[nfbcs] Booting from Linux CD and Accessing the Hard Drive

John G. Heim jheim at math.wisc.edu
Thu Apr 8 14:27:47 UTC 2010 

Yeah, good answer. Here's a link to a howto on restoring your Windows 
registry from a backup via ubuntu:
http://www.arsgeek.com/2008/02/27/use-your-ubuntu-partition-to-fix-a-corrupt-registry-on-a-windows-xp-partition/

It assumes you have a backup and that you have a dual-boot machine. But most 
of what it says to do could be done if you boot from a live ubuntu or grml 
disk. I am not much of a Windows nerd and a lot of the Windows stuff in that 
howto went over my head.   For instance, I'm not sure if the backup it talks 
about is something Windows would normally make for you or if you have to 
make those backups yourself.

I've never tried to restore the registry in Windows or even remove a virus. 
If anything goes wrong on my Windows machine, I just reinstall. I use the 
open source stuff at http://unattended.sourceforge.net to do that. Actually, 
I don't even own a Windows machine any more. I only use Windows at work and 
then only as kind of a dumb terminal.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Barbour" <jbar at barcore.com>
To: "NFBnet NFBCS Mailing List" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 3:01 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Booting from Linux CD and Accessing the Hard Drive


> Steve,
>
> I'm not John, but I'll take a shot at this...
>
> It depends on which distribution of Linux.  For example, grml linux
> boots into a nice command line environment, and you can turn on
> speakup, which is a dos like screen reader.
>
> Ubuntu has a live CD versions, and comes with orca.
>
> Available tools on linux will help manipulate a hard drive and its
> partitions (see fdisk, parted, fsck.vfat, and fsck.ntfs)  However,
> nothing I'm aware of will pay attention to the contents of those
> filesystems.  i.e. no way to fix the registry.
>
> Talk to you soon,
> Jim
>
> On Wed, Apr 07, 2010 at 12:05:13PM -0500, Steve Jacobson wrote:
>> John,
>>
>> I assume that you are familiar with booting from a Linux CD from your 
>> note below.  What I am wondering is to what degree could a person boot 
>> from a Linux CD with
>> speech as an alternative to "Safe mode" which is generally not 
>> accessible?  While this is probably too vague a question to answer with a 
>> "yes" or "no," I assume
>> that one could do some file manipulation on one's hard drive providing 
>> the drive was not dammaged, but what sorts of tools would one need to do 
>> that?  Do you
>> know of any specific Linux-based tools that are designed to make repairs 
>> to the Windows operating system?  For example, if one were to boot from 
>> Linux, the
>> Windows registry would obviously not be loaded into memory, but the files 
>> containing the registry should be accessible if a tool new how to process 
>> them.  The idea
>> of booting into Linux from a CD without installing something on the 
>> computer is an interesting one.  How easy is FireFox to use in this 
>> environment?
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Steve Jacobson
>>
>> On Wed, 7 Apr 2010 09:36:57 -0500, John G. Heim wrote:
>>
>> >It depends on how much you value the data you lost and how much time 
>> >you're
>> >willing to spend learning some new tricks. And even if it doesn't answer 
>> >the
>> >original poster's question, there are a lot of people on this list who 
>> >may
>> >at some point need this kind of information.  It might take some work to
>> >acquire these skills but they would be valuable skills to have.
>>
>> >Learning how to make a live linux CD would be a good thing for almost
>> >everybody to know no matter their skill level. If you do on-line 
>> >banking,
>> >the best, most secure way to do it is to boot a live linux CD and use
>> >firefox.  I would think that just about anybody capable of doing their
>> >banking on-line could also figure out how to download ubuntu and burn it 
>> >to
>> >a CD if given a pointer or 2.
>>
>> >----- Original Message ----- 
>> >From: "Kelly Prescott" <prescott at deltav.org>
>> >To: "'NFBnet NFBCS Mailing List'" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>> >Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 2:37 PM
>> >Subject: Re: [nfbcs] access hard drive
>>
>>
>> >>I have also used methods similar, but I think this goes way beyond what
>> >>most
>> >> users are willing/able to do.
>> >> just use something like carbonite.com and restore from there when you 
>> >> nuke
>> >> your windows drive.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> -----Original Message-----
>> >> From: nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> >> Behalf
>> >> Of John G. Heim
>> >> Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 10:29 AM
>> >> To: NFBnet NFBCS Mailing List
>> >> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] access hard drive
>> >>
>> >> Here is a link to an accessible, free tool to burn iso images in 
