USB/LIVE CD - DLC BOOT and HD Cloning

I am taking note on blog this product that has several integrated features.

DLC Boot permit to create LIVE USB with several tools installed.

Be aware that some Antivirus Detection might occur so be aware, security side, to double check..

You can have a look to youtube video that explain on how to create USB Key and how to simulate its usage.

This are major features:

- Integrated Mini Windows 10 32Bit & 64Bit and similar to Mini Windows XP in Hiren's version BootCD

- Integrated Mini Windows 11 64Bit and similar to Mini Windows XP in Hiren's version BootCD

- Integrated Mini Windows XP extracted from Hiren's BootCD 15.2 and has been built and re-optimized.

Considering SSD/HD cloning necessity here they are steps necessary to reach this goal:

1. Create bootable USB previously indicated.
2. Extract HDD/SSD from old pc/laptop.
3. Connect HDD/SSD to your pc/laptop.
4. Boot from usb and launch Aomei Backupper
5. Select Clone.
6. Select correct Source.
7. Select correct Destination.
8. Check windows activities.

[original articles]

https://www.fcportables.com/dlc-boot/

Server - USB Anywhere

Today I would like to focalize on USB Anywhere devices that permit to connect USB devices over the network in virtualized environments such as Vmware.


This solution is ideal for connecting USB devices over the network in virtualized environments such as VMware.

• AnywhereUSB 24 Plus is rack mountable with two power supplies and Ethernet connections for failover redundancy (2x Ethernet and 2 x SFP+).
• Access and monitor USB and serial devices over TCP/IP connection.
• Supports multi-host connectivity for each USB port or group independently.
• USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type A.
• Charging ability.
• Connection encrypted with TLS 1.2.

Videos and documentations are here located:

https://www.digi.com/products/networking/usb-connectivity/usb-over-ip/anywhereusb#resources

 

Here it is datasheet:

https://www.digi.com/pdf/anywhereusb-plus-ds

 

Here they are some screenshots:

Original link:

https://www.digi.com/products/networking/usb-connectivity/usb-over-ip/anywhereusb

CD Live - Ghost Alternatives - REDO Backup

During this days I was looking for a Clonezilla alternative to clone PC/Server.

If you are interested here they are relative blog articles:

http://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2012/05/tutorial-creare-immagini-di-pc-con.html

http://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2013/05/live-cd-creare-un-usb-autoavviante-per.html

Anyway I found REDO Backup CD Live that give you ability to easily clone PC/Server.

Here it is download link:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/redobackup/

Here it is procedure to make Backup Clone and Restore:

1. Download REDO Backup.
2. Download UNETBootin to burn iso to USB drive/key.
3. Boot pc to clone with precedent USB key all together connect External HardDrive for Image.
4. Select option Backup or Restore to create or restore image

[update 2020.06.04]

Here it is a specific tutorial:

https://www.ubackup.com/it/windows-10/redo-backup-windows-10.html

USB - Usb deview Tool

It might happen that an USB device is no longer recognized and driver reinstall procedure end with error.

There is an interesting tool, in my experience, that permit you to clean any driver reference  and permitting you to start a clean driver installation.

Tool name is USBDeview provided by Nirsoft

https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html

Other tool features are:

• All USB devices that are and was connected/used on your device are show with full  devices information.
• USB devices uninstallation, disconnection and driver cleanup (both used and old connected devices as well)

Here they are two blog articles that mentioned USBDeview.

Tips - Problema Windows 7 64 Bit vs HUAWEI E172

https://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2013/05/tips-problema-windows-7-64-bit-vs.html

Manutenzione - Programmi utili da Hiren's Boot CD

https://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2013/01/manutenzione-programmi-utili-da-hirens.html

USB - how to create LIVE installation USB with Vmware 6.5

If you need to create an USB installation key with Vmware 6.5 you simple need to have:

Vmware 6.5 ISO download 

Netbootin ISO to USB tool download

Once you have download .iso you need to put Netbootin link to usb as following image and proceed with USB creation.



about USB and CD tools you can review these blogs sections:

http://www.alessandromazzanti.com/search/label/CD%20Live

http://www.alessandromazzanti.com/search/label/USB

Hacker - Reset Windows local user password free tool.

