| Developer(s) | Hiren |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 15.1 / 10 December 2011 |
| License | Freeware |
| Website | hiren.info/bootcd |
Hiren's BootCD[1][2][3] (also known as HBCD) is a bootable software CD containing a number of diagnostic programs such as partitioning agents, system performance benchmarks, disk cloning and imaging tools, data recovery tools, MBR tools, BIOS tools, and many others for fixing various computer problems. Many people consider HBCD an invaluable tool[4] for use in troubleshooting and recovery of computers however, due to a questionable past, it has received little press.
As it is bootable, the operating system of the computer need not be available for the tools to be usable. All that is required is that the computer is able to run Microsoft Windows and Linux (but it does not have to have either of these installed at the time of use.) Some of the tools are also available when the operating system is already started.
Contents |
Hiren's BootCD is available as an ISO image zipped together with other information such as its changelog. The image file can be burned to a CD or on to a USB flash drive for use on computers that support booting from USB.
Hiren's BootCD was created by "Hiren" & "Pankaj" and is based on Knoppix (a bootable Linux operating system) and a collection of other freeware tools. It has found some controversial stigma as a "hacker" tool violating copyright and is known to be used by Branislav for illegal activities. However, today the majority of its software is freeware or shareware.
Prior to version 11.0, Hiren's BootCD contained a significant number of commercial products. In version 10.6[5], no less than 17 were listed in the release notes. Most notably Acronis True Image, Norton Ghost, Acronis Disk Director, and Paragon Partition Manager. (Partition Magic Pro had been replaced already in version 10.5.) To be able to start a commercial application, the user had to promise to be the holder of a license, but no validation of this statement was ever made.
In version 11.0 [6], only three remained:
The assumption was most likely that anyone using the tools would have a license for these products. Whether or not that would stand up in court is another matter. In later revisions, Mini Windows 98 was removed, leaving only two commercial products on the CD.
As a response to this, so called "restored editions" of the HBCD have begun to appear soon after the official releases. In addition to the officially released software, these also contain the commercial products present before version 11.0.