[kwlug-disc] Using linux to fix Windows

[Cory Oldford]

I should also mention you can use this method to network boot pretty much any floppy based utility out there including maxtor power max, seatools, memtest86 etc etc.

Peace

-- 
Cory Oldford
PeaceWorks Computer Consulting
#2 - 396 Assiniboine Ave, Winnipeg
204 480 0314   --or--   519 725 7875, ext 610. 

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Bruner" <cbruner at quadro.net>
To: "KWLUG discussion" <kwlug-disc at kwlug.org>
Sent: Friday, July 3, 2009 10:19:26 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
Subject: Re: [kwlug-disc] Using linux to fix Windows

  It would take some experimenting, but I'm thinking that there are two 
steps to do a factory restore.
1. format the drive.
2. write the smallest possible image which fits into the formated drive.

You can use dd to create the image, but figuring out the size needed may 
be hard.

So restore would consist of a shell script something like
mkfs /dev/hda2 ntfs
dd if=win.ios of=/dev/hda2

(Syntax is probably wrong, this was off the top of my head).

Or alternatively you could use this article which I think does what you 
want.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=8759&page=2

Joe Wennechuk wrote:
>
> Ok… Here is the situation:
>
> Preface: I am working for Charles at the recycle centre. We fix A lot 
> of systems infected by this or that, and many of them are very 
> pernicious and won’t be removed except by extraordinary measures. Many 
> times due to unsafe surfing, or a lack of knowledge about potential 
> threats. Some of these computers get re-infected in a short amount of 
> time and come back infected again.
>
> I have an Aspire One; and, as are many of the newer Acers have a 
> system restore to reset to factory condition.
>
> We re-install many systems, but I would like to use a configuration 
> that allows a “””Factory Restore”””
>
> I would really like to implement a similar feature on the computers we 
> fix using linux.
>
> My thinking is….
>
> Lets say the user had a 60 Gb HD
>
> I make one 10 G partition (should this be less ( consider we are 
> working with small drives 40 G or less)\
>
> Three partitions in this case 10c: 40d: 10 Linux hda3?
>
> - Install Windows on the 10 gig partition
>
> - Format 40 more gigs as the data partition, and target MyDocuments to 
> point to second partition,
>
> - With the last 10 gigs I would like to make a restore position that 
> includes linux, and a copy of the image of the system partition as it 
> was ORIGINALLY installed
>
> - I would like to be able to boot to this partition and restore to the 
> original ghost image so…. I need a boot script.
>
> The restore partition should run minilinux or something, then format 
> the first partition, then copy the original image to the newly 
> formatted partition, then reboot. and that’s all it should do.
>
> It is my thinking that because all of the users data are stored on the 
> second partition if the first(system) partition is wiped then re 
> imaged the system would have the equivalent of a |Factory Restore…
>
> I think this should be easy.. Any suggestions???
>
> P.S. I would like the grub loader to say two choices restore, and windows,
>
> .
>
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>
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