Suspected dead HDD

Paul Black said:

Hello @scopio,

Try the Linux Live USB / DVD as per my post first using Rufus.

Why not just do it the right way with Ventoy first?

scopio said:

I will try Linux Live when I have got my head round Ventoy.

Watch the video and look at the Ventoy Live CD link I posted ....... really easy.

steve108 said:

Why not just do it the right way with Ventoy first?

I only suggested doing it that way as a quick method to get up and running and retrieve the data, just in case there was a time limitation on the process.

I have used Ventoy for a VERY long time. I think I was one of the first members on this Forum to Post about it, and I would NOT be without it now.

Paul Black said:

I only suggested doing it that way as a quick method to get up and running and retrieve the data, just in case there was a time limitation on the process.

I have used Ventoy for a VERY long time. I think I was one of the first members on this Forum to Post about it, and I would NOT be without it now.

Maybe you can enlighten us by telling us how long it takes to make a Ventoy multi-boot USB with Linux Mint ISO vs using Rufus to make a one time use Linux Mint USB? I see learning to use Ventoy as long term investment.

Hello @steve108,

steve108 said:

Maybe you can enlighten us by telling us how long it takes to make a Ventoy multi-boot USB with Linux Mint ISO vs using Rufus to make a one time use Linux Mint USB?

I was thinking of the best and quickest method for the OP to retrieve the friends data without the need to learn and test Ventoy.

Now if the OP finds that it does what they want, and would like a method to have further Bootable ISO files available to them with Repair Tools, or a couple of WinPE files, then obviously Ventoy is the way to go. It just means that a little bit of learning is involved to understand how the different Partitions work, and what additional files can put on them, like personal Folders, Files, Drivers etc.

Paul Black said:

Hello @steve108,



I was thinking of the best and quickest method for the OP to retrieve the friends data without the need to learn and test Ventoy.

Now if the OP finds that it does what they want, and would like a method to have further Bootable ISO files available to them with Repair Tools, or a couple of WinPE files, then obviously Ventoy is the way to go. It just means that a little bit of learning is involved to understand how the different Partitions work, and what additional files can put on them, like personal Folders, Files, Drivers etc.

So the assumption is that they know and have already learned Rufus?

What's there to learn about Ventoy - considering I provided a video? Download Ventoy, make the Ventoy USB by running the .exe, copy the Mint ISO to the USB, boot the USB, select Mint, boot to Mint.

Am I missing something?

MaloK said:

Let's say we are entertaining the conversation...

You can trick a Rufus boot sector to load anything from the same drive in NTFS. If your requirements are Windows only you can boot any wim / VHDx from any directory you want on GPT / MBR drives. With Bootmgr at Root. Just By replacing Rufus BCD's Which are loaded in the root of the NTFS Partition... Very simple to add Any Windows or PE Solution to the same drive. Boot Ice makes it easy.

I have no idea what this even means. I've never found the need to use Rufus.