Tech: Knoppix helped mend computer - impressed

Subject: Tech: Knoppix helped mend computer - impressed
From: Nick
Date: 31 Oct 07 - 01:48 PM

Some time ago I had a corrupt registry on my XP Home machine at home and in the process of mending it managed to lose a load of data which is all part of learning I suppose (luckily most of it was backed up).

A friend I play with in a band had a similar problem where windows would not boot or repair. On visiting PC World they was told that it would cost £70 to look and £100 and something to retrieve the data etc and it wouldn't be worth it.

Enter Knoppix which I had never toyed with before. A quite big download (700mb) but onto a cd which boots directly and gives access to all the data on the machine. It spotted my USB hard drive and with a quick change of read/write permissions I could safely back up all their data onto the hard drive.

Marvellous. Lots more info at Knoppix site. I had never used Linux before but it seems quite straightforward. Having the ability to shove my cd into a seemingly knackered machine and have access to everything is wonderful. The machine I saved the data off was NTFS but it works merrily on FAT system too.

Well impressed. Hopefully this may help someone one day

Subject: RE: Tech: Knoppix helped mend computer - impressed
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 31 Oct 07 - 03:36 PM

Many thanks, that's very interesting. PC World are a buch of wankers in my view!

Subject: RE: Tech: Knoppix helped mend computer - impressed
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 01 Nov 07 - 03:27 AM

Well, that may well be true, but any 'bricks and mortar' company nowadays needs to meet their overheads, building AND staff... or they just close the doors.

I can remember the days when the local butcher would give a free frankfurt to any young (usually preschool) kid accompanied by a parent of relative.

ooo, maybe I should have posted this in The Old Farts Thread...

Subject: RE: Tech: Knoppix helped mend computer - impressed
From: Nick
Date: 01 Nov 07 - 07:40 AM

It wasn't having a go at PC World - they are absolutely dead right to chage for their help and the time that it would take to retrieve data etc

The post was in praise of the linux program and what it let me do (and the ease of doing it) rather than an expectation that a commercial organisation should work for nothing.

The particular branch of PC World (York in England) have actually been excellent when I have dealt with them and I wrote to their manager in praise of their service a while back when they did more than needed. When my friend went in with her PC they actually gave it a quick look FOR NOTHING and gave her advice about her options. Can't grumble about that!

Subject: RE: Tech: Knoppix helped mend computer - impressed
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 01 Nov 07 - 10:59 AM

I've used Knoppix too. I was able to get a Linux box with a dead OS drive back on to the network and export the data drive with NFS and get all the useful data off before reformatting and installing Linux on the primary drive. It's useful for resizing disks too, there was no need for me to get partition magic.

Subject: RE: Tech: Knoppix helped mend computer - impressed
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 01 Nov 07 - 11:18 AM

I believe Knoppix is quite popular as a rescue system. Now you've reminded me of it, I think I'll try sticking it on a pen drive this evening.

As for Linux being straightforward, I think that depends on the distribution. I don't think the popular desktop ones, eg. Ubuntu, OpenSuse (my choice), etc. are that much harder than Windows, in fact, in many ways, I find it is a lot easier.

Btw latest Linux project has been setting up mythtv. There is a knoppix version of it (knoppmyth).