Before we get into creating a Live CD, lets understand what exactly
it is and how it can save you a lot of trouble in case of a computer
crash or malware infection on your PC. A Live CD is basically a bootable
storage device that contains an operating system (OS). What is different about a live CD is the fact that the working of the OS does not depend on the hard drive.
Why do you need a Live CD? If your Windows operating system crashes
completely, you will have limited access to important files.By using a Live CD, you can easily access these files and transfer them to another storage device. You can also use a Live CD to clean severe malware infections. In some cases, the malware blocks all executable programs—which prevents your antivirus software from running. By using a LiveCD, the malware’s defense will be completely obsolete!
There are numerous types of Live CD software like Linux that allow you to recover and fix your computer. However since many of these Live CDs are based on different platforms, they are not fully compatible with Windows. Therefore, you will have problems scanning your Windows drive from a different operating system (like Linux) on a Live CD. Creating a Windows Live CD allows you to fix many errors on your Windows drive with much more convenience.
In this guide, you are going to learn how to create a Windows 7 Live CD – the easy way. There are other tutorials about this on the Web, but they mostly involve using WinBuilder—which doesn’t always work successfully. In this guide, you are going to learn how to create a live CD using Make_PE3 which is a better alternative as well as with WinBuilder. After reading about each software you can choose which one to use for creating a Live CD.
Things you’ll need:
- Windows 7 ISO File
- Make_PE3 or WinBuilder
- Windows Automated Installation Kit (If You are Using WinBuilder)
Downloading the Windows 7 ISO File:
You need the installation files to create a Live CD. These installation files can be found on your Windows 7 setup disc. If you don’t have one, you can download from here.Creating a Live CD Using Make_PE3 (Without AIK):
Make_PE3 is a free program that allows you create a Windows 7 Live CD without the automated installation kit (AIK). You can create a Live CD by using AIK, but the process is too tedious for normal users.After you have downloaded Make_PE3, double-click the setup file. This will automatically run the self-extracting archive. Set the destination path to the “C:” drive. It doesn’t always have to be “C:” drive. If you are using a different partition, it might a different drive letter. It just has to be letter of the drive you are currently using (the main drive, where your Windows OS is installed).
Access the “Make_PE3” folder and double-click the “Make_PE3” executable (.exe) file. This will launch the installation wizard.
Now you need to mount the Windows 7 ISO file. Browse t the location of the ISO file. The ISO must also be located in the C: drive or the drive where you’ve installed the Windows OS.
Now click “Go” to create your Live CD. After it’s done, you will find the ISO file of the Live CD inside the “Win7Pe” sub-folder inside the “Make_PE3” folder.
Once the Live CD is created you can use it to recover your files from a crashed PC or disinfect your PC from a malware infection.
Creating a Live CD Using WinBuilder:
WinBuilder is another program you can use to create a Windows 7 Live CD. However, you will need AIK.Before starting, you need to download all of the scripts and plug-ins. Make sure to download the “Complete” set of scripts. The download link is at the end of this article.
Here is the Live CD Running in action
When you insert the Live CD, boot from the CD Drive. You can change this option in your System BIOS.
Keeping a Live CD for Diagnosis during Times of Trouble is a Good Idea
Since Live CDs don’t depend on the hard drive, they rely on RAM—which makes them very fast. If you have a portable antivirus software, you perform a quick scan by using your Windows Live CD. Most applications don’t work on other platforms.Having a live CD is important if you are someone who regularly performs diagnostics to fix computers. Many users experience errors when trying include the necessary files from AIK, in WinBuilder. If you are experiencing problems, use Make_PE3 instead.
