and was back into the system.
This took meerly 10 minutes (most the time was Knoppix booting, since it is a Live CD Distribution).
This same scenerio has happened to me before and will continue happening to me.
So you Windows Admins (Desktop Support, Server etc) make sure you have Knoppix or any other Live Distribution handy to bail you out of certain Windows problem.
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Ain’t that the damn truth! i’ve used Knoppix since v3 to SCP entire drives to a file server for backup. I also use the NT Offline Recovery CD to get back Administrator passwords that people or Admins forget. Linux has saved my arse with Windows PC many times. I don’t think Knoppix is really usable as a desktop solution but it should definitely be in every Admins toolbox and they should learn how to use it!
BTW: Check out my new work desktop http://wufather.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/makeupyermind.jpg
You can also do password resets using several different Linux tools. They basiclly just modify the same file, and lets you override what is in it.
As for Knoppix being a desktop distribution, of course not, but it’s a great thing for thin clients that are diskless (and just need rdp / vnc / ssh etc). Also a great tool for data recovery (as you mentioned) and partition table recovery.
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