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(Article awaiting updates; this is an old version from a few years ago, so certain notes are out-of-date.)
Bootable "Live" CDs: Comparison There are a few reasons why one might want an emergency "rescue" boot CD for a Windows system: in the chance that Windows fails to boot, to gain access to data and copy them elsewhere; to run utilities outside of the operating system or that require another environment; to connect to the network and run an antivirus on a nonbooting system; inaccessibility of an installation OS CD-ROM for the Recovery Console (Windows XP/2000) or repair install, etc.
Currently, I have tested/used a number of boot CDs. Two are based on Bart's bootable cd pages (DOS and Windows), while one is a Linux-based solution. The other three are DOS-based but with minimal menus. I've only used Bart's DOS boot CD regularly because it's free-form and easier to build in my opinion, and because mine already has PowerQuest Drive Image and Partition Magic on it. Right now I'm getting more into the full graphical user interface (GUI) or "live" boot CDs, with BartPE as a choice rescue boot CD for Windows systems. Here is a quick rundown of some of the boot CDs I've made and used:
| DOS Boot CD Kit (local download available) | |
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|
* Very small (but not floppy-sized anymore); easily fits on a credit-card sized CD-ROM * Easily customized with other DOS-based applications - use to replace various boot-floppies * Fast execution * Very basic hardware compatibility requirements compared to "live" cds - should run off any machine with bootable optical drive * Very basic resource requirements (CPU, memory) * Using freeware utilities, can be used on any machine * Using the kit, no cd-burning software is required besides the Windows XP/2K OS |
* Requires some DOS knowledge - no GUI, memory issues * Requires manual editing of drivers, not all drivers work in DOS (*USB generic driver enabled in dl) * Few true 16-bit apps today (true DOS environment) * No native NTFS support, no native long-filename support (*driver and apps provided in dl) * Even if it may be considered "live," DOS isn't a real operating system :P * No networking support (generally). |
| BartPE Boot CD | |
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|
* Full native NTFS/FAT read-write * Uses (many) normal Windows applications, looks/behaves like Windows * Can be customized using plugin architecture * Hardware detection is automatic - at same time, initialization is slow * Might be able to fit on mini-cd (disabling some elements from kit) * Native support for external media, other ports** (USB flash and mouse detected on boot-up with plugin; external USB and Firewire drives may require other drivers - but hotswapping doesn't appear supported) |
* Requires your own Windows installation CD-ROM (or slipstreamed i386 directory for the latest BartPE engines), and most retail systems don't include that anymore * Requires only certain Windows installation CD-ROMs (XP+SP1+, 2003) * Because of the above, licensing issue certainly limits its use to your own computer * Creating plugins can be a hassle unless plugin for an application is already made and packaged * Requires certain system specs - (e.g. recommended 96MB min system memory, 128MB is most decent; 64 might be possible) * Will not work on certain machines (unknown - possible BIOS or chipset issues; e.g. HP Vectra) * Cannot start more than ~6 processes, including the nu2menu shell - i.e., you can't have more than a certain number of applications and background processes running at once. |
| Knoppix Boot CD ISOs (Distro: LinuxDefender, no local download) | |
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|
* Full, slick GUI (KDE), sexier than BartPE :P * Automatic hardware detection, initialization a bit faster than BartPE * Since a distro of Linux - 100% free (GNU, open source, or freeware, etc.) * Linuxdefender's version comes with their free antivirus. * Able to read Windows-based partitions (requires running NTFS utility for NTFS drives) * Good for nondestructive experimentation with basic Linux OS * Available as a ready-to-burn ISO file * USB and PCMCIA automatically detected (probably firewire too); hotswapping unknown |
* NTFS read-write appears limited - copy/paste only preexisting files (*newest Knoppix build may have better NTFS support) * Interface not necessarily entirely intuitive for Windows users - single click only, but pretty darn close * Excess of other Linux utilities that Windows users don't know/need * ISO is pretty large (500MB); must wait for mini-cd ISOs based on next point * Typical Windows users can't customize Knoppix/Linux builds at all * Requires certain system specs for full execution - e.g. 128-256+MB recommended RAM |
| Winternal's Erd Commander 200x (no download) | |
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|
* NTFS/FAT compatibility * Bundled Windows-specific utilities, e.g. security, passord reset for admin purposes * Windows interface, fully supported * Ready-made (retail) |
* $$$$ in admin pak * (Winternal's software is listed only for completism; I won't discuss it here) |
My general conclusions: Having tried these three boot CD options, I'm keeping BartPE for full NTFS file backup purposes and some Windows utilities, and the DOS boot CD for my Drive Image and Partition Magic applications (and emergency NTFS access - since I'm more likely to carry around my mini-CD anyway). The DOS disc just seems easier to build and execute in my opinion, despite its quite arcane interface. Still, a working BartPE is pretty darn useful. Knoppix is a nice boot CD option I'm keeping for experimentation purposes. Even if it's not a perfect rescue boot CD option for Windows users, it certainly has a sexy GUI that may just win the GUI-dependent over to Linux solutions.
