Bootable CD Wizard (BCDW) - EBCD Alternative?

[sburtchin]

I found this site today: Bootable CD Wizard (BCDW) (http://www.bcdwb.de/bcdw_e.html). Seems like this should be able to do everything that EBCD can do. The big advantage being that the site is loaded with easy to understand how-to's for just about everything, and they have blank bootable images for a whole range of sizes for download. The only real drawback I see so far is that you have to add ALL applications yourself. There is a lot there, so it will take me a few days just to sift through the information.

I was wondering if anyone here had tried any of this, and how would you rate its usefulness (in comparison to EBCD)?

My main complaint with EBCD is that the documentation for it is horrible, and the "EBCD Forum" itself is almost entirely posts about problems getting it to work with no one providing answers. The PC Guide Forums have been a lifesaver in this respect by providing help covering all the basic EBCD customizations. Now I want to create a third RAM drive and put my Rescue DOS on there. No success so far at creating a bootable image bigger than a floppy. Testing some things I learned from the BCDW site on EBCD now.

[Paul Komski]

I suppose utililty boot CDs do have their uses and this could be another to add to the armoury. Personally- speaking I only really setup an EBCD initially so that I could run the Power Quest Drive Image and Partition Magic disks without having to load two floppies for each of them. It used to be my #1 util but that has been superceded by "I guess you know what" plus Knoppix plus the Recovery Console.

If BiNG and Knoppix cant rapidly sort out the problem, I find it usually quicker in the long run to detach the hard drive and access it from a USB adapter on a laptop or an IDE adapter at home. Without good USB and NTFS support all such troubleshooting and repair is so unpredictable and can get nightmarish on both old and new systems.

Some would say that's a bit defeatist or non-geekish but times move on. I hardly ever bookmark anything nowadays with broadband and google usually finding something quicker than I can on my own hard drive as another example of how things change. ;)

[sburtchin]

It used to be my #1 util but that has been superceded by "I guess you know what" plus Knoppix plus the Recovery Console.:rolleyes: I bet it starts with a "B". I assume by "Recovery Console" you are referring to "Windows 2000 Recovery Console" and "Windows XP Recovery Console". Mine is installed to a small partition at the beginning of my first disk, and doubles as my rescue DOS with a "BOOT.INI" to choose between the two. Is there any way to start Recovery Console other than first installing it to a HDD, I wonder? I have been wanting to boot at least my rescue DOS from EBCD or other CD, but no help at the EBCD site for creating a bootable image bigger than a floppy. I have been trying a lot of things with WinImage (trial), but EBCD has not been cooperating much.

I have a few hundred thoughtfully saved bookmarks now. There are a few I use often, but for the most part, finding the one I want is getting more and more difficult. Google usually gets me there faster. Times do move on!

[jlreich]

I don't have the link handy since my wife is hogging the main computer. :p But there is a stand alone ISO for XP's recovery console. I think I got the link from Paul at one time or another, so he will probably have it. Or google it. :D

[sburtchin]

I think this is the file you refer to: xp_rec_con.zip (www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/Tools/bootdiscs/xp_rec_con.zip). Thanks! I'm burning the ISO now. I don't have XP though, so I don't think it will work for me:(. The directory structure looks much different than my HDD installation. Anyone have a link for how it was made so I can make one for Windows 2000?

[jlreich]

That could be the one I have, but I think I renamed my copy so I wouldn't forget what it is. I think it is made from the boot floppies for XP. I would think you could do the same for 2K. Or perhaps it was simply extracted from a windows CD?

[HomeSA]

I bet it starts with a "B".

Not fair. This is killing me now :rolleyes:

[Paul Komski]

My original post (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=49552) on the RC iso - though you have found another link.

I guess Win2K is similar to Creating A Windows XP Recovery Console CD Image (http://www.ehsco.com/reading/20060816iwc1.html)

HomeSA try rhyming it with "sing" and look in my sig.

[HomeSA]

HomeSA try rhyming it with "sing" and look in my sig.

Thanks, got it. I can sleep tonight :D