[SOLVED] Rescue Kit/Tool Kit/Life Saver

[SST]

Hi all,

First off i'd like to say i am a Linux n00b and must admit that i'm really not sure where to go with this. Where to post this. Or what to do in general.

What i ideally want,

I'm in need of a bootable USB Hard drive containing a OS installation + a few apps/programs. I ideally wanted to boot my copy of XP from my hard drive and install a few programs to get me out of trouble from time to time.

After reviewing Microsoft policy's and finding out this is not 'legal' to install to a USB drive and a colleague always badgering me about the use of Linux i decided to take a closer look.

Ok so here's what i need/want and was wondering of a way of doing this?

During my reading i have noticed 'Live CD's' these CD's can be put across to USB sticks/USB hard Drives and contain bootable OS's.

When on a USB drive rather than a CD i am able to right back to the Hard Drive?

So ideally if possible i would like to know if it is possible to install + boot a Linux Distro from a USB drive where i would be able to install apps such as GParted and recovery software.

In the invent of a dead hard drive i would then be able to boot from the Hard drive and recover data and write back to the Hard drive.

Sorry i know that is long winded and most likely confusing.

Thanking you all in advanced,

Regards,

Steve.

[oz]

So ideally if possible i would like to know if it is possible to install + boot a Linux Distro from a USB drive where i would be able to install apps such as GParted and recovery software.

Welcome to the forums!

Parted Magic should be able to handle most or all of your requirements:

Parted Magic News

[devils casper]

Welcome !!

Most of Linux distros support USB installation and read/write access of NTFS and other filesystems.

Install Knoppix or Slax in USB Stick ( I prefer Slax ) and it will work as Rescue OS. Just boot up from USB, recover data from Harddisk, resize/create/delete partitions or do whatever you want to do with Harddisk and data.

[MikeTbob]

I second the choice for Parted Magic, I have a 512MB USB thumbdrive with Parted Magic that I keep around just for those days when nothing seems to go right, it's a life saver.

[oz]

Right... I really like Parted Magic because it remains a small download and burn to disk, yet it contains about 95% or more of what the majority of users would actually need for recovery efforts.

[SST]

Many thanks all! Parted Magic seem to offer exactly what i wanted + more! Absolutly loving the low size requirements too. Have tested Gparted on a worked system. Yet to try the file brower + PhotoRec i think it was on unbootable HD.

Top stuff guys!

Ps. this is one of the most helpful sites i've ever been on. Very quick and to the point answers!