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Here I'm sharing some tools that I use for working on PCs.
These are some of the very best and most useful tools that I use very regularly and by preference.

Just FYI=>
For 20+ years I've built and repaired computers and networks of many sorts - dating back to before the days of DOS.
I'm semi-retired now and do this less;
I've also totally switched to using Linux for myself and all others whom I assist.

Before anything else 2 points must be clarified here:

1 - I do not know which of these work for 'modern' windows as I do not use it at all.
(There is zero GPT, UEFI, 'secure boot', etc. in use here, sorry.)

2 - Some of these may work for apple stuff - but again, I quit working on those when the i-things came along - so YMMV widely.

These are included in this share:
GParted
Parted Magic
MiniTool® Partition Wizard
Boot-repair-disk
Ventoy

Some of this info is just pointing out really good freeware - 1 app can be had for a mere $11, but another would set you back ~$500, so ain't it great to get stuff like that for $0 ?!?

The details are all inside a PDF which you may DL from here:
(Standard PW and VT included at sharing site with 9 mirrors.)

Magic Button :

********************************

That is all for now - HTH !!

Very interesting share smithnowt

Some of these tools I had heard of but so far (knock on wood) I haven't really needed to use anything except for hard drive recovery software.

This list will be very handy to have around, just in case!

12days says Thanks

and reps

Greetings and Thanks

12days !!

What I point to here is that usually (unless one has several good running PCs...), when a time comes that such tools are needed, it can already be too late to think about making such a stick to have on hand.

Since USB sticks have come down in pricing, that is not a barrier to making such a stick anymore either.

The process for making a Ventoy stick is incredibly quick and painless;
My 16GB toolbox stick took just minutes to assemble, with the longest part being the simple copying of the ISOs onto the stick - and now it is ready if/when it is needed.

For me, given that I need to clone a Linux box every so often these days - this stick gets used initially to make the desired partitions on a new drive, then usually to correct GRUB afterwards if needed.

What I really like about using this (besides its tiny size) is how quickly it boots up.
This really streamlines whatever process I may need to use it for.

Lastly - just to be clear:
My Ventoy stick also has windows ISOs on it, like this one:
FalconFour’s Ultimate Boot CD

Code:

https://falconfour.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/falconfours-ultimate-boot-cd-v4-61-patch/

As well as some Macrium, Minitool and Easeus stuff that is all windows based.

Besides the 14 bootable ISOs, I also use that stick to store and carry some other useful stuff that is not made for booting.

All the above is why I think so highly of this idea.
I've shared it here for anyone else who may wish to have such tools and/or being prepared for someday if/when they are stuck with an unbootable PC.

HTH !!

Thank you, got your resource for reference and just in case my PC not working properly. Reputation given to legend for your time and effort spent and bring some golden nuggets for us. Thank you, Happydance

Greetings and Thanks

Osmanal2 !!

It is best to be prepared for WHEN a data disaster will come along (rather than -IF-).

Having a bootable media with good tools on hand should be as important as having good backups;
UNLESS one wishes to endure data losses and/or pay someone's high fees to make repairs - or worst of all - having to buy another PC and start all over again.

We are living in a time which has technical threats terrible enough to take away all of one's data in 2 seconds or less - which drives folks to have AV protection - whilst not realizing that AVs cannot protect against zero day threats like the ransomwares which are appearing daily.

The conclusion I suggest is...

Be Prepared
-or-
Pay Dearly in $$$ and Efforts and Time.
.
.

Absolutely correct and 101% agreed! Better well prepare than PANIC ... Thanks for your kind advice ... Nice Thread

I have been saved by linux usb live for many times Nice Thread

Interesting bit about switching to Linux @smithnowt. I have been toying with the idea of ditching Windows and working with Linux instead because of privacy concerns and no longer wanting Microsoft to have any control over it.

If you have any resources to share about this, where to start etc. I would love to hear it.

Greetings Tara and Thanks

for replying here.

Please bear in mind that my own computing history dates back WAY before anybody even thought about PCs yet...it was all done via punchcards and TTYs back then.
Also, my exposure to UNIX/Linux started at the very beginnings as well - and none of it was in any state for casual users for many years after that time.

NOW:
Linux has become so user friendly that it can be fine for casual end users easily.
Anyone who thinks that it always requires using arcane commandline stuff is very mistaken.

My actual work for years now has been in helping other folks in getting away from windows.

The 1st conversion was for an ~80 y/o man who was as non-techie as they come;
He loved it from day 1 until he finally left this world around a decade later.

Since then I've done this for many folks, many times, on both desktop and notebook PCs for folks who are all also non-techies and they are all impressed by how easy and reliable that using Linux every day actually is.

There are 2 main choices to make for new users:
1 - Base distro;
2 - Preferred DE. (Desktop Environment)

I always suggest using an Ubuntu variant because it has the largest community which makes any needed info very easy to track down and the app options are widest.

As to the choice of DE:
For myself and those I assist, the 'classic', old style windows look and feel is preferred - plain, simple, uncluttered and with no docks or other fancy stuff;
There are several DEs which provide this quite easily.

For folks who pefer all that extra and fancy stuff - straight Ubuntu does alot of it and again, there are quite a few others which have all that fancy stuff (bearing in mind that the more eye candy one uses, the more system resources are used as well...).

So, how to start at 1st ??
It is quite simple.

Just choose and then DL a liveboot ISO or 3 - stick 'em onto a USB stick with Ventoy - or on several sticks if not using Ventoy - and then live boot WITHOUT installing to see how they are for you.

If/when a distro suits your preferences, my chosen and recommended path is to make the installation on a different PC than one's existing, main windows PC and then transfer files, data, etc. in a relaxed, confident and stress free manner as the fall-back remains available, if needed.

Making an existing system do the dual-booting thing is also possible - but NOT very simple.

I always recommend against trying to dual-boot as any simple installation mis-step can easily mess up the existing OS and cause too much distress thereby.

As for resources...
Look up distrowatch as a starting point;
For anyone wanting to just USE their PC=>
Avoid such things as ZorinOS and all Arch based distros as well as straight Debian itself.
Those are not very good for folks who desire simple and bug-free usage MINUS needing to tinker endlessly through long learning curves.

Aside of all the above=>
I am willing to assist folks making this journey - outside of the forum and most easily if they are in the US as I am.

HTH.

Kickass share thank you.

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12days

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osmanal2

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