BartPE Rescue Disk YouTube
A rescue disk can be used to recover files, remove malware, and restore a failed Windows operating system. The disk has an independent operating system that starts and runs on the CD or USB drive. Since it is independent from the hard drive it does not need the computers operating system to run. It uses RAM memory to load and operate its system, files, and utilities. Both DOS, Windows, and Linux have been used to create these disks. Since DOS and Linux have had some difficulties writing to the NTFS file system the native drivers in Windows have been preferred for use. However, getting Windows to run on a CD with a graphical user interface (GUI) has been the challenge, but Bart Lagerweij has provided the solution with a free utility called BartPE.
BartPE uses Windows install files to create a preinstallation environment that loads from a CD and runs in RAM. Many plugins have also been created to add additional features and utilities that will run and operate in this new environment. Several distributions have been created that come preloaded with many great features and utilities. The most popular being Ultimate Boot CD for Windows that comes with many free but valuable utilities.
Runtime software has also created some plugins that allow some of their products to operate with BartPE. Their free DriveImage XML software allows you to image an operating system while running using the Microsoft volume shadow services and then allow you to restore the image using their plugin with the BartPE. Imaging is a big time saver over having to re-install Windows when needed for a recovery. Because of Windows self-destructive nature it will require the user to re-install it from time to time.
Linux also has many system rescue CD disk distributions. I like Slax because of it’s ability to customize the operating system by adding plugins. Plugins are not that difficult to make and can be added as new features and utilities come out.
The most important features needed in a rescue disk are malware removal, because sometimes malware can disable the anti malware software and be impossible to remove without additional assistance from outside resources. Also system restore utilities are needed to run outside the failed operating system. You can’t use Windows to fix itself when Windows has failed. In the past I have always relied on DOS to recovery and restore Windows because of it’s quick and ease of use, but BartPE has now become the new favorite.