Rescue Windows… from a USB stick

Why use a USB?

A rescue CD or DVD gives access to your computer’s file system even when Windows completely fails to launch. This is ideal for finding out what has gone wrong and for rescuing important files. However, lots of laptops and netbooks are no longer equipped with an “optical drive”. Fortunately, a USB memory stick which you use exclusively as your “rescue system” may help.

Linux

In order to install a rescue system on a USB memory stick, you can use Linux. It may sound complex, but it isn’t. First, download the Universal USB Installer (http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/). Run the installer and choose Lucid Puppy in Step 1. Check the Download the ISO option.

Tip. If this doesn’t work, download the ISO file of Lucid Puppy via http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/puppylinux/puppy-5.1.1/. Now select the drive letter of your stick and enable Check this box if you want to format drive. Now click on Create and let the installer do the rest.

From now on you can launch your computer from the stick: boot your computer and choose the USB stick as the “boot device”.

Tip. If this isn’t done automatically, press F12, F1, F2 or DEL just after your computer boots and select the USB memory stick. Now press Enter and wait. At the bottom of the screen you will see icons representing all the partitions on your computer (with cryptic names such as sda1, sdb5 or sdg1). After double-clicking on any one of them, you will have access to all your files, and you can copy them to your USB stick or even e-mail them to yourself via the built-in Web browser.

Windows XP

Do you prefer a rescue system using Windows? Try BartPE (http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/). It allows you to boot Windows XP directly from a CD or DVD, on condition you have a Windows XP SP2 installation CD. Note. Only Windows XP is supported; you can’t create a Vista or Windows 7 CD! After making some adjustments you can also run BartPE from a USB memory stick - see BootPEUSB (http://users.telenet.be/Robvdb/BootPEUSB_UK.htm). Note. This procedure isn’t simple at all and may take a couple of hours!

Windows 7

In Windows 7, it’s very easy to make a system recovery disk. You should do so beforehand, when Windows is still running fine, by clicking on Start and typing recovery. Choose Create a System Recovery Disc and select the drive letter of your CD or DVD burner.

This system recovery disk allows you to reboot the computer. When you click on Startup Repair, the disk will try to resolve the startup problems. If this doesn’t work, try System Restore or System Image Recovery. It’s sometimes possible to access files via the Run prompt.

Tip 1. If this doesn’t work either, apply the Linux method described above.

Tip 2. A trick allows you to place the system recovery disc on a USB memory stick as well: see Into Windows (http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-repair-windows-7-from-usb-flash-drive-repair-without-installation-dvd-disc/).