| SystemRescue | |
|---|---|
 | |
 SystemRescue v11.03 (2024-12-07) with the default desktop (XFCE) and the SystemRescue manual open | |
| Developer | François Dupoux |
| OS family | Linux (Unix-like) |
| Working state | Current |
| Source model | Open source |
| Latest release | 12.02 / 23 August 2025; 2 months ago (2025-08-23)[1] |
| Repository | |
| Available in | English andFrench |
| Package manager | pacman[2] |
| Supported platforms | x86-64 previously:i686 |
| Kernel type | Monolithic (Linux) |
| Default user interface | XFCE |
| License | GPL-3[3] |
| Official website | system-rescue |
SystemRescue (Previously known as "SystemRescueCD")[4] is aLinux distribution forx86-64 andIA-32 computers.[5] The primary purpose of SystemRescue is to repair unbootable or otherwise damaged computer systems after asystem crash. SystemRescue is not intended to