About O.S. local user password recovery/reset I usually utilize Pc Login 2.0 that is free and work fine as Live CD/DVD/USB drive

Pc Login Download:

http://www.download3k.com/Install-PCLoginNow-2.0.5.html

You can review blog USB live section to learn about how to create USB 

http://www.alessandromazzanti.com/search/label/CD%20Live

http://www.alessandromazzanti.com/search/label/USB

Microsoft - Free download link Windows 8.1 ISO and USB/DVD creation procedure

Microsoft published an official free program through which to download  Windows 8.1 ISO.

You need download Windows Installation Media Creation Tool 

http://windows.microsoft.com/it-it/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

Download link:

https://turbolab.it/scarica/32

Take attention, you can download ISO only if you have a valid serial.

If later you would like to create Live USB you can utilize this utility:

Rufus 

https://turbolab.it/scarica/19

[original article https://turbolab.it/windows-10/scaricare-windows-8.1-dvd-iso-italiano-download-diretto-ufficiale-626]

USB - Some free encrypting tools

I found this interesting article that suggest some free USB encrypting tools.

Here is relative article:

http://listoffreeware.com/list-of-best-free-usb-encryption-software/

Backup - Some Ghost free softwares

In precedent article I suggested some live CD/USB to create HD clone/ghost:

CD Live - Ghost Alternative - REDO Backup

http://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2011/10/cd-live-clonezilla-live.html 

An alternative it would be to utilize following softwares:

Download Macrium Reflect Free Information

Download Seagate DiscWizard

Download Acronis True Image WD Edition

They must be installed when pc/server is on.

You will start ghost procedure and backup it to any other location.

to restore image you will need to create an USB/CD live about this purpose.

At the following link you can find an easy tutorial:

https://www.raymond.cc/blog/how-to-create-full-windows-backup-by-imaging-without-using-norton-ghost/

USB - FREE super-strong 256-bit encryption PORTABLE software for any hard drive or USB Flash memory stick

During these days I was looking to a Truecrypt alternative (end of support) so I found a freeware software that you can copy on your USB and permit to decrypt your usb.

Download:

http://www.portableapps4u.com/download/safehouseexplorer_3.01.zip

Vendor:

http://www.safehousesoftware.com/

Here you can find more technical details.

SafeHouse Explorer – 3.01 Portable

SafeHouse Explorer is FREE super-strong 256-bit encryption software for any hard drive or USB Flash memory stick. Total privacy with a familiar Windows Explorer-like interface. SafeHouse Explorer makes your secret files invisible and hides them from snoopers, intruders and anyone else who doesn’t have your permission to view them. SafeHouse Explorer uses passwords and maximum-strength 256-bit advanced encryption to completely hide and defend your sensitive files, including photos, videos, spreadsheets, databases and just about any other kind of file that you might have. SafeHouse Explorer can protect files residing on any drive, including memory sticks, external USB drives, network servers, CD/DVDs and even iPods. SafeHouse Explorer creates hidden private storage areas on your local hard drive or external media to hold your confidential files. Your files are completely invisible until you enter your password. After you enter your secret password, you access your files using SafeHouse Explorer’s familiar drag-and-drop Explorer-like interface. SafeHouse Explorer is an application created to help you hide and protect your private documents and files, keeping them safe from intruders and anyone else who doesn’t have your permission to view them.
 
SafeHouse Explorer Features:

Uses strong 256-bit Twofish encryption
Compatible with all popular Windows applications.
Protects documents, spreadsheets, photos, videos, data and more.
Lightning fast. Does not degrade performance.
Fully-integrated with Windows and Explorer.
Private storage volumes as large as 2,000GB each.
Unlimited number of private storage volumes.
Protects files on both local and external hard drives.
Protects files on CD and DVD (secure archives).
Protects files on USB Flash drives and memory sticks.
Can be used to email protected files.
Backup private volumes to external storage devices.
Private files can be located on shared network servers.
Password strength meter helps you choose strong passwords.
Make self-extracting EXE encrypted vaults.

