[How to ] Use Linux recovery drive to recover lost data from Windows crash Almost everyone has encountered the infamous Windows “Blue Screen of Death” and some of us have experienced the most unfortunate incident of being unable to even start our system and hence losing all the data in the computer. Do you know […]
Almost everyone has encountered the infamous Windows "Blue Screen of Death" and some of us have experienced the most unfortunate incident of being unable to even start our system and hence losing all the data in the computer. Do you know that we can recover all the lost data with the help of Linux recovery USB? Here is a simple guide on how to recover.
Things to note before you start
The following guide comes in handy in case your Windows has crashed but all your storage devices such as SSD or hard disk are not harmed and are working perfectly. Do check that your Random Access Memory is also in healthy state. You need to have access to another computer to perform some of the steps.
Quick Overview:
By installing Puppy Linux on your DVD/CD/USB and using it to boot up your crashed system, you can by pass crashed Windows. Puppy Linux uses your RAM to boot up and you will be able to cut, copy, paste and delete your files. But keep in mind that you need some space in USB to copy recovered data hence make sure that there is enough space in your DVD/CD/USB. For this purpose, we recommend using 8GB USB at least. You could chose larger size USB depending on how much you want to recover.
Now you will have to act like some computer genius, if you are one already then great otherwise, play cool and these instructions will make you look like genius. :)
Requirements for making Boot able Linux based USB/CD/DVD
To make your boot able Linux based USB/DVD/CD you need software named Unetbootin which you can download from here all you need to do is to download and click on it. It runs without installation .
Download Puppy Linux can downloaded from here
Note: Section below explains the process on how to make Linux based USB/CD/DVD. Steps for USB is different from DVD and CD, so please make sure that you follow the correct steps.
How to make Bootable Linux based USB?
These steps need to be performed on your other system that works:
• Click on the software named Unetbootin which we have downloaded earlier. After that plug in your USB drive into the system.
• In Unetbootin find “DiskImage” option and select it. After that click on browse button and search for puppy Linux which you have already downloaded above. find “Type” option and select USB Drive in that option. Then click on “OK” after that.
• Don’t remove your drive or shut down your system. As the process of making drive begins so relax and have some drink :)
• After the process has completed, you will see a dialog box asking you to reboot, click yes.
Now, go to your crashed Windows system and perform the following steps:
• Next, get into BIOS of your system (To get to BIOS, you have to hit a specific key when computer start, the instruction will appear on screen while the system starts) and configure this USB so that you are able to create it bootable. (Though all recent computers have this "boot up" option set by default hence no additional steps needed. In case your USB doesn't boot up on your system then you will have to change the settings. These settings differ from one motherboard to another. You could easily search for "getting into system BIOS in crashed Windows system" and "Change boot sequence of your crashed Windows system" and follow the instruction)
• Now boot into your Linux based USB drive. On booting you will see Boot Manager by Unetbootin follow what it says so that you may be able to use Puppy Linux.
• After following those steps you will enter Puppy Linux then you will be able to access your files and data. Copy and paste the data which you want to keep on your external storage.
And you are done.
How to make Boot able Linux based DVD/CD?
These steps need to be performed on your other system that works:
•To make DVD/CD boot able, you need to have some burning software such as Nero, ImgBurn. If you don't have one, you can search Google for these or alternatives.
To make boot able Linux based DVD/CD, open the burning software (e.g Nero) which you downloaded and installed earlier.
• Select CD if you are using CD otherwise click on DVD so that you could make it bootable.
• Insert the disk and click on “Create Image” option. Then a dialog box will open navigate to Puppy Linux which we have downloaded earlier and select it.
• Click on begin button to start the process, now relax and wait for the burning to complete. After the process is complete, disk will eject.
Now go to your crashed Windows system and perform the following steps:
• Click on “Start” button and when you see Motherboard screen quickly jump into BIOS of your computer by selecting the desired function key. (Though all recent computers have this "boot up" option set by default hence no additional steps needed. In case your USB doesn't boot up on your system then you will have to change the settings. These settings differ from one motherboard to another. You could easily search for "getting into system BIOS in crashed Windows system" and "Change boot sequence of a crashed Windows system" and follow the instruction)
• Now configure your system so that it enables you to boot into your PC directly. Once configuring is done, exit the BIOS
• Now on booting you will again see Puppy Linux with some set of instruction follow them one by one.
• After entering in to Puppy Linux you will be able to access your files and data. Copy and paste the data which you want to keep on your external storage. And it’s done.
BIOS settings differ from one motherboard to another. To boot up those recoverable DVD/USB/CD we need to alter BIOS settings of computer. Though these days all the modern computers have this "boot up" option set by default so first try as it is in case your USB doesn't boot up on your system then you will have to change the settings.
If you are facing any kind of difficulty don’t hesitate ask in comments below. If you find this useful, pl do share on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus.
Author: Arshdeep Singh
