if anyone can recommend a windows boot disk that will allow access to the drives for backup purposes in an event like this it would be appreciated I had to install windows to a different drive to get access to all my wallets
there are a few to choose from, but since i havn't used any in years, can't recomend, except, because (imho)
everyone should have a handle on the free, open source OS, (linux) that is what i will, whole heartedly recomend.
puppy linux is made to run from a CD. it's tiny, ~120mB, does not need to be installed, can be your 'secret' OS on a disc ... can be a little tough to get used to tho
ubuntu, ArtistX, linux mint, are very user friendly, and come on a 'live DVD' from which you can try it out without installing. yes, they make great rescue discs for windows, once you learn to navigate the filesystem.
but the best way is to always have a backup OS installed allready on your HDD when, not if, windows shits the bed. just create 3 small partitions on your drive(s) (1 for swap; 1.5 x your RAM, one for 'root' (/) ~20 gB, and one for 'home' ~30+gB) and you're good to go, installs + updates in an hour or 2 and you should be able to do everything you do in windows, and yes, you can choose the OS at startup, anf you will be able to access all your NTFS - FAT drives
[edit] Oh, Oh yeah - if you're up to it, be sure you put in windoz first, as if you do lin first it's bootloader will be overwritten, (Win rudely ignores lin, but lin has manners and will be nice to Win
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