Ultimate Boot CD for Windows

UBCD4Win is a bootable recovery CD that contains software used for repairing, restoring, or diagnosing computer problems.

UBCD4Win is based on Bart's PE. Bart's PE builds a Windows "pre-installed" environment on a CD or DVD, and is basically a simple Windows XP booted from CD. UBCD4Win includes network support and allows you the ability to modify NTFS volumes, recover deleted files, edit passwords, create new NTFS volumes, scan hard drives for viruses, malware and the like.

A user can create their own using Bart's PE builder and their original Windows XP setup CD or can get a copy from LSNet for free.

Using UBCD4Win

The desktop or laptop must be configured to boot from the CD/DVD drive before the hard disk. Many machines give a choice on bootup, that if you press a certain key, you may pick which device to boot from. UBCD4Win does not use the system files on the machine and therefore, will run the machine even if it cannot run its own copy of windows. The UBCD4Win is based on XP, but will also run on a Vista or Windows 7 machine.

Several programs that we find very handy on the CD include: Avira's Antivir, Spybot Search & Destroy, Hijackthis, Registry Editor and Password Recovery.

The UBCD4Win gives you a desktop that looks familiar and has icons for some of the programs that are most used. The others can be accessed by clicking the “Start” button and chosen from there.

This is a great way to get a machine back even if the viral infection has gotten to the point that the machine will not run. This can save you the cost of a reload and losing your files and pictures if you have not run a backup.

Creating A UBCD4Win

Download a copy of UBCD4WinV350.exe from http://www.ubcd4win.com/downloads.htm.

Create a folder on your C: drive and copy the ENTIRE Windows XP setup disk to it.

Run the UBCD4WinV350.exe and point it to the XP folder.

This will now build an iso image that can be burned to a CD/DVD.

We prefer to use “ImageBurn” but Roxio or Nero work also.

The root source program is updated once a year and it is something you want to do periodically to keep the programs current.