[gentoo-user] Re: Kaspersky Rescue Disk

[gentoo-user] Re: Kaspersky Rescue Disk

[Michael Sondow]

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Hi, Mick. Thanks for replying.

You wrote:

> Check and remove the updates file that KRD creates on your WinXP filesystem.
> After the scan is completed this is no longer needed and takes up space.

The KRD added a \Kaspersky Rescue Disk\ directory to C: on my hard drive that contains 58 subdirectories with 188Mb in over 100 different files. Can I delete the entire Kaspersky Rescue Disk directory after doingh a scan and rebooting into Windows?? If not, which subdirectories or files should I delete?

> Yes, you can add any applications you see fit, but the LiveCD/USB image will
> grow as a result.

There'd be no problem there, since I have around 3.5Gb free space on the flash drive. However, I've noticed that KRD doesn't save anything. None of my bookmarks or configuration changes remain when I re-boot into the KRD flash drive. Also, the /portage/ folders are empty and the <emerge> command is missing in BASH, and I believe these are necessary for adding applications (?).

The only things I've been able to save are text and htm files, because KRD puts them into folders outside the ISO and op sys folders.

Also, I saw a scrolling line during the KRD flash drive boot that says something like "liveusb is read-only". Maybe it's set up so that you can't change or add anything?

Any ideas on how I go about adding to the ISO, or to the op sys? For example, can I somehow change the "read only" status to rw? And would I have to change any of the boot files, like grub.exe, ldlinux.sys, and syslinux.cfg?

What do you think about the idea of re-formatting the flash drive and re-installing the Kaspersky rescueusb.iso using UNetbootin or another of the live USB installation programs that allow you to add persistence? Would that be a solution? Would KRD still function if I did that?

> . . . but if you want to install it permanently on the hard disk, you would be
> better off doing a proper installation by following the Gentoo Guide.

I think I'd rather keep WindowsXP on the hard drive and run a Linux distro like Gentoo from a USB flash drive. That has the advantage of keeping me operational if my hard drive becomes infected or otherwise unoperational. (Every one of my previous laptops has gone kaput because of hard drive failures.)

Maybe I'm just making trouble for myself. Since these 4Gb flash drives are now so cheap, perhaps the best thing to do is leave KRD the way it is and use another flash drive for a fully-functioning Linux distro. It seems a shame, though, not putting Gentoo on the KRD to better use.

Thanks for the URL. Trouble is, it's for building a live disk with Linux, and I've only got Windows on my hard drive.

Anyway, I hope you can help with the queries above.

Cheers!

Mike

P.S. I cc'd your email address because I'm reading the list from gmane, can't reply directly to posts, and wasn't sure my email to the list address would get into the same thread.






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[gentoo-user] Re: Kaspersky Rescue Disk

[Mick]

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On Tuesday 12 Feb 2013 19:01:19 Michael Sondow wrote:
> Hi, Mick. Thanks for replying.
> 
> You wrote:
> > Check and remove the updates file that KRD creates on your WinXP
> > filesystem. After the scan is completed this is no longer needed and
> > takes up space.
> 
> The KRD added a \Kaspersky Rescue Disk\ directory to C: on my hard drive
> that contains 58 subdirectories with 188Mb in over 100 different files.
> Can I delete the entire Kaspersky Rescue Disk directory after doingh a
> scan and rebooting into Windows?? If not, which subdirectories or files
> should I delete?

Once you finish with scanning the WinXP for viruses then then definitions are 
no longer needed.  If you scan it again in the future using KRD, then these 
will be downloaded afresh.


> > Yes, you can add any applications you see fit, but the LiveCD/USB image
> > will grow as a result.
> 
> There'd be no problem there, since I have around 3.5Gb free space on the
> flash drive. However, I've noticed that KRD doesn't save anything. None of
> my bookmarks or configuration changes remain when I re-boot into the KRD
> flash drive. Also, the /portage/ folders are empty and the <emerge>
> command is missing in BASH, and I believe these are necessary for adding
> applications (?).

The KRD image was created for a particular purpose.  It is not meant to be a 
permanent Linux installation with the ability to update itself and any 
applications it may include.


> The only things I've been able to save are text and htm files, because KRD
> puts them into folders outside the ISO and op sys folders.

That's as intended by its creators.


> Also, I saw a scrolling line during the KRD flash drive boot that says
> something like "liveusb is read-only". Maybe it's set up so that you can't
> change or add anything?

Yes, this is correct.  A live CD/USB ISO image is of course read only.


> Any ideas on how I go about adding to the ISO, or to the op sys? For
> example, can I somehow change the "read only" status to rw? And would I
> have to change any of the boot files, like grub.exe, ldlinux.sys, and
> syslinux.cfg?

You can't change the ISO as is.  You have to follow the many examples in 
Google for unpacking it, making your changes and then re-packaging a new ISO 
image which includes your changes.


> What do you think about the idea of re-formatting the flash drive and
> re-installing the Kaspersky rescueusb.iso using UNetbootin or another of
> the live USB installation programs that allow you to add persistence?
> Would that be a solution? Would KRD still function if I did that?

