Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

True Stories of Knoppix Rescues

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the and-it-fits-in-your-wallet dept.

Omniscientist writes "We've all been there: Our system is on the edge of death and we need to either fix it or retrieve important data that still remains hidden away in its dying clutches. LinuxDevCenter has a funny article on a heroic tale of a sysadmin relying on Knoppix to save the day. I for one, always make a boot disk in case of problems, but Knoppix can turn a bad day into a good one for just about anyone. Perhaps every administrator should have a Knoppix CD on reserve."

4 of 335 comments (clear)

  1. I use it on crapped on WIndows boxes too.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    works like a charm to save data on corrupted windows boxes..

    1. Re:I use it on crapped on WIndows boxes too.. by xanadu-xtroot.com · · Score: 5, Informative
      works like a charm to save data on corrupted windows boxes..

      1. INDEED! I've saved several millions of dollars worth of info by booting NT* servers with a Knoppix CD (or Gentoo before they dropped samba support from the live CDs). I was praised as a herald. Nope. It's not me. I just used the right tool for the right job. Recovering a Windows system with Windows is near impossible.


      2. Aside, I use Linux bootables (Gentoo mostly) for checking the life of my HDs. I run a Gentoo machine (installed near 3 year ago). hda has seen a LOT (even before I put Gentoo on it - it was an MDK drive after it was a Win* drive). I've noticed SMARTd telling me latley that his life may be running short these days, but, after a e2fsck, it's fine. /me shrugs. I still need to replace him regardless.

        It's only a 10G drive (I have 4 others, much larger, in this box), but he needs to be replaced soon.

        Aside, I've saved a LOT of Win* Servers / laptops / desktops with "Live CD's".
      --
      I'm not a prophet or a stone-age man,
      I'm just a mortal with potential of a super man.
  2. Damn Small Linux by tuxliner · · Score: 5, Informative

    In case you need a smaller, Knoppix based, distro : Damn Small Linux is much smaller and is very good as a system rescue tool too.

  3. INSERT by EnigmaticSource · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you're going to suggest a Knoppix-STD alternative, why not name one that's intended for data recovery and system restoration...

    The only recovery disks that I've found worth using are a custom gentoo based live-cd and INSERT

    Knoppix-STD or some other live disk is good for imaging and file recovery, but lacks real utility... like editing a windows 2000 registry, or doing vfat/ntfs hacking

    Go Ahead, try INSERT (and yes, i know it's Knoppix Based)

    --
    The Geek in Black
    I know my BCD's (when I'm Sober)