SystemRescueCd is a bootable Linux toolkit for repairing computers and recovering data when an installed system cannot start. It runs from CD or USB without installation and includes GNU Parted and GParted for partition work, TestDisk for partition checks and recovery, disk imaging and archiving tools, NTFS read/write support, memory testing, file management and network utilities. It can be used on Linux and Windows systems.
| Author: | Andrew Borodin, Egmont Koblinger, Moof... |
| License: | Open Source |
| Price: | FREE |
| Released: | Jul 24, 2025 |
| File size: | 4.30 MB |
| Downloads: | 182 |
| Keywords: | bootable environment, Explorer replacement, replace Explorer, disk recovery, bootable data recovery, commander, system maintenance, file system repair, data rescue, recover files from windows, manager, partition repair tool, Midnight Commander free download, download Midnight Commander, linux rescue environment, Explorer, disk imaging utility, Midnight Commander, manage, file manager, system rescue disk, SystemRescueCd |
| Author URL: | https://midnight-commander.org/ |
SystemRescueCd is a bootable Linux rescue environment for administrators and computer users who need to repair disks, recover files or work on a system that will not start normally. It runs from a CD-ROM or USB stick rather than requiring installation, and can be used to maintain Linux and Windows computers. Its collection of disk, filesystem and network utilities makes it useful when the installed operating system is unavailable or cannot safely perform the required repairs.
For partition work, GNU Parted creates, resizes, moves and copies partitions, while GParted provides a graphical interface for many of the same operations. Included filesystem tools can format, resize and debug partitions. The toolkit also includes sfdisk for saving and restoring partition tables, and TestDisk for checking partitions and attempting to undelete them across several filesystem types. These utilities support tasks such as reorganizing disk space, diagnosing partition problems and preparing a drive for recovery.
For backups and data recovery, Partimage creates disk images at the block level, while FSArchiver can archive systems or individual data. NTFS-3G provides read and write access to Windows NTFS partitions, making it possible to copy files from a Windows disk even when that computer cannot boot. Midnight Commander offers a text-based file manager, alongside editors and other basic tools. Memory testing with Memtest+ can help check for hardware problems when a computer crashes or behaves unexpectedly.
Network utilities, including Samba and NFS support, let users access network filesystems and transfer backups over a network. This is useful for moving recovered data to another computer or storage location without relying on the damaged system's normal desktop. SystemRescueCd can also be customized with scripts, including scripts for automating restoration tasks, and can be installed on a USB stick for computers without a usable CD drive. The USB setup process can be carried out from Linux or Windows using the included instructions.
The environment supports a range of Linux and Windows filesystems, including ext, ReiserFS, Btrfs, XFS, JFS, FAT and NTFS, as well as ISO images and network filesystems. Its tools are intended for system administration and recovery rather than everyday desktop use, and many operations require familiarity with partitions and storage devices. SystemRescueCd is open-source software and runs by booting the rescue media, leaving the computer's installed operating system untouched unless the user chooses to modify its disks.