Rescue computer with remote access
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I guess a question is a goal. Is the goal to get a good, working Windows machine?
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@gjacobse Fedora may be your preferred solution, but does Ubuntu come with the dependencies to get Screenconnect to work with nothing "special" besides installing the software?
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@scottalanmiller Based on the desire to create a liveUSB, my understanding is a goal to backup any data on whatever system this is.
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@dustinb3403 said in Rescue computer with remote access:
Why not a LiveUSB and teamviewer or some other such remote access software to backup the user data?
That is my next attempt - it just fleshing out the plan.
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@gjacobse said in Rescue computer with remote access:
@dustinb3403 said in Rescue computer with remote access:
Why not a LiveUSB and teamviewer or some other such remote access software to backup the user data?
That is my next attempt - it just fleshing out the plan.
OK, so let's start there, what is the primary goal?
Backup data or get a working desktop (and ignoring the data)?
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@scottalanmiller said in Rescue computer with remote access:
I guess a question is a goal. Is the goal to get a good, working Windows machine?
Goal is... ignore the OS - Looking for the homework files,... can figure out the OS down the road.
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@gjacobse said in Rescue computer with remote access:
@scottalanmiller said in Rescue computer with remote access:
I guess a question is a goal. Is the goal to get a good, working Windows machine?
Goal is... ignore the OS - Looking for the homework files,... can figure out the OS down the road.
Oh, this is just file recovery?
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@gjacobse said in Rescue computer with remote access:
@scottalanmiller said in Rescue computer with remote access:
I guess a question is a goal. Is the goal to get a good, working Windows machine?
Goal is... ignore the OS - Looking for the homework files,... can figure out the OS down the road.
So the most simple approach would likely be to walk the client step by step on how to make a liveUSB of Fedora or Ubuntu, and get access to the system via ScreenConnect or Teamviewer.
Fedora media writer
<this media>
connect to wifi
download this
install this
ok what is the code?Looking at maybe an hour's worth of effort.
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I agree, LiveUSB might be the best option. Mount the old Windows drive, copy the files directly to Dropbox or Google Drive or whatever.
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RE: @DustinB3403 @scottalanmiller
Yes,.. that is the plan - Live USB and rescue. Deal with the OS later,.. if at all.
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@gjacobse You have a plan, time to execute.
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They don't have another computer they could put the hard drive in? If the Live USB will work, it's assumed the drive isn't encrypted?
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@bnrstnr said in Rescue computer with remote access:
They don't have another computer they could put the hard drive in? If the Live USB will work, it's assumed the drive isn't encrypted?
The drive could still be encrypted, and this assumes that they have the cables required / bench tech skills to connect a disk to another system. And that they have another working system that is available. . .
LiveUSB though has no technical requirement especially if someone is watching over the process via S4B on a video call.
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A liveUSB of Ubuntu allows you to modify the software sources and then you can install pretty much anything you need.
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@dustinb3403 said in Rescue computer with remote access:
@gjacobse You have a plan, time to execute.
But first - Lunch
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@bnrstnr said in Rescue computer with remote access:
They don't have another computer they could put the hard drive in? If the Live USB will work, it's assumed the drive isn't encrypted?
Not really - walking person to the setup, then I'll take over. No onsite resources to pull the drive.
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@scottalanmiller said in Rescue computer with remote access:
Installing to Live CD won't work because it has no disk to write to. So it's always at 100% used space.
Most of the times, they include an overlay of some type that will allow you to install apps for that session (I'd assume a ram disk of some type). Of course, when you reboot, the changes are lost.
Not sure how useful that would be in this scenario though.
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@dafyre said in Rescue computer with remote access:
@scottalanmiller said in Rescue computer with remote access:
Installing to Live CD won't work because it has no disk to write to. So it's always at 100% used space.
Most of the times, they include an overlay of some type that will allow you to install apps for that session (I'd assume a ram disk of some type). Of course, when you reboot, the changes are lost.
Not sure how useful that would be in this scenario though.
Setting up a persistent LiveUSB would help.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LiveUsbPendrivePersistent -
I put fedora workstation on a usb, and live booted and installed l2tp dependencies with no issue.
So installing iced tea should be fine.
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@jaredbusch said in Rescue computer with remote access:
I put fedora workstation on a usb, and live booted and installed l2tp dependencies with no issue.
So installing iced tea should be fine.
I've worked with lots of live sessions without persistence, and never had an issue installing additional software. Granted your limited to RAM as your total storage and system operation, and any additional software installed goes away on power off/reboot. It's odd that you're having trouble installing something unless it's requiring lots of large dependencies.
Your game plan is sound. Maybe they'll learn the joys of good backups?
