Personal Computer World

Avira AntiVir Rescue System

Trial Software
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Self-contained Linux-based operating system with components required to scan, salvage and recover your system and/or individual files. If you canÆt boot in to your computer, this is ideal. Note that the Rescue CD is updated frequently by Avira, so it always contains the latest definition.

Requires: Windows 2000, XP or Vista

Cobian Backup 9.5

Freeware

Cobian Backup is not a usual backup application: it only copies your files and folders in original or compressed mode to other destinations, creating a security copy as a result. So Cobian Backup can be better described as a 'scheduler for security copies'.

Requires: Windows 98SE, NT, 2000 or XP

HDClone Free 3.6.2

Freeware

Useful in many ways, such as transferring your setup to a new PC, or making a backup of your stable setup. Before you can use HDClone you'll need to create boot disk, but full instructions on how to do this are included.

Requires: Windows NT, 2000 or XP

Bart's PE Builder 3.1.10

Freeware

Helps you build a "BartPE" (Bart Preinstalled Environment) bootable Windows CD-Rom or DVD from the original Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 installation/setup CD, very suitable for PC maintenance tasks. Very handy for burn-in testing systems with no OS, rescuing files to a network share, virus scan and so on.

Requires: Windows 2000 or XP

ERUNT 1.1j

Freeware

Before installing a new program for testing purposes one could save the Registry with ERUNT, install and test the program, uninstall it and restore the Registry to be 100% sure that no debris is left. Backup your Registry before you attempt to cleanse or optimise.

Requires: Windows 2000, XP or Vista

Paragon Partition Manager 9 Express

Full commercial tool
This basic but functional partitioning tool will handle most of your requirements. You can create a new partition, delete an existing partition or simply extend the size of a small partition. Manage every aspect of your basic partitioning, from creating, deleting and resizing existing partitions.

Requires: Windows 2000, XP or Vista