DSL on a bootable USB keydrive for antivirus and..

Forum: DSL Ideas and Suggestions
Topic: DSL on a bootable USB keydrive for antivirus and..
started by: BlackJack1313

Posted by BlackJack1313 on Jan. 05 2005,23:58

Okay, I'm a total Linux n00b, who's too damn used to WinBlows, and wants to eventually migrate to using Linux tools. I've had some experience in installing and using Linux (mostly Mandrake), but a friend of mine burned me a copy of DSL, and I liked what I saw. Now, one of my "jobs" is to rescue my Windows-using friends from their own ignorance, and clean up their machines, and install antivirus tools.

So, that said, here's what I'd like:

DSL on a bootable USB drive (I've got a 64meg Dell keydrive, and a 128meg Lexar keydrive), with some antivirus/antispyware scanner that can scan NTFS and FAT32 partitions, so I can boot the machine to DSL and clean up the Windows partitions. Also, would love to install some simple disk tools--defrag, fdisk, and/or partitioning tools on the keydrive as well, tho that's not absolute.

Alsoalso, would it be possible to put DSL on a rewritable 3" CDRW, so it can be updated regularly with antivirus/antispyware definitions?

okay, [/n00biness], flame on!

Posted by mikshaw on Jan. 06 2005,03:40

That would be great. Unfortunately NTFS write support is unstable at best in *any* linux distribution, so repairing a WinNT/2000/XP system might be quite difficult.

You can put DSL on a rewritable, but I'm not sure about 'updating'. (i think)Rewriteable CDs don't overwrite selective data but just append, so I don't know if you can make your antivirus software use the appended data. I think your keydrive is a better solution.

Posted by AwPhuch on Jan. 06 2005,03:41

Your request has already been filled, however its a bootable cd, not a USB pendrive

< http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ >

Brian
AwPhuch

Posted by BlackJack1313 on Jan. 06 2005,17:55

Quote (mikshaw @ Jan. 05 2005,22:40)

I tend to agree, the pendrive would be a better solution, for any number of reasons. Maybe set it up so I can either boot the pendrive, or to a floppy/CD if necessary, then access the pendrive.

As for NTFS support: I've not had any problems with Mandrake reading or writing NTFS or FAT32, either as a dual-boot OS or using it as a recovery tool. Maybe I was lucky, but if so that would explain why I never win the lottery.

Thanks for the reply.. I appreciate the help.

Posted by BlackJack1313 on Jan. 06 2005,17:59

Quote (AwPhuch @ Jan. 05 2005,22:41)

Your request has already been filled, however its a bootable cd, not a USB pendrive

< http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ >

Brian
AwPhuch

Still doesn't fill what I would like to do, which is use a bootable keydrive to do this; this way, I can update the antivirus/spyware tools (and any others, matter of fact) without having to burn a whole 'nother CD.

Posted by cbagger01 on Jan. 07 2005,05:29

My guess is that this would be a great idea for the ultimate boot cd folks to try out.

Maybe they would call it something like ultimatebootusb?

You should contact them and suggest that they convert their cd over to a bootable USB version.

Posted by AwPhuch on Jan. 07 2005,16:30

Quote (cbagger01 @ Jan. 07 2005,00:29)

Very good idea, im sure if they get flooded by bootable usb requests they might look into it

Emailing now

Brian
AwPhuch

Posted by BlackJack1313 on Jan. 07 2005,19:39

Quote (cbagger01 @ Jan. 07 2005,00:29)

Yeah, that would be great, *IF* they can use DSL -and- keep it within 64MB.

Posted by Mechcozmo on Jan. 09 2005,07:50

Writing an email with my idea as I type...