Linux Bootable CD

Anthony_john5 · 12-23-2003, 02:41 PM

To put it simply I've managed to mess up my windows installation completely and can't boot sucessfully.

I've heard that it's possible to download and insert a 'bootable' linux CD and simply select the CD drive as the first boot option in the BIOS and then have Linux up and running.

Q1) Am I correct in saying the above?

Q2) Where can I download of acquire one of these Linux boots cd's from?

- Anthony

MartinN · 12-23-2003, 02:51 PM

Hi Anthony, and welcome!

You could try Knoppix. Get an ISO here:
http://www.linuxiso.org/distro.php?distro=44
and read the documentation here:
http://www.knoppix.net/docs/

Good luck!
Martin

slackie1000 · 12-23-2003, 02:52 PM

Hi!!
Q1. Yes, it is possible..What you did with your windoze.. Partition problem?
Q2. I don't know how familiar you are with Linux. I would advice the iso from www.slackware.com..
The first CD is bootable...
What is exact your problem? Do you want to correct the windows problem through Linux? I don't know if I misunderstood your point.. Let us know if there is any problem..
Regards,
Slackie

XavierP · 12-23-2003, 02:59 PM

There are a few live-cd options - Knoppix, Gnoppix, Slackware-Live, Mandrake, Suse and others.

If you are asking if there is a Linux distribution which runs entirely off a bootable cd and when you remove it and reboot your hd system is unaffected, then the ones in the above post and in my first line will fit the bill.

When you go to burn the cd, make sure your burning software is set to create a cd from a cd image. Otherwise you will just end up with a cd copy of your downloaded file.

duerra · 12-23-2003, 03:06 PM

Anthony, if all you're looking to do is get back into Windows, the Windows CD's are bootable as well (at least they are in current versions of Windows).

If you're looking to switch to Linux, Knoppix is a distro that prides itself on its CD-booting features. If you're looking to install Linux as an OS, other alternatives may or may not be a better solution, depending on what you're looking to accomplish.

Anthony_john5 · 12-23-2003, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by duerra
Anthony, if all you're looking to do is get back into Windows, the Windows CD's are bootable as well (at least they are in current versions of Windows).

If you're looking to switch to Linux, Knoppix is a distro that prides itself on its CD-booting features. If you're looking to install Linux as an OS, other alternatives may or may not be a better solution, depending on what you're looking to accomplish.

That's something I haven't heard before. I'm running Windows ME, so I'm guessing that isn't bootable. I also have a copy of Windows XP Home though, so would it be possible to boot from the Windows XP Home CD while I try to back-up the files.

To everyone else, unfortunately I'm on dial-up so which is the smallest package? And would it be possible for someone to post a link to it?

- Anthony

XavierP · 12-23-2003, 03:22 PM

The best to find out if your cd is bootable is to go into the BIOS on your pc and set it to run the cd first. Put the cd in and then reboot. If the cd is bootable (and I think ME is) then it should run off the cd. Cancel the install and then you will be in dos. At this point, you can copy off your files - although it will be a little slow.

At what point does your system stop booting?

Anthony_john5 · 12-23-2003, 03:26 PM

Oh, sorry then Windows ME is bootable then. My understanding was that I would be able to load Windows rather than be stuck at the command prompt. You're right it is possible to copy files from there, however I only seem to be able to copy them to floppy disk. I have a CD RW attached is it possible (seems unliklely to me) to burn files to CD from the command prompt, possibly using a DOS based program I could install through the command promt?

- Anthony

Soulful93 · 12-23-2003, 03:27 PM

The ISO images are really big. I wouldn't suggest trying to download them with a 56k modem. It took me a week to download Mandrake 9.2 and that was constant downloading. I know Knoppix is somewhere in the area of 500mB - 700mB so you'd be looking at downloading for some time.

Here are some reasonable rates on distros.

http://cheapiso.com/default.php

You guys beat me!

XavierP · 12-23-2003, 03:33 PM

At what point does it fail to boot?

Have you tried going into safe mode? As soon as the POST check finishes hold down either ctrl or F8 and you should get a menu - go for safe mode and see if it lets you boot.

Another option is to try to reinstall ME over the top of itself - that may fix that particular problem......

Anthony_john5 · 12-23-2003, 03:41 PM

Sorry, again I probably didn't explain the probelm properly. Windows goes all the way, but it then fails to load explorer. I've tried safe mode with no success. I've also got as far as the installation screen where it says that I will lose all data.

I think the original error was caused by me reinstalling some sound drivers, which I may be blocking from loading through msconfig.exe Is it possible to allow everything to load as it wishes through the command promt and then restart the computer?

- Anthony

XavierP · 12-23-2003, 03:59 PM

If you run the menu as I said above, one of the options is to run a step by step boot up. You could bypass a lot of drivers that way - but in the end you will have a system running in 'safe mode'. If Explorer isn't working your up the proverbial creek - Explorer is Windows effectively. If it's bust, Windows is unstartable.

Anthony_john5 · 12-23-2003, 04:03 PM

Okay, sorry I misunderstood you, I think I'll give that a try.

I think I was meaning to do that before but never got round to it.

- Anthony

Anthony_john5 · 12-24-2003, 06:34 AM

Well, I tried that and with no success and wasn't able to boot from the Windows XP CD either. When it's inserted it just goes straight into the installer!

- Anthony

XavierP · 12-24-2003, 07:52 AM

Leave the disk out and boot Windows as normal. Once the POST check has finished hold down F8 or ctrl and it should bring up the boot menu.