Bootable CD for repair of an unbootable system

[vailr]

Does such a "rescue disc" bootable CD exist?:

Scenario:
1. Motherboard fails, so you buy another newer board as replacement.
2. With new hardware installed, (and double-checking that bios settings for AHCI vs. Raid vs. IDE are correct) you attempt booting system re-using the old HD.
3. Windows fails to boot, due to a chipset change, Intel vs. AMD vs. Marvell or other third party chipset, or whatever other HD controller issue.
4. Windows Repair mode (using the bootable Windows install disc) fails to solve the non-boot problem. A Windows re-install seems to be the only likelihood of success. Thus creating a Windows.old folder on the C: drive, and requiring re-install of programs and personalized system settings.
5. Boot from a special repair CD that can diagnose any and all HD controller issues, (and advise of possible necessity to change bios settings, if required) and then make sufficient registry or driver repairs to allow Windows to boot far enough to at least allow installation of updated chipset or HD controller drivers. Works on all Windows versions XP or newer: 32/64 bit.
Anyone know of such a "bootable rescue disc"?

 

[lakedude]

That AHCI vs IDE thing might be your problem. It needs to be the same as your old MB.

Also Windows sucks for this kind of thing.

There are plenty of "live CDs" that will run your computer with no need for a bootable HD. Bart's, Hiren's, Ultimate boot or any number of Linux distros.

I'm not so sure any will figure out what your HD install of Windows problem is since you don't actually have a hardware problem, only a software compatibilty issue and only with your old HD.

Any new install of any OS will most likely work just fine.

 

[vailr]

I'm not so sure any will figure out what your HD install of Windows problem is

This is not a current problem, but is one I've faced numerous times when switching to a different motherboard.
Why shouldn't it be possible to make a bootable CD that would allow simply repairing of the target Windows operating system's registry on the hard drive. Instead of only the very inconvenient options currently available.

 

[C1]

A guess one of reasons a reinstall is required is because of the HAL. If you'll notice, one of the first things that Windows does as a pre-install procedure is to analyze the hardware and no doubt part of the reasons for this is for selection of the most suitable HAL.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardware_abstraction

 

[vailr]

A guess one of reasons a reinstall is required is because of the HAL. If you'll notice, one of the first things that Windows does as a pre-install procedure is to analyze the hardware and no doubt part of the reasons for this is for selection of the most suitable HAL.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardware_abstraction

OK, so include in the bootable CD a "HAL analyzer" and a "HAL fixer".
Or: is that asking too much?

 

[lakedude]

Unless you paid extra money for a full copy of Windows you technically/legally can't just change a mobo because of the way the OEM license works (this might have changed for W8).

Why are you swapping so many mobos? I find hardware tends to run best with whatever generation of software was available at the time. Newer boards need newer software to enable all the newer features. Older boards generally run better with older software with lower minimum system requirements.

A fresh install is generally a good thing anyhow. Viruses are wiped out, bloat is wiped out, etc. Put your data on a separate data drive and reload Windows. Problem solved...

 

[Steltek]

Though a fresh install is always best, you can invest in backup software which allows you create a backup which then can be redeployed to disimiliar hardware. Examples are Macrium Reflect Pro 5 with Redeploy, Acronis True Image 2014 Premium, Easus ToDo Backup Workstation, Paragon Backup and Recovery 12, etc.

Windows 7 tends to be very forgiving of major hardware changes, moreso than any earlier MS OS. I've successfully moved several Windows installations back and forth between AMD and Intel systems without major problems (though I do on my own systems always wipe and reinstall as a matter of habit). However, to increase the likelihood of success, it is always best to make sure to reset all drivers to standard Windows default drivers as well as making sure that the SATA settings on the new motherboard are set to match the settings on the old machine before installing the hard drive.

 

[Iron Woode]

4. Windows Repair mode (using the bootable Windows install disc) fails to solve the non-boot problem. A Windows re-install seems to be the only likelihood of success. Thus creating a Windows.old folder on the C: drive, and requiring re-install of programs and personalized system settings.

I have seen this non-boot issue on XP many times. Especially going from Intel to AMD.

a repair install, which usually resolves all other issues, fails in this case because of one file that can't be executed because the platform has changed. The file is intelppm.sys. Deleting this file will allow windows to boot for a repair install to work. I don't know if win7 has this issue.

Also a repair install should keep all apps intact when completed. Windows will need to download all the updates again and maybe the .net framework.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

You can do a windows boot on a flash drive or cd. I've used a couple of these: http://www.howtogeek.com/127377/the...eating-a-bootable-windows-or-linux-usb-drive/

 

[ArisVer]

Anyone know of such a "bootable rescue disc"?

You can create a system repair disc using Backup and Restore in Windows 7. Not sure whether it meets your requierements.