• Dart 10 Locksmith

DaRT 10 is part of the MDOP (Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack), a free collection of tools for Microsoft Software Assurance customers. MDOP is also available for evaluation to Visual Studio Enterprise (former MSDN) subscribers. DaRT 10 is a set of tools that allows IT support staff to diagnose and repair computers with start up issues, crashes.

The Basler dart USB Evaluation Kit is a plug-and-play kit for the Basler dart camera series. The kit contains an extremely compact Basler dart USB camera as well as a suitable lens and cable, making it easy for developers and customers to evaluate a Basler dart camera module. Booting from a DaRT boot disk. When Booting, using a DaRT 10 USB Boot Disk it follows a familiar sequence to the booting of ERD Commander. Choose keyboard layout. Choose the Troubleshoot Option. Select Windows 10 – attaches to the existing Windows 10 installation. And Select Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset.

Contents of this article

• DaRT components
• DaRT recovery image deployment method
• Deploying the DaRT recovery image

No matter how well managed an IT environment is, unbootable machines are a fact of life. While IT administrators use a variety of methods to repair these machines, few compare to the Diagnostic and Recovery Toolset (DaRT). Now in the seventh major release, DaRT comprises of 14 tools designed to tackle the toughest problems with an unbootable machine.

The Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset welcome screen displays all included tools.

DaRT components ^

1. Registry Editor: a registry editor capable of modifying an offline operating system
2. Explorer: the familiar explorer interface that is even capable of mapping network drives. Very handy for uploading logs, crash files, or backing up data
3. Locksmith: a local user password reset tool
4. Solution Wizard: an automated tool designed to help you (or more specifically, an end user) choose the correct repair tool
5. Crash Analyzer: an offline Windows debugger capable of pinpointing troublesome drivers
6. TCP/IP Config: a tool used to change the DaRT IP configuration
7. File Restore: this tool provides file restoration of accidentally deleted files even on Bitlocker encrypted drives
8. Hotfix Uninstaller: when a hotfix makes a machine unbootable, this tool can remove the hotfix
9. Disk Commander: a handy tool to repair volumes, master boot records, or partitions
10. SFC Scan: the System File Repair wizard can repair systems files that are preventing Windows from loading
11. Disk Wipe: capable of wiping a disk or volumes with a single pass or four pass overwriting
12. Search: a simple file search tool that is useful before reimaging a computer
13. Computer Management: the all-inclusive MMC from Windows – now in a Windows PE format
14. Standalone System Sweeper: an offline malicious software remover capable of deletion and quarantine
15. And finally, though technically not a tool for system recovery, the Remote Connection interface allows Windows Administrators to remotely connect to a machine in a Windows PE environment.

While most Windows administrators would simply image a machine if it became unbootable, the specific tools in DaRT are nearly always faster and more specific in their troubleshooting. Further, tools such as the crash analyzer and hotfix uninstaller help to increase the stability of images by sorting out bugs rather than simply reimaging.

DaRT recovery image deployment method ^

Dart 10 Locksmith

There are a variety of ways to deploy DaRT for client use. The most common are CD/DVD, USB, embedded during initial workstation imaging, and network bootable. The table below outlines major benefits to each:

Distribution MethodPositiveNegativeCD/DVDNearly all machines capable of booting off media, most familiar technologyBoot image becomes outdated quickly requiring new media to be produced and distributedUSBFaster than CD/DVD, easier to carryBoot images not updated become obsolete, easier to loseEmbeddedNo need to carry around media, very quick to bootImage may not be available if hard drive fails, difficult to distribute updates.NetworkNo physical media, updates very easy to distributeNot as quick as USB or embedded on boot up.

Deploying the DaRT recovery image ^

Most organizations, except those with a measurable percentage of non-networked machines, will probably choose to distribute their DaRT recovery image as a Windows Deployment Server boot image. This makes DaRT available to any machine capable of PXE booting. To create the recovery image, first install the DaRT 7 tools (these include the recovery image maker, online crash analyzer, and remote connection viewer). Next, launch the DaRT Recovery Image Wizard.

The first screen of the DaRT Recovery Image Wizard

After specifying the Windows source files for the recovery image creation, you will be prompted to select the tools available for use and whether you want to allow remote connections. Excluding certain tools such as Disk Wipe and Locksmith may be wise as a malicious end user can gain access to these tools. Any excluded tool is automatically made available if the remote connection tool is used and a Windows administrator successfully connects to the computer.

The final prompts for the recovery image are installing the debugging tools, updating the standalone system sweeper, loading additional drivers/files, and saving the ISO. After saving the ISO, use a tool to mount the ISO and browse to the sources folder. Extract the boot.wim file that is contained. You can now add it as a boot image on your Windows Deployment server and remotely boot machines into DaRT.

The DaRT 7.0 boot file is loaded into a Windows Deployment Server

Microsoft’s Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset is a Swiss army knife that no Windows administrator should be without. With continual improvements, such as the recent remote control feature and integration in the upcoming Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2012, DaRT is sure to stay a favorite for machine recovery.

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