Jared's Linux Blog
SystemRescueCD to the rescue
Whenever I have computer problems, I'll often need SystemRescueCD to help me fix it.
SystemRescueCd is a Linux system on a bootable CD-ROM for repairing your system and recovering your data after a crash. It aims to provide an easy way to carry out admin tasks on your computer, such as creating and editing the partitions of the hard disk. It contains a lot of system tools (parted, partimage, fstools, ...) and basic tools (editors, midnight commander, network tools).
To use SystemRescueCD, boot from the disc and at the prompt type
startx
and hit enter. Then right click to get the menu to the tools.
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Backup Your MBR on Linux
Use this command to backup your MBR:
dd if=/dev/hda of=/home/hda.boot.mbr bs=512 count=1
To restore the MBR (from a Live CD), use this command:
dd if=/mnt/hda1/home/hda.boot.mbr of=/dev/hda bs=512 count=1
About the dd command:
dd if=<source> of=<target> bs=<byte size>("USUALLY" some power of 2, not less than 512 bytes(ie, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16384[/b], but can be ANY reasonable number.) skip= seek= conv=<conversion>.
Source is the data being read. Target is where the data gets written.
Warning!! If you reverse the source and target, you can wipe out a lot of data. This feature has inspired the nickname "dd" Data Destroyer.
Warning!! Caution should be observed when using dd to duplicate encrypted partitions.
Jared
In response to one of the comments posted, it was asked how dd would treat encrypted partitions. The answer is dd should copy a partition, any partition, just fine. All it sees is raw data - a sequence of numbers. It neither knows nor cares about file systems or drive types. You'll just have to remember it was encrypted and loop crypt mount to mount it.
Thanks to the fine folks at Edmonton Linux Users Group and especially Mike Ward for that answer.
Fitness Software for Linux
For all those who forgot their New Years Resolutions, here is a list for you. Now you can get linux and get fit too.
Windows software and their Linux alternatives and equivalents
"Welcome to the Linux Alternative Project (formerly the Linux Equivalent Project). The goal is to provide an informational and available website for all linux users. The website is currently in beta form. I will be periodically updating the database with Windows software and the Linux equivalents and alternatives."
Linux Screw is a great Linux blog
Linux Screw is a top-notch blog of news, docs, tips, tricks, hacks, fun, and more...