OS:

Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8

[update 2016.12.31]

You should be aware that TrueCrypt development was no longer maintained/updated  since 2014.

http://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2013/08/usb-create-usb-encrypted-with-truecrypt.html

Hacker - Truecrypt alternatives

Several security bugs have been not resolved.

You fan review this article about some alternatives that I summarize them in this article too.

https://www.comparitech.com/blog/information-security/truecrypt-is-discoutinued-try-these-free-alternatives/,.

Here they are Truecrypt alternatives (from my side I use, normally, 2. and 7. options):

1. VeraCrypt You can find a full list of improvements and corrections that VeraCrypt made on TrueCrypt here. It is open source and free.
2. Bitlocker no encrypted containers ability and not open source.
3. DiskCryptor supports encryption of external devices including hard drives, USB drives, CDs, and DVDs
4. CipherShed
5. FileVault 2 Apple’s answer to Bitlocker, no encrypted containers ability and not open source.
6. LUKS
7. SafeHouse Explorer – 3.01 Portable

Program - How to backup exact copies of USB flash drives

ImageUSB is a free utility which lets you write an image concurrently to multiple USB Flash Drives. Capable of creating exact bit-level copies of USB Flash Drive (UFDs), ImageUSB is an extremely effective tool for the mass duplication of UFDs. ImageUSB also supports writing of an ISO file byte by byte directly to an USB drive (*). ImageUSB can also be used to install OSFClone to a USB Drive for use with PassMark OSForensics™.

With ImageUSB from PassMark Software, you can easily create exact image copies of any USB flash drives and store them on your PC.

Plug in the USB drive you want to back up and click on ‘Refresh Drives’. You should see your USB flash drive, referred to as a UFD by the program, at the top of the application window. Select it and then ‘Create from UFD’ below. For security, you can also select Post Image Verification to ensure that your backup matches the original UFD. This will create an image file of your UFD with the extension .bin.
You can now copy this image on to another UFD, or multiple UFDs simultaneously by selecting them all before clicking the Write to UFD button. In our example, we have plugged in four UFDs at the same time for duplication.

Unlike other USB duplication tools, ImageUSB can preserve all unused and slack space during the cloning process, including the Master Boot Record (MBR). ImageUSB can perform flawless mass duplications of all UFD images, including bootable UFDs.

DOWNLOAD:

http://www.osforensics.com/tools/write-usb-images.html 

For usage you can read following article:

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/storage/3509099/create-image-backup-of-usb-drive/ 

Program - Different Wipe tool Live CD, USB live and Windows program

Hera are some utility to wipe disk:

1. Use Hardwipe to permanently erase data on disk and portable storage media, thus ensuring that discarded, but sensitive, information can never be recovered by someone else.

Hardwipe can not only wipe drives and USB media, but can also sanitize the Windows Recycle Bin, overwrite selected files and folders, and clean unused drive space of unwanted remnant data. Furthermore, you can run Hardwipe as a standard-alone application, or use its convenient "right-click" context menus from within the Windows File Explorer.

Hardwipe is free for individual use. A professional upgrade is also available.

• Download Hardwipe Now

This is a Windows utility.

2. Instead, if you like to create a LIVE CD or USB Live you can download this utility DBAN:

http://www.dban.org/download (inside blog you can find a lot of utility that give you the ability to create USB live from .iso files.

• http://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2013/10/usb-iso-to-usb-boot-live.html

• http://www.alessandromazzanti.com/search/label/USB

3. Otherwise you can download:

Hiren's BootCD 15.2

http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd

Create relative ISO/USB live and search for utility and search for this utility:

• Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) 1.0.7 Completely deletes the contents of any hard disk it can detect.

