Peppermint Live CD/DVD/USB - Create for Emergency Backup

Create Live Peppermint CD/DVD/USB to Backup Data when Windows 7 Will Not Boot​

   Information

In some instances, Windows 7 installations can become non-bootable if serious corruption of the system files have taken place, for example through the action of malware. If these corruptions are extremely severe, the installation cannot be repaired and the only course of action left is often to wipe (format) the hard disk and reinstall Windows 7 from scratch. Before you do that, however, you may wish to copy any user data (photo's, music etc.) files from the faulty installation to a backup drive.

This tutorial will show you how to do this in just a few easy steps by creating a free Live PepperMint5 Linux distribution on a bootable USB flash drive or CD.

   Note

There are many free Linux distributions that can accomplish this task, but I have specifically chosen PepperMint5 because:

• it is a small, lightweight distribution

• it has a look & feel that will be familiar to Windows-only users

• it does not require any knowledge of Linux jargon (e.g. sda1, sda2)

• it is easy for novice users to understand

*** Update ***
I've decided to replace the use of the Lili USB creator originally referenced in this tutorial, with the Rufus USB creator, after some reports of problems with Lili. Special thanks to jumanji who brought this to my attention, and also suggested Rufus as an alternative.

The screen capture images are taken from PepperMint3 -- the distro available at the time of writing this tutorial -- but they are the same for later versions such as PepperMint4 or PepperMint5.

---

:note: Requirements:
In order to perform an emergency backup, you will need the following :

Hardware:-

• External USB drive (to store your backed-up data)

• 1Gb or larger USB thumb/flash drive (to hold your bootable PepperMint5 installation)

Software:-

• Rufus USB Creator (to create the PepperMint5 installation)

• 32-bit edition of PepperMint5

You will need to know how to boot the troublesome computer from either a CD/DVD or USB drive. The way you do this depends largely on the make of BIOS of your computer. If you aren't sure, just ask.

---

Step A - Creating the Live Peppermint5 USB/CD/DVD

On a working computer download Rufus and the PepperMint5 ISO from the links above. Now run Rufus by double-clicking the Rufus executable.

Replicate the settings shown in the Rufus panel below. Use the CD icon to browse to the location of the PepperMint5 ISO, and confirm that correct ISO is selected as shown at the very bottom of the panel.


Click Start, and then OK on the warning pop-up to write the ISO and make the USB flash drive bootable. Once complete, a confirmation message is displayed, as shown below.

You can now close Rufus and unplug the USB flash drive. You have now created the Live PepperMint5 Linux USB.

---

Step B - Booting from the Live Peppermint5 USB/CD/DVD

Insert the USB flash drive into a USB2 port (or insert the CD/DVD into the DVD drive) on the problem computer and boot with either device.

After a few seconds, the PepperMint5 boot screen will appear. Select Live Mode as shown below. and hit enter.

PepperMint3 will now boot to the screen shown below.

---

Step C - Copying user data to the external USB drive

Click Menu and then click File Manager as shown below.

Click on the File Manger that opens, and then type CTRL+N to open a duplicate File Manger Window and arrange them side-by-side.

Use the left-hand file manager window to browse for and locate the files you want to copy. Select your external USB drive in the right-hand side file manager window. Now simple click & drag the files you want to copy from the left-hand window to the one on the right. In the example shown below, I am copying my Music folder to the external USB drive.

When you are done copying, close the file manger windows, and then select the Logout option from the Menu button. Now select Shutdown as shown below.

That's it - your data files are now safely copied to your external USB drive.

Regards,
Golden

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Copy & Paste in Recovery Console on Windows 7 or Vista
• How to Create and Use a Linux Mint Mate USB Flash Drive to Recover your Files

 

[SarahCrazyChild]

"You will need to know how to boot the troublesome computer from either a CD/DVD or USB drive. The way you do this depends largely on the make of BIOS of your computer. If you aren't sure, just ask."

Hello, I was inquiring about the above quoted statement. I'm a complete computer novice and I am requiring assistance with my Gateway netbook that is stuck in a start up repair loop. I want to get my files off my netbook before I attept repairs. I was refered to this thread as a way of doing so. Here is a link to the thread I posted: http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-...op-netbook-windows-7-starter.html#post2154967

Besides trying to understand the requirements mentioned in the quoted statement, I want to double-check to make sure that this method will help me remove or copy my files for safe keeping while I repair my netbook.

