Distro for debugging PCs?

[ARhere]

Hey engineers!

What Linux distro is great for debugging and repairing PC's, regardless of OS.

For example, I use Puppy Linux to boot a PC and back up files before reloading/fixing it. Is there something else that allows me to make disk images, virus scans, disk recovery, etc...

-AR

[LaRoza]

Hey engineers!

What Linux distro is great for debugging and repairing PC's, regardless of OS.

For example, I use Puppy Linux to boot a PC and back up files before reloading/fixing it. Is there something else that allows me to make disk images, virus scans, disk recovery, etc...

"debugging" is the process of fixing problems in programs (software).

For a good utility, Clonezilla is great (see the link in my sig). You can get clonezilla and gparted on a single disk as well. GParted comes with testdisk, a great program for recovering partitions and fixing format problems. For virus scans you'd have to use something like Helix or another distro with anti-virus on it. There was a thread in this forum on such AV distros.

[volkswagner]

Hey engineers!

What Linux distro is great for debugging and repairing PC's, regardless of OS.

For example, I use Puppy Linux to boot a PC and back up files before reloading/fixing it. Is there something else that allows me to make disk images, virus scans, disk recovery, etc...

-AR

PING will allow you to make backup image's.
http://ping.windowsdream.com/

Most any pc I had a problems with would boot into slax 5.

Have you seen this list. It seems the votes have not changed much. I like how they are listed by size, function and votes.

http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php

I have not used "Ultimate Boot CD" yet but it has all of what your are looking for. I have burned it, but not yet played with it. It is the highest rated on the above list for utility CD's.

[zmjjmz]

I believe you're looking for a rescue and recover distro.
Such can be found on Distrowatch.

[tamoneya]

I personally prefer backtrack. It has almost any tool I ever need for any sort of debugging. What exactly do you mean by debugging? What exactly are you trying to accomplish. There may be something more specialized.

http://www.remote-exploit.org/backtrack.html

[lisati]

"debugging" is the process of fixing problems in programs (software).

BTW I heard many years ago the word "debugging" has its origins in the need to remove a moth from a computer several decades ago.... wiki @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debugging

[ChameleonDave]

I always use Puppy for fixing problems (reinstalling GRUB, running fsck...).

[tamoneya]

BTW I heard many years ago the word "debugging" has its origins in the need to remove a moth from a computer several decades ago.... wiki @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debugging

Although the term is typically used in reference to software and code I would say it is perfectly legit to apply the term debugging to something other than software. If something was wrong with my harddrive not mounting I would think it is fine to say I am debugging my harddrive since it could be some change at the OS level or it could be a harddrive failure.

[lisati]

Although the term is typically used in reference to software and code I would say it is perfectly legit to apply the term debugging to something other than software. If something was wrong with my harddrive not mounting I would think it is fine to say I am debugging my harddrive since it could be some change at the OS level or it could be a harddrive failure.

I agree, especially in the light of the possibly apocryphal tale I was taught about physical intrusion of a moth into the works of a system that caused a malfunction. I've seen a photo of the alleged insect intruder.

[ARhere]

"debugging" is the process of fixing problems in programs (software).

I see nothing wrong with using the term to represent fixing problems with hardware, as the original term "bug in the system" was literally due to a bug screwing up hardware, thus a "hardware" problem.

Check this out

-AR