CD Live - ISO to USB (Bootable only support Windows bootable ISO image)

ISO to USB is a free and small software that can burn the ISO image file directly to the USB drives, these USB drives include USB flash drives, memory sticks and other USB storage devices, it also supports to create a bootable USB disk with Windows operating systems. Freeware.

http://www.isotousb.com/

VMware ESXi - Adding a USB device to a Guest Virtual Machine

Could be useful remember workflow to connect external storange on ESXi 4.x/5.x and let it recognize from Virtual Machine hosted.

Here you  can view relative workflow to enable this feature:






update 2014/04

USB support in ESXi/ESX 4.1 and ESXi 5.x (1022290)

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1022290 

Vmware 5.5 - How to install Vmware 5.5 on USB Key

Here's the worflow to install Vmware 5.5 on USB/Removable media:

You can easily utilize the old Post:

http://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2012/06/vmware-installare-vmware-esxi-50-su-una.html

The only differences are that you must change the following setting (after USB Vmware Boot)

Changing value:

Example:  [nas] LOGS/Server_Vmware

The relative warning will disappear:

 


[original article http://nolabnoparty.com/installare-vmware-esxi-5-5-chiavetta-usb/?utm_source=feedly]

USB - Windows 8.1 Create USB bootable

To create and USB Device bootable for Windows 8.1 (or other S.O.) you need:

1. Download Windows 7 USB/DVD
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool

2. Install the program and choose the iso file to put on USB external Key

3. Start PC with USB live

4. Choose Language to install and then:

5. Then choose "Repair your computer", NOT "Install now".

6. select "Troubleshoot" and then "Advanced options". 

7. You'll find solve boot problem

8. Then you could use this command prompt option:

-bootrec /fixmbr
-bootrec /fixboot

USB - ISO to USB boot Live

Often I need to create Boot USB key with content of any .iso live DVD/CD

Here is an easily tool for this purpose.


http://sourceforge.net/projects/unetbootin/postdownload?source=dlp

Operative step:

1. You must install the program
2. Select .iso file
3. Select destination USB drive
4. Click Start
5. At the end the USB key it's really bootable

USB - Create USB encrypted with TrueCrypt FREE Software

It's very useful to use our USB device (USB key and external Hard Drive) in crypted mode so nobody can steal our personal information.

At first we must download TrueCrypt (freeware)

http://www.truecrypt.org/downloads

Then we must formate in NTFS mode our USB Drive if greater than 4 GB and we want to full encript. (take a look to the following screenshot)

Now we must create our encripted volume/file on the USB drive.

Launch Truecrypt and go to Tools --> Traveler Disk Setup....

 

Now we have the USB drive with TruCrypt Format.exe (to launch now to format the encrypted file) and TrueCrypt.exe Portable to use the USB on a different PC.

Now we can mount our usb, you must launch Trucrypt.exe as follow:

Note, It's important to Unmount the USB before keep away it from our computer.

[update 2016.12.31]

You should be aware that TrueCrypt development was no longer maintained/updated  since 2014.

http://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2013/08/usb-create-usb-encrypted-with-truecrypt.html

Hacker - Truecrypt alternatives

Several security bugs have been not resolved.

You fan review this article about some alternatives that I summarize them in this article too.

https://www.comparitech.com/blog/information-security/truecrypt-is-discoutinued-try-these-free-alternatives/,.

Here they are Truecrypt alternatives (from my side I use, normally, 2. and 7. options):

1. VeraCrypt You can find a full list of improvements and corrections that VeraCrypt made on TrueCrypt here. It is open source and free.
2. Bitlocker no encrypted containers ability and not open source.
3. DiskCryptor supports encryption of external devices including hard drives, USB drives, CDs, and DVDs
4. CipherShed
5. FileVault 2 Apple’s answer to Bitlocker, no encrypted containers ability and not open source.
6. LUKS
7. SafeHouse Explorer – 3.01 Portable