Thank you.

 

[Dave76]

If you fill in your System Specs it would be easier for us to help you.

Q: How do I access the Boot menu options on my portable computer?

A: In order to access the boot options on this portable computer, press the ESC or F10 key while the Gateway screen is displayed during the startup process. This opens a Boot menu with the option to start the computer to any of the available drives or to enter the BIOS Setup Utility. Use the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys to select a menu option, and then press the ENTER key to start to the selected device.

To "boot" (start) to a CD, DVD, or a floppy disk, the media must be in the drive when starting the computer.

This also includes a USB memory stick.

 

[SarahCrazyChild]

I can give you any information regarding the specs that you might need. That's a little vague for a novice like me. Just let me know what you need and I will get back to you. Thank you so much.

 

[SarahCrazyChild]

This also includes a USB memory stick.

I will be using an external harddrive, is that fine?

 

[Golden]

This also includes a USB memory stick.

I will be using an external harddrive, is that fine?

Thats fine, but don't forget the entire drive will be formatted - if it has data you want to keep, then move it elsewhere.

Read this to gather your system specifications:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

 

[SarahCrazyChild]

I'll have to take a closer look at that later. I'm swamped with Thanksgiving coming up, trying to make getting my computer up and running a top priority. I don't know if this helps, but here is my exact comuter model: Gateway offers its LT4004U netbook with Cedar Trail processor | laptoport

I don't know if you can gather anything from that. Thanks for the patience, guys.

 

[Golden]

Sarah - I posted a reply in your original thread here

 

[ZKhan]

I have a question, um when i plug the usb with peppermint on my broken laptop, it shows /home/peppermint and i cant find my files, how would i do that, because everything on there is empty

 

[Golden]

Hi,

So you are able to boot into PepperMint3, and open the File Manager as shown in Step C?

Regards,
Golden

 

[ZKhan]

Hey, and yeah i can do everything shown in step C, but none of my files are there, it just says /home/peppermint, and has folders for downloads, music, etc. Unlike yours that said /home/colin with your stuff.

 

[Golden]

Hi,

OK - that's because you are viewing the files on the USB you booted from. Click on the Places tab in the File Manager and see what other devices/disks are listed.

Regards,
Golden

 

[ZKhan]

Awesome, thanks for the help, greatly appreciated, thanks Golden

 

[Golden]

No problem - just post back if you need more help.

 

[ZKhan]

Um when ever i open my folders, like music it says input/output error, and i got my documents' folder, all my subfolders are there but nothing is inside them

 

[Golden]

Mmm. That doesn't sound good - what size are the folders? How much information was contained within them?

 

[ZKhan]

Well my documents and pictures folders were like a couple of gigs, and my music and video folders were like 100 gigs or more.

 

[Golden]

What size are the folders now? Did you have problems with your original Windows 7 installation? What happened?

 

[ZKhan]

Well the main problem is that when i start my laptop it goes to the starting windows screen, doesn't go pass that, then just always goes to startup repair, which never fixes anything. I tried a solution found on these forums but didnt work, so i was trying to take my files out but it gave the I/O error, which I also got when trying to fix my laptop. The size of the folders i am not sure, because when ever i open any of them it says I/O error. As well all my folders are empty. I was going to re install windows 7, but i stopped because it showed my hard drive stilled had my files, so i stopped, to try and get my files.

 

[Golden]

Hi,

It sounds to me as if you aren't browsing to the correct device using the File Manager. Have a look at the devices available, and then list them here for me please?

Refer to the attached image : in my case I want to browse the Windows 7 device, you should see something similar. Use the Accessories > Screenshot menu to take a screencapture image and post it here so we can have a look at what you are seeing.



Regards,
Golden

 

[RickyTee]

Got a question.

Okay, so let's say I didn't wanna spend money on an external hard drive, but I had a usb cable that could connect my laptop to my computer. Would I be able to transfer it onto my computer?

My laptop is the problem and I'm having the same problem as ZKhan with the infinite startup repair loop..