[Wolves] I hate Windows

[Alex Willmer]

On Thu, 2006-01-05 at 19:25 +0000, Mark Ellse wrote:
> Just a rant, but explaining my other post.
> 
> As well as backing up my data files, I use Norton Ghost to copy the hard 
> disk from time to time just in case my system goes faulty. That way I 
> have a relatively recent backup system disk that I can put in if there 
> are problems. Belt and braces - safe whatever happens. But you're not, 
> and here is what happened.
> 
> 1.	Windows tells me to perform automatic updates. I did.
> 2.	Windows then starts behaving flakily. So I think let's take 
> prevenative measures.
> 3.	Can't Ghost system disk - Ghost can't read from certain sectors.
> 4.	Run Windows checkdisk utility. It takes all night and fiddles with 
> the disk. Then Windows won't boot. It says that a file is missing from 
> the system.
> 5.	So copy file to CD and put it into computer. Silly me, forgot that 
> disk is NTFS and can't be accessed with Win98 boot disk. (Why no Win2k 
> boot disk facility and ability to read NTFS I don't know.)

There is a way to make an NTFS capable boot cd called bart PE, you'll
need another Windows PC on which to create it and an XP SP2 or 2003
setup CD. You can run chkdsk and fiddle/repair the registry straight
from the CD. It's saved many a PC and server for me. Although beyond a
rescue disc it's extremely limited. Think of it as Knoppix on crutches
though,

If Bart PE fails, try Knoppix. You only need read support to get the
files you want and Linux's NTFS driver may have better luck. Of course
that still means you have to rebuild the machine.