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/Steve. -
BootAble – FreeDOS boot testing freeware
To obtain direct, low-level access to a system's mass storage drives, SpinRite runs under a GRC-customized version of FreeDOS which has been modified to add compatibility with all file systems. In order to run SpinRite it must first be possible to boot FreeDOS.
GRC's “BootAble” freeware allows anyone to easily create BIOS-bootable media in order to workout and confirm the details of getting a machine to boot FreeDOS through a BIOS. Once the means of doing that has been determined, the media created by SpinRite can be booted and run in the same way.
The participants here, who have taken the time to share their knowledge and experience, their successes and some frustrations with booting their computers into FreeDOS, have created a valuable knowledgebase which will benefit everyone who follows.
You may click on the image to the right to obtain your own copy of BootAble. Then use the knowledge and experience documented here to boot your computer(s) into FreeDOS. And please do not hesitate to ask questions – nowhere else can better answers be found.
(You may permanently close this reminder with the 'X' in the upper right.)
SteveY,
I ran across this on a >1TB drive formatted by Windows 10. I stuck the drive in a Linux machine and backed up the boot sector/partition table with dd bs=512 count=1 if=/dev/sdb of=/root/BigDriveSector0.bin (Your options to dd might need to change.)
I then zeroed the boot sector (again with dd), popped the drive back into my Windows system and booted spinrite without complaints on the "empty" drive. After it was done, I restored the boot sector and all was well again. If you feel comfortable with dd, you might have similar results.
I ran across this on a >1TB drive formatted by Windows 10. I stuck the drive in a Linux machine and backed up the boot sector/partition table with dd bs=512 count=1 if=/dev/sdb of=/root/BigDriveSector0.bin (Your options to dd might need to change.)
I then zeroed the boot sector (again with dd), popped the drive back into my Windows system and booted spinrite without complaints on the "empty" drive. After it was done, I restored the boot sector and all was well again. If you feel comfortable with dd, you might have similar results.
As do we all.
Steve is apparently doing a total re-code for SpinRite 6.1. Per his comments in the development NG, this re-coding must either be done now, or later when transitioning to SR 7.0 (UEFI boot).
Per Steve, doing it now will produce a much better SR 6.1 product while saving beau coup time when transitioning to SR 7.0 after SR 6.1 is released.
And so we wait . . .
Anyone who's interested in following SpinRite's development more closely should arrange to participate with the gang over in GRC's text-only grc.spinrite.dev newsgroup. Setup any NNTP newsreader (there are many to choose among) and aim it at our news server at news.grc.com. There's where all of the development work is going on. I will be posting updates here as major milestones are passed, but not the daily blow-by-blow.
I tried setting up thunderbird email news account, and it won't download any messages?Anyone who's interested in following SpinRite's development more closely should arrange to participate with the gang over in GRC's text-only grc.spinrite.dev newsgroup. Setup any NNTP newsreader (there are many to choose among) and aim it at our news server at news.grc.com. There's where all of the development work is going on. I will be posting updates here as major milestones are passed, but not the daily blow-by-blow.
Is thunderbird compatible? Do I need to change port numbers or something?
I was going to suggest Thunderbird. It works great and many of our participants are using it without any trouble. So, in short, it should work!
Thunderbird is fully compatible. For more info see here:
Scroll down that page for the details. That should get you up and reading posts in no time!
Steve, even in that news group updates are pretty thin on the ground lately! How about a weekly update so we all know what's going on. Even SN has not had much SR update news.
As we know, it swings between nothing happening and a torrential flood that no one but I can keep up with! <g> Everyone knows I'm still alive from the podcast. And I do post updates periodically when I have anything to say.
Yeah, that's fine for reading, but what about posting and replying? Should the outgoing connection use an SMTP port or an NNTP port? How do you fake out TB's account wizards to set the outgoing Username+Password to be the same, while still putting a real reply-to email address in the From: field? While trying this, I exactly once thought I saw a Password input box. Subsequent attempts result in a failed outgoing connection, and do not ask for an updated password.
Yes I have been using XanaNews for a year and it's terrific. But I also want to learn more about making TBird sit up and beg Haha The question is whether anyone posts/replies to GRC's newsgroups from TB, using the recommended unusual setup. Maybe a standard setup would work if canceling articles is not needed? Afaik cancel is supported only with the recommended login style. Or, try a Username+Password that is only a real email address, instead of a real password - maybe TB will handle that better.
SMTP - That should be the default. I believe all you need is a unique user name. No need to specify that as the password.
Are you set up to read posts in TB? If not, that should be done first.
Both? They're different things. SNMP is for email, NNTP is for usenet news. Steve's server only supplies NNTP, SNMP is supplied by your email supplier.
My TB setup is the same as Tazz.
But in the Outgoing Server (SMTP) setup it is clearly SMTP, the same as for my email.
I presume Steve's GRC news server therefore uses SMTP?
SMTP is the simple mail transfer protocol. Normally on port 25. (But probably on 825 or something these days, if SSL is involved... I haven't configured SMTP or POP or IMAP since I got GMail in like 2004.) Steve doesn't supply email services that I am aware of.
Edit: It looks like there are many SSL SMTP ports wow: 587, 25, 465 and 2525
No, he does not!
I can only state what I see in my TB setup. It seems like the GRC news server ought to use NNTP. But TB seems to be indicating SMTP.
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