We look at 6 specialized Linux for computer repair. Computers are tools that allow the user to do incredible things, but sometimes things don't go so well and certain problems arise. The problem can be accidental deletion of files, not remembering a password, or even the operating system becoming unbootable due to corruption of system files, or the hard drive (worst case scenario). For each of these problems, there are specialized tools that can help fix problems on a computer, or help us take care of and be prepared for the unexpected if something bad happens.
Many of these tools are highly specialized Linux distributions. These distributions have a narrower focus on specific factors than regular desktop/server Linux distributions. You can find the vast majority of the same software packages in the repositories of larger distributions. However, these distributions are designed to merge all the packages you will need to repair your computer, or create backups and restores into a more convenient environment. Many of them offer customized user interfaces to make using the software easier.
Below we will look at six Linux , for when your computer starts to give you a headache!
1. Clonezilla Live.
Designed for backing up and restoring virtual disk and partition files. Clonezilla Live is an open source alternative to Norton Ghost. With Clonezilla you can save and store files from USB drives or hard drives, or over a network using SSH, Samba or NFS. It uses Partclone to create images, which offers a wide range of options and supports a large number of file systems. The menu options in the interface guide you through everything. As an added bonus, Clonezilla Live provides you with command line options.
Clonezilla Live is developed by Taiwan's National Center for High – Performance Computing's free Software Labs and is available under the GNU General Public License Version 2. Users who need even more powerful system backup and recovery capabilities can try Clonezilla Server Edition, which functions like a Live edition and requires an advanced server installation.
Download Clonezilla Server Edition.
2. Rescue.
Rescatux is a distribution for repairing problems, both on Linux and Windows. It provides access to some tools that use Rescapp as a helper. This guide helps you access various repair tools, without having to have a thorough knowledge of the command line. You can reset passwords for Windows and Linux, restore GRUB or the Master Boot Record of Windows, and perform a file system check on Linux. There are also some "expert tools" for checking and repairing hard drives and recovering deleted files. The online help is already quite good, and you can learn even more by visiting the Rescatux or watching the tutorial videos on YouTube.
It is based on Debian 7 (Wheezy) and distributed under version 3 of the GNU General Public License.
3. Redo Backup & Recovery.
Like Clonezilla Live, Redo Backup & Recovery uses Partclone to clone disks and partitions. However, unlike Clonezilla, it has a better graphical user interface. In addition to backup and restore functionality, Redo Backup includes a file manager, terminal, text editor, web browser, as well as utilities for recovering deleted files and partition management to erase all data on a disk and restore it to factory default settings.
Redo Backup & Recovery is distributed under the GNU General Public License 3 and is based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS.
Download Redo Backup & Recovery.
4. SystemRescue CD.
Aimed at system administrators, SystemRescueCD is a powerful tool for repairing Linux systems. A welcome message provides basic instructions for starting the network interface, programs run on the command line (text editors and a web browser), which enables NTFS support to read Windows formatted hard drives. It is based on the XFCE graphical interface. SystemRescueCD does not include a large number of utilities, but really, you should know what you are doing to use it.
SystemRescueCD is based on Gentoo and distributed under the GNU General Public License Version 2.
5. Trinity Rescue Kit.
Designed for recovering Microsoft Windows, Trinity Rescue Kit provides a wide variety of tools to help salvage a broken Windows system. Trinity includes five different virus scanners: Clam AV, F-Prot, BitDefender, Vexira, and Avast (but Avast requires a license key). It also has an option to clean up junk files, such as temp files and files in the Recycle Bin. Password recovery is done with Winpass, which can reset passwords for administrator accounts or regular user accounts. All of these features, as well as many more advanced functions, are accessed using an interactive text menu, which doesn't include a very extensive help file. It may be intimidating to someone who's never used a text-based interface before, but Trinity Rescue Kit is actually easy to use.
Trinity Rescue Kit is distributed under Version 2 of the GNU General Public License.
6. Systemback.
Systemback makes it easy to back up your system ( Linux users only), users, and configuration files. In case of problems, you can easily restore your system to a previous state. There are additional features such as system cloning, system installation , and Live system creation.
Installation (just open the terminal and copy the following):
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nemh/systemback
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install systemback
How do I create a Bootable USB?
All of the above (except No.6) can be easily run from any USB stick. All you have to do is download Rufus. With Rufus you can create:
- bootable USB installation media from .iso (Windows, Linux, UEFI, etc).
- installation media for a system that does not yet have an operating system installed.
- flashing for Bios or other firmware from Dos.
- or for some low-level utility program.
Source: secnews.gr
