Favorate bootable usb like SARDU and tools you include

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TheITVan

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Hi all,
My go to bootable usb, is SARDU.
Added in SARDU is HIRENS boot cd that i customised, windows iso, kron boot,
windows password changer, several antivirus tools ect.

Busy incorporating D7.

What is your favourite bootable usb and what tools do you include?
 
I use SARDU with a whole lotta stuff...but mostly use:
-UBCD(mostly for HDD diags, memtest, etc)
-Parted Magic (use every day pretty much)
-Offline NT Password Reset
-BitDefender Rescue
-Hitman Pro Kickstart
WSUS Offline and a driver(lots of common ones accrued over years) directories on it too
I have two identical sticks with this stuff for bench work

I have seperate USB sticks with Vista, Win7, Win8, and Win8.1 (all AIO)

Then lastly two Kanguru Blu write-protected sticks for virus removals (has all my utilities, AV package to sell, etc)

Then there is a Mac HDD to boot off of, and a couple USB sticks with OSX installs (one bootable Lion), and utilities I use
 
This is very similar to mine but yours is more comprehensive.
Very impressive!
I will be stealing some ideas.
Do you compile you AIO yourself?

SpaceSquad said:
I use SARDU with a whole lotta stuff...but mostly use:
-UBCD(mostly for HDD diags, memtest, etc)
-Parted Magic (use every day pretty much)
-Offline NT Password Reset
-BitDefender Rescue
-Hitman Pro Kickstart
WSUS Offline and a driver(lots of common ones accrued over years) directories on it too
I have two identical sticks with this stuff for bench work

I have seperate USB sticks with Vista, Win7, Win8, and Win8.1 (all AIO)

Then lastly two Kanguru Blu write-protected sticks for virus removals (has all my utilities, AV package to sell, etc)

Then there is a Mac HDD to boot off of, and a couple USB sticks with OSX installs (one bootable Lion), and utilities I use
Click to expand...
 
I don't use SARDU. I have a zalman ZM-VE300 and 256gb SSD filled with ISOs I can boot from.

Everything from Anti-Virus rescue disks, install disks for every flavour of Windows and Server and password, cloning and partition tools. I also have driver packs and driverpack solution on there as well as some WinPE disks I've created for FABs, D7 and forensic purposes.

When I started out 9 years ago I used to carry lots of CDs/DVDs but this has replaced the lot!
 
Nice!

How do you make the drives bootable so that you can select differant boot option or windows installs?
 
The zalman works as a virtual ODD (optical disk drive).

You put iso images in an _iso folder, select the one on the LCD screen you want to boot from and change the boot order/BIOS to boot from the virtual ODD.

You can put ISOs in folders and have lots to choose from. Using a SSD drive boosts the performance especially when doing OS installs.
 
markverhyden said:
Here's a nice review of the product.

http://systembash.com/content/zalman-zm-ve200-review-you-need-this-external-hard-drive-enclosure/
Click to expand...

I've had a Zalman ZM-VE300 for a couple of years and it has never worked right for me from the start. Maybe one boot out of fifteen I can actually get the pc to boot from it. I've read several tutorials, followed the steps to the letter, and now it mostly collects dust on a shelf. Probably a PEBCAC error, I'm sure. :o

As far as boot discs, I seem to keep it very simple. I've used UBCD for years and don't feel the need for much else. I have used SARDU/others, but seem to always grab for the UBCD. :cool:
 
Last edited:
Never had a problem with mine on newer systems, but sometimes older XP systems would not work. Used a ZM-VE200 on these with a Y cable for data and power
 
I've been using a Zalman also for many years. Some of the older PCs wouldn't recognize it, but most modern PCs will boot from it just fine. Most times, I don't modify BIOS either, just hit the "Select Boot Drive" key and go from there.

Usability hint: A while back, I realized that I could use folders within the _ISO folder to make it easier to manage and locate the desired ISO.
Today, my _ISO folder has these folders:
  • ACRONIS - the boot CDs for each version of Acronis, plus the boot CD for Disk Director
  • DART - the ERDxx ISOs
  • LIVE CDs - A large variety of "rescue-type" CDs, such as Avast, AVG, Hiren's, UBCD4Win, Ultimate Boot, Win7PE, Win8PE, Windows Defender Offline, etc
  • VISTA - the SP2 universal install and repair CDs for both x64 & x86
  • WINDOWS 7 - the SP1 universal install and repair CDs for both x64 & x86
  • WINDOWS 8 - Win 8.1 install CDs for both x64 & x86
  • WINDOWS 10 - The tech preview install CDs for both x64 & x86
  • WINDOWS XP - Various SP3 install CDs for Home/Pro/MCE
The remainder of the HD in the Zalman contains all my other normal non-standalone tools for malware removal, etc.

p.s. It's a 320GB HD in the Zalman and is currently about 50% full.
 
Also have the Zalman, it does have some issues with particular computers, but the vast majority of them work fine. I think if it weren't USB3 it would work better.

All my USB drives have bootable isos, made with YUMI Multiboot. I like it because you can change the background graphic really easily.
 
Last edited:
-- Distribution

This Software is free for personal use,
SARDU use license Creative Commons with
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/legalcode,
however remains the property of the Author.

This Software can only be distributed or reproduced
in the original form and should not be modified in any way.

You may use, distribute or reproduce the Software freely for
personal and non-commercial uses only.




Regards,
 
I think most of the Zalman problems are cured by getting a USB Y cord so that you can grab extra power from a second USB port. The single cord can't supply enough current... 500mA from USB 2 or 800mA from USB 3 is not enough to power most conventional laptop drives. The alternative is to use an SSD. A conventional drive pulls about 1 amp, but an SSD only pulls about 0.1 amp.
I also had problems from a VE300, after upgrading from a VE200, but my current VE400 is very reliable.
 
Last edited:
TimM said:
I think most of the Zalman problems are cured by getting USB Y cord so that you can grab extra power from a second USB port.
Click to expand...

I agree. The Y cable solves a lot of the problems and as mentioned I use a SSD drive. I also found that going through the menu to USB Connect, then Safe Removal makes connecting next time better...
 
I have had two zalman devices in the past. Both of them broke where the USB cable connects to the board. Never again for that price... I still prefer the Flash drive method... Sardu and a 128GB USB 3 flash drive. I also use a 64GB Kingston USB 3 Data Traveler with Windows 8.1 to go installed on it... It allows me to boot to what is equivalent to my own PC on any machine.
 
TimM said:
I think most of the Zalman problems are cured by getting a USB Y cord so that you can grab extra power from a second USB port. The single cord can't supply enough current... 500mA from USB 2 or 800mA from USB 3 is not enough to power most conventional laptop drives. The alternative is to use an SSD. A conventional drive pulls about 1 amp, but an SSD only pulls about 0.1 amp.
I also had problems from a VE300, after upgrading from a VE200, but my current VE400 is very reliable.
Click to expand...

Maybe thats why I've not had as many problems with my VE300 as others seem to have, since I have a 60gb ssd in it.

Also, I've heard terrible things about the VE400, the touchpad is supposedly of awful quality. Yours has been ok though?
 
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