How to Rescue your Windows or Linux System with Rescatux

Rescatux is yet another GNU/Linux distribution that is focused on the rescuing of other operating systems. It works in live mode and offers a rich set of tools to address a wide range of problems in Linux and even Windows. What makes Rescatux stand out from the many similarly orientated rescue systems is mainly its straightforwardness. Instead of offering a set of tools that will help you fix your “broken” system, it starts Rescapp right away which is a window that features categorized buttons to address a specific problem.

Download Rescatux

The Rescatux ISO Image can be downloaded from here:

Reset Windows Password

First of all, Rescatux can reset your Windows password which is a relatively frequent issue in Windows installations, or promote the default Windows user to a system administrator. This will work for XP, Vista, and Windows 7. Press the corresponding button on the main window and detailed instructions for the selected action will be given to you. When you're ready to proceed, press that “Run” button located on the top.

One thing that I find to be missing in regard to the Windows saving features is ClamAV and the ability to detect viruses and delete the infected files. This is another common problem in Windows so it would be nice if Rescatux had us covered in that part.

Reset Linux User Passwords

If your problem is on your Linux partition, then Rescatux can prove to be helpful as well. Changing a user password is as simple as selecting the partition in which the problematic system is installed, then selecting the user you want to configure and then setting a new password.

Fix Grub

Grub menus can be updated as well as Rescatux offers the Grub boot repair tool that we analyzed on a previous post. You can either follow the Rescapp path, or go straight on the menu->Preferences->BootRepair.

Partitioning

In the “Expert Tools” category, you will find the “Gparted” tool which allows you to configure the detected partitions on a convenient graphical user interface.

As I am using a Virtual Machine to test Rescatux, I can't configure the only disk that is detectable from Gparted, but you will be able to do so by right-clicking on the partition/disk that you want to configure. This will open up a set of options such as format partition, delete, resize etc.

Restore Files

This is not an obvious feature of Rescatux, but still it can be done through the “Expert Tools” and the button named “Photorec”. This is a command line tool that allows users to search for accidentally deleted files in a partition. You may choose the partition where the files were located, choose the filesystem type and then press “c” to initiate the detection of the deleted files.

Note that this will only work on HDD partitions, as files that were located in SSD partitions cannot be recovered using Photorec.

For whatever else seems to be unsolvable, you can always hop onto the IRC chat and ask for the help of the Rescatux community. Press the “Chat” button located on the top at any time, and an Xchat session connected to the right Freenode channel will open up shortly.

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By: adrian15
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1) First of all although I might sound angry on some of my remarks below :) I thank you for your effort to put these most used features together. Hopefully I can learn from your feedback.

2)  " This will work for XP, Vista, and Windows 7. "

I think it also works in other newer Versions. I will have to do some tests and update that text.

3) " Windows saving features is ClamAV and the ability to detect viruses and delete the infected files. "

The most easiest similar feature to implement is a feature that disables most everything on boot. Sometimes it helps on accessing your system if some process (or virus) unables you to use your computer. Check: https://adrian15sgd.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/rescatux-idea-recovering-windows-registry/ for a more detailed explanation on what it could be done. Feedback on those ideas is welcomed.

I still do not understand that being able to run ClamAV will let you to get into your computer again, but, yes, it might make sense.

4) "Grub menus can be updated as well as Rescatux offers the Bootrepair tool that we analyzed on a previous post. ". Or you can use the 'Restore Grub' and 'Update Grub' options which are supported. Boot-repair does some additional magic which Rescatux currently does not perform but, as the first try, it's recommended to use our options. Because Boot-repair magic sometimes it's too magic and it relies blindly on an internet connection being available.

5) "As I am using a Virtual Machine to test Rescatux, I can't configure the only disk that is detectable from Gparted," . That's a thing that makes me angry. It might be someone doing a video or a webpage howto. It does not matter. They have a virtual machine but, somehow, they forget to add additional hard disks (and even better install OSes into them). Take a look at my Rescatux tour videos. Having those OSes installed makes the experience more fruitful.

6) If anyone else has valuable feedback from Rescatux I'm glad to hear it.

By: [email protected]
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well it might sound stupid but how can i connect to wifi