>> >> Windows:
>> >> http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm
>> >>
>> >> I've been using IsoRecorder for years but I am a Windows XP user. I 
>> >> don't
>> >> know about the Windows Vista or Windows 7 versions.
>> >>
>> >> Also, there are many more tools than fsck-fat and parted for restoring
>> >> file
>> >> systems in linux. Here is a link to an article about how to use 
>> >> PhotoRec
>> >> to
>> >> restore files using linux:
>> >> http://www.linux.com/news/enterprise/storage/8257-how-to-recover-lost-files-
>> >> after-you-accidentally-wipe-your-hard-drive
>> >>
>> >> I once re-installed linux on a computer so the HD was repartitioned 
>> >> and
>> >> reformatted. Still I was able to get some files back. I used dd to 
>> >> make an
>> >> image of the disk and then I worked from that. These tools allow you 
>> >> to
>> >> get
>> >> files back from a disk even if you've repartitioned and reformatted as
>> >> long
>> >> as the files you want haven't been over written with new files. It 
>> >> takes
>> >> some luck and it takes a very long time.
>> >>
>> >> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> >> From: "Jim Barbour" <jbar at barcore.com>; <0 at barcore.com>;
>> >> <215 at barcore.com>;
>> >> <0c at barcore.com>
>> >> To: "NFBnet NFBCS Mailing List" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>> >> Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 6:48 PM
>> >> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] access hard drive
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>> Kelly, I totally agree that a linux solution can fix the partition
>> >>> table. We'll just have to agree to disagree about fsck.vfat doing as
>> >>> good a job as available microsoft tools.
>> >>>
>> >>> Bryan,
>> >>>
>> >>> If your friend decides to go with a linux solution (which is
>> >>> free and accessible, but has a steeper learning curve), then they
>> >>> should look for a live CD with the orca screen reader on it. 
>> >>> Googling
>> >>> for "orca linux live CD" will help you find one.
>> >>>
>> >>> Another way to resize the partition is to use something like 
>> >>> "parition
>> >>> magic", which will be more friendly, since it's a task oriented
>> >>> approach rather than starting with a linux shell.  However, I suspect
>> >>> that partition magic is not free, and it is certainly not accessible.
>> >>> Googling for "partition magic" will take you to the right place to
>> >>> download the software.
>> >>>
>> >>> Regardless of whether they go with linux or partition magic, they'll
>> >>> need to download an ISO image and burn it to a CD, which is something
>> >>> I don't know how to do on a windows machine. I'm sure it's doable, I
>> >>> just don't know how.
>> >>>
>> >>> If they decide to go with partition magic, they'll need a sighted
>> >>> assistant to drive the computer.  They start by putting the partition
>> >>> magic cd they just created into the drive, and booting the machine.
>> >>> After that, they should just poke around until they find the correct
>> >>> item for resizing the partition.  I have high confidence that this
>> >>> will be fairly easy to do.
>> >>>
>> >>> For linux, your friend should spend a bit of time reading docs about
>> >>> how orca works.  Further, they'll want to read docs about parted 
>> >>> which
>> >>> is aprogram that will do partition management on hard drives.  Again,
>> >>> it's important to remember what Kelly says.  There are no safety 
>> >>> rails
>> >>> here.  If they aren't sure what they're doing, they can completely
>> >>> ruin any data on the disk.  (sorry, I know it's dramatic)
>> >>>
>> >>> They'll boot their computer off the live CD, start
>> >>> orca, start a terminal, and then run parted.
>> >>>
>> >>> I can get into more specifics if you'd like, but start with this and
>> >>> see how it goes.
>> >>>
>> >>> Jim
>> >>>
>> >>> On Fri, Apr 02, 2010 at 06:37:35PM -0400, Kelly Prescott wrote:
>> >>>> I think the linux tools could just resize the partition to fix it.
>> >>>> and yes linux can repair the filesystem with just as much 
>> >>>> reliability as
>> >>>> a
>> >>>> ms tool.
>> >>>> the failing is not with the linux tools, but rather the knowledge of 
>> >>>> who
>> >>>> is
>> >>>> using them.
>> >>>> Linux has no fail-safes so if you nuke it, you own all the parts.
>> >>>> I have repaired many disks/filesystems that commercial and ms tools 
>> >>>> said
>> >>>> were toast!
>> >>>> If you want to discuss it voice, you can call me at 419.909.0550 and 
>> >>>> I
>> >>>> will
>> >>>> be happy to chat about it.
>> >>>> The key is more information.
>> >>>> at this point we are making a lot of asumptions and that can be 
>> >>>> where
>> >>>> our
>> >>>> logic falls apart.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> -----Original Message-----
>> >>>> From: nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> >>>> Behalf
>> >>>> Of Bryan Schulz
