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Rescue Disk on USB-Stick

Ganimesh
2018-07-06
2021-11-05
  • Ganimesh

    Ganimesh - 2018-07-06

    Hello,
    is there any way to create a resue USB-Stick from the VeraCrypt Rescue ISO-File?
    Unetbootin does not boot. When choosing "Default" nothing happens.
    Windows 7 USB Download Tool says "The selected file is not a valid ISO File"
    Rufus says "Error reading the image"

    The ISO-File mounted with Virtual Clone Drive ist empty.

    Please, can anyone help me?

    Best regards
    Karsten

     
  • Live Free

    Live Free - 2018-07-10

    The below method is what I have used as a "free" method for both Truecrypt and Veracrypt Rescue ISO's

    Insert flash drive into PC (format if desired)
    Download and Run YUMI - https://www.pendrivelinux.com/yumi-multiboot-usb-creator/

    Step 1 - Select Flash Drive letter in YUMI
    Step 2 - Go to "Select a Distibution to put on ..."
    In the drop down menu, go to bottom and select "Try Unlisted ISO (GRUB)"
    Step 3 - Browse to and select your Veracrypt ISO (In this exaple "VeraCrypt_Rescue.iso")
    Step 4 - Click "Create" at the bottom.

    YUMI will install the ISO to the flash drive and make the drive bootable.

    You can try booting the flash drive to see if it works for you. In my experience you will get a message saying "Invalid Password" even if the password is correct. The reason for this is because when the flash drive is booted, GRUB as well as the Veracrypt ISO will see the flashdrive as the first hard drive and try to work with it instead of the internal HDD. Below is the fix which "swaps" the flash drive and the first HDD positions so that the Veracrypt ISO can work with the proper drive.

    Open your flash drive in explorer and edit the following file using your favorite editor (i.e. Notepad++):
    "G:\multiboot\menu\menu.lst"
    Replace the drive letter "G" above with the drive letter of your flash drive

    You will see the following menu option:

    title Boot VeraCrypt_Rescue.iso
    find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /multiboot/ISOS/VeraCrypt_Rescue.iso
    map --heads=0 --sectors-per-track=0 /multiboot/ISOS/VeraCrypt_Rescue.iso (hd32)
    map --hook
    chainloader (hd32)
    #end VeraCrypt_Rescue
    

    Change it to look like the menu option below:

    title Boot VeraCrypt_Rescue.iso
    find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /multiboot/ISOS/VeraCrypt_Rescue.iso
    map --heads=0 --sectors-per-track=0 /multiboot/ISOS/VeraCrypt_Rescue.iso (hd32)
    map (hd1) (hd0)
    map (hd0) (hd1)
    map --hook
    chainloader (hd32)
    #end VeraCrypt_Rescue
    

    Be sure to also change the ISO name to match your Veracrypt ISO name in the 2 places shown.
    Save the file and boot from your flash drive. Follow the menu to boot the Veracrypt ISO.

     
    👍
    2

    Last edit: Live Free 2018-07-11
    • Klaus Marken

      Klaus Marken - 2020-12-04

      Hello. I have a big problem with my rescue disk. Now i am trying to follow your way, but like you told in your tutorial, the passwort on first attempt is wrong. Then i changed it to your information, but the password is still wrong. I know its the right passsword for sure. What can be the problem here? I have just 1 SSD and the Flash USB

       
  • Live Free

    Live Free - 2018-07-10

    Another (paid) option I have used in the past was to use Flashboot 2.3 that will actually take the Truecrypt/Veracrypt ISO and convert/extract in into an .img file that can be booted on the flash drive. But you'd have to contact the developer to see if that version is still available as they have removed the tools needed in the latest version (3.1)

    https://www.prime-expert.com/flashboot/

     
  • Zhabi

    Zhabi - 2018-07-14

    Live Free, thakn you. It is working.

     
  • Rob Nicholson

    Rob Nicholson - 2018-11-19

    Yes thank you Live Free. This is about one of the only methods that works - with TrueCrypt as well which isn't too surprising

     
  • Shin Lee

    Shin Lee - 2020-07-02

    Problem solved for me.
    I had a 2nd HDD, so I just had to map 2,0 and 0,2.
    Your post is great Live Free.

     

    Last edit: Shin Lee 2020-07-03
  • ephestione

    ephestione - 2021-11-05

    livefree saved the day! Yumi metho, reinstalled windows good 5 times, turns out, at least for now, that making veracrypt hide all its messages on boot by selecting the checkbox in the options, will make my system unresponsive at boot with a dead blinking cursor. Bringing the normal boot dialog back restored its functionality.

     

    Last edit: ephestione 2021-11-05

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