Essential Linux tools for the PC technician

David M Williams
Sunday, 15 March 2009 11:52

Opinion and Analysis

Returning to ClamAV, you don’t have to stick with using it from a pre-existing Linux installation. There’s also the option to boot it straight from CD.

The ClamAV Live CD project is a lightweight disk image (about 120MB) that consists of a Ubuntu Live CD with ClamAV installed and auto executing.

This disk image is designed for the very thing we’re talking about; it’s designed for easy and thorough virus scanning of predominantly Windows machines.

The disk comes with a collection of other useful, Windows-related, tools like chntpw – to blank forgotten Windows passwords, DBAN – a hard drive eraser, testdisk – a disk and partition recovery application as well as a bunch of others.

You should also check out the Trinity Rescue Kit which is also specifically designed to be a free live Linux distribution that aims to recover and repair Windows computers.

The Trinity Rescue Kit – or TRK – is subtitled “CPR for your computer” by its developers and is replete with tools.

This includes not one but five virus scan products all integrated into a single interface, the ability to clone NTFS file systems, recovery of lost partitions, recovery of deleted files, rootkit detection utilities and more, all with comprehensive documentation.

TRK is splendid for the task at hand, giving you brilliant powers of recovery and fault-finding when dealing with Windows computers, all from a single bootable CD. You may well find other unexpected uses too. One testimonial on the TRK web site even says it is a greater tool for imaging Windows computers!

So, give it a go! If you’re involved in any form of technical support you can’t be without Linux in your collection of tools. It’s the best Windows recovery system there is!