>> >>>> Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 11:19 AM
>> >>>> To: NFBnet NFBCS Mailing List
>> >>>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] access hard drive
>> >>>>
>> >>>> hi,
>> >>>>
>> >>>> the problem was the main drive was 500gb and the spare drive is only
>> >>>> 250gb.
>> >>>> the purpose was to reduce the size so the main drive could be copied 
>> >>>> to
>> >>>> the
>> >>>> spare drive so the spare drive could be used in another tower.
>> >>>> i think the entire partition was resized instead of making another
>> >>>> partition
>> >>>>
>> >>>> and now it can't be accessed.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Bryan Schulz
>> >>>>
>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> >>>> From: "Jim Barbour" <jbar at barcore.com>
>> >>>> To: "NFBnet NFBCS Mailing List" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>> >>>> Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 10:00 AM
>> >>>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] access hard drive
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> > The point is that they boot off the live linux CD.  This gives 
>> >>>> > them an
>> >>>> > environment to work in that isn't making use of their windows boot
>> >>>> > disk
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> > If they aren't a linux user, this does have a rather high learning
>> >>>> > curve.
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> > However, I'm not really sure that this solution meets the needs of
>> >>>> > Bryan's friend.  If I understand correctly, this friend has a
>> >>>> > corrupted mbr and possibly a corrupted filesystem they want to 
>> >>>> > repair,
>> >>>> > so they can copy files from the disk.
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> > Linux can rewrite the MBR, but probably not repair the vfat table.
>> >>>> > My experience is that LInux's tools for repairing vfat filesystems 
>> >>>> > are
>> >>>> > not as reliable as the ones MS provides.
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> > Bryan, can you explain further what the exact problem is?
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> > Jim
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> > On Fri, Apr 02, 2010 at 09:32:41AM -0500, Bryan Schulz wrote:
>> >>>> >> as most, he doesn't use linux.
>> >>>> >> how is that supposed to work with windows machines?
>> >>>> >>
>> >>>> >> Bryan Schulz
>> >>>> >>
>> >>>> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kelly Prescott"
>> >>>> >> <prescott at deltav.org>
>> >>>> >> To: "'NFBnet NFBCS Mailing List'" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>> >>>> >> Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 9:00 AM
>> >>>> >> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] access hard drive
>> >>>> >>
>> >>>> >>
>> >>>> >> >use a linux rescue disk and you can do it with that.
>> >>>> >> >you can also copy and resize partitions with it.
>> >>>> >> >so you could take all data from one partition and put it on the 
>> >>>> >> >new
>> >>>> >> >drive
>> >>>> >> >and resize the new partition.
>> >>>> >> >
>> >>>> >> >
>> >>>> >> >2 choices are:
>> >>>> >> >grml http://www.grml.org and system rescue cd
>> >>>> >> >http://www.sysrescd.org
>> >>>> >> >the grml is probably better as if you have a hardware 
>> >>>> >> >synthesizer it
>> >>>> >> >will
>> >>>> >> >most likely be able to speak from boot.
>> >>>> >> >
>> >>>> >> >the best thing about these solutions is they are free!
>> >>>> >> >
>> >>>> >> >
>> >>>> >> >-----Original Message-----
>> >>>> >> >From: nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>> >>>> >> >On
>> >>>> >> >Behalf
>> >>>> >> >Of Bryan Schulz
>> >>>> >> >Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 2:11 AM
>> >>>> >> >To: nfbcs at nfbnet.org
>> >>>> >> >Subject: [nfbcs] access hard drive
>> >>>> >> >
>> >>>> >> >hi,
>> >>>> >> >
>> >>>> >> >a friend wants to know if there are programs that will recreate 
>> >>>> >> >the
>> >>>> >> >mbr
>> >>>> >> >master boot record and fat file allocation table so files can be
>> >>>> >> >copied from
>> >>>> >> >a hard drive that has not been reformatted yet.
>> >>>> >> >
>> >>>> >> >Bryan Schulz
>> >>>> >> >_______________________________________________
>> >>>> >> >nfbcs mailing list
>> >>>> >> >nfbcs at nfbnet.org
>> >>>> >> >http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
>> >>>> >> >To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account 
>> >>>> >> >info
>> >>>> >> >for nfbcs:
>> >>>> >>
>> >>>>
>> >>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/prescott%40deltav.or
>> >>>> g
>> >>>> >> >
>> >>>> >> >
>> >>>> >> >_______________________________________________
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>> >>>> >>
>> >>>>
>> >>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/b.schulz%40sbcglobal
>> >>>> .net
>> >>>> >>
>> >>>> >>
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