Get Started

Knoppix file recovery

Knoppix is a complete Linux operating system—available free of charge—that many people use to recover files.
Cartoon of a woman upset becuase her computer crashed.

When all seems lost, Knoppix comes swiftly to the rescue.

Knoppix operating system has an intuitive interface and can be used to recover files from computers. If you can’t log onto or boot your computer, you’ve come to the right place. Don’t panic. There is no need to remove your hard drive or search in vain for that long-lost recovery disk. Knoppix provides a free, fuss-proof, and noninvasive way to recover files from your computer.

Knoppix fits onto a 700 MB CD and can be downloaded online. (A Knoppix DVD can also be used to recover data, but the CD version is preferable because it is a smaller file.) Knoppix is excellent for recovering files because it runs off of a CD, so it doesn’t need to be installed. Transferring important files off of your sick computer is a cinch: you simply boot the Knoppix CD and use the clickable interface to find and move the files onto a USB.

Note: In our example, we access the hard drive of a computer that originally ran Windows. As a result, the info contained here is geared towards Windows users. However, Knoppix can retrieve files from any computer regardless of the operating system it originally ran. Although some procedures may vary, the process is largely the same for both PCs and Macs of any model.

Image Source: http://comicsalternative.com/2014/02/15/delay-in-latest-podcast/

System requirements

Before continuing, confirm that your computer meets all the system requirements.
  • an Intel/AMD-compatible CPU (i486 and up)
  • at least 120 MB of RAM for the graphical desktop
  • a bootable CD-ROM/DVD drive
  • a standard SVGA-compatible graphics chipset
  • a PS/2 or USB Mouse

Required tools

You need a few items in order to rescue your files.
  • the instructions on this website
  • a USB flash drive with ample space for your files [Note: A blank flash drive is best. If your USB currently has files on it, transfer them. If you leave them on your USB, they could become corrupted.]
  • a Knoppix CD [Note: You can buy or burn a CD.]

Optional tools

Optional: If you plan to burn your own Knoppix CD, you will need a few additional items.
  • a blank CD-R (700 MB or more)
  • a working computer with Internet access and a CD drive. [Note: If you don’t have a second computer, consider using a friend’s computer or a work computer to download and burn the file.]
  • an ISO Burner [Note: For more information, see the Built-in ISO burner programs topic or the Download and install ImgBurn topic.]

Built-in ISO burner programs

You can easily find out if your computer has an ISO burner already installed.

Unfortunately not all versions of Windows are equipped with a program that burns ISO files. The chart below can help you determine if you have software on your computer that can burn ISO files.

OS Version Included Use This Program*
Mac All ✓ Disc Utility
Windows 7 & 8 ✓ Disc Image Burner
Windows All the Rest ✗ ImgBurn
*or use any other program, such as Nero, that can burn ISO files

Download and install ImgBurn

If your computer does not have a built-in ISO burner, you can download and install a free ISO burner, such as ImgBurn.

This video will show you how to download and install ImgBurn on a Mac. [Note: ImgBurn will work on Macs if Wine is installed.]

 

 

Leave a comment