From what I know there are problems trying to use a design intended to be used 
as a LiveCD/USB in place of a permanent installation.  The two are not the 
same in design or execution.


> > . . . but if you want to install it permanently on the hard disk, you
> > would be better off doing a proper installation by following the Gentoo
> > Guide.
> 
> I think I'd rather keep WindowsXP on the hard drive and run a Linux distro
> like Gentoo from a USB flash drive. That has the advantage of keeping me
> operational if my hard drive becomes infected or otherwise unoperational.
> (Every one of my previous laptops has gone kaput because of hard drive
> failures.)

That's why there are a myriad tools to run back ups of your critical data.
 

> Maybe I'm just making trouble for myself. Since these 4Gb flash drives are
> now so cheap, perhaps the best thing to do is leave KRD the way it is and
> use another flash drive for a fully-functioning Linux distro. It seems a
> shame, though, not putting Gentoo on the KRD to better use.

Running an OS from a USB is going to be slow.  Even on a fast USB (unless 
we're talking about USB3 which is faster).  I suggest you consider defragging 
WinXP, shrinking its partition and creating new partitions to install Linux 
on.


> Thanks for the URL. Trouble is, it's for building a live disk with Linux,
> and I've only got Windows on my hard drive.

There is the alternative of installing VirtualBox on your WinXP and then 
installing Linux in that.  In this way you do not need to re-partition your 
hard drive and you can always save the VM image to a USB for backup purposes.

PS.  Have a look in the Knoppix forums and FAQs which explain with a LiveCD is 
not designed to be used as a permanent installation.

-- 
Regards,
Mick

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Kaspersky Rescue Disk

[Alecks Gates]

On Tue, Feb 12, 2013 at 2:19 PM, Mick <michaelkintzios@gmail.com> wrote:
[...]
>> > Yes, you can add any applications you see fit, but the LiveCD/USB image
>> > will grow as a result.
>>
>> There'd be no problem there, since I have around 3.5Gb free space on the
>> flash drive. However, I've noticed that KRD doesn't save anything. None of
>> my bookmarks or configuration changes remain when I re-boot into the KRD
>> flash drive. Also, the /portage/ folders are empty and the <emerge>
>> command is missing in BASH, and I believe these are necessary for adding
>> applications (?).
>
> The KRD image was created for a particular purpose.  It is not meant to be a
> permanent Linux installation with the ability to update itself and any
> applications it may include.
>
>
>> The only things I've been able to save are text and htm files, because KRD
>> puts them into folders outside the ISO and op sys folders.
>
> That's as intended by its creators.
>
>
>> Also, I saw a scrolling line during the KRD flash drive boot that says
>> something like "liveusb is read-only". Maybe it's set up so that you can't
>> change or add anything?
>
> Yes, this is correct.  A live CD/USB ISO image is of course read only.
>
>
>> Any ideas on how I go about adding to the ISO, or to the op sys? For
>> example, can I somehow change the "read only" status to rw? And would I
>> have to change any of the boot files, like grub.exe, ldlinux.sys, and
>> syslinux.cfg?
>
> You can't change the ISO as is.  You have to follow the many examples in
> Google for unpacking it, making your changes and then re-packaging a new ISO
> image which includes your changes.
>
>
>> What do you think about the idea of re-formatting the flash drive and
>> re-installing the Kaspersky rescueusb.iso using UNetbootin or another of
>> the live USB installation programs that allow you to add persistence?
>> Would that be a solution? Would KRD still function if I did that?
>
> From what I know there are problems trying to use a design intended to be used
> as a LiveCD/USB in place of a permanent installation.  The two are not the
> same in design or execution.
[...]
I believe there is a way to setup persistent storage.  I've never done
it personally, but I think tools such as unetbootin or
Pendrivelinux[1] offer it.  It wont work on your standard CD, of
course.

[1] http://www.pendrivelinux.com/

--
Alecks

[gentoo-user] Re: Kaspersky Rescue Disk

[Michael Sondow]

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Hi, Mick. Thanks for all the suggestions and information. I will research them all.

I'd still like to keep away from putting a Linux op sys on a hard drive partition. The hard drives in these netbooks and laptops are their weak link. The HDD on my Asus 1000HA has lasted for seven years with heavy use and probably hasn't got much more life on it.

I've got all my important data double-backed-up (on a flash drive and online), so that's okay. But if and when I lose the HDD I want to still be able to use the computer, via an outboard Linux op sys. The Asus 1000HA is really a sweet little machine. I don't like any of the newer models anywhere near as much.

I see what you mean about ISOs not being writeable. That makes a real problem with live bootable USB flash drives. Actually, I haven't tried creating a file in any of the user directories accesible from the terminal, so I don't know for sure I can't. Kaspersky saves some config data, so there may be a way. Rewriting the ISO sounds like more than I can chew.

Is there a way to do a full Linux installation on a flash drive, rather than just the ISO image? That might be worth a try with one of the smaller Linux versions, no?

Anyway, thanks very much for all your good advice.

Cheers!

Mike



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