There are a number of linux live systems that you don't
even need to install on a cd
you can run them from a usb stick
I suggest you check out these (you can have all of them in the same stick):
slax
RIPlinux (RecoveryIsPossible)
partedmagic
slax is based on slackware and is very easy to configure
RIPlinux has a wealth of recovery tools
partedmagic has among other tools gparted
http://www.slax.org/
http://www.tux.org/pub/people/kent-r...looplinux/rip/
http://partedmagic.com/
I have all of these on a 4GB usb stick plus
grml (a debian type mainly console)
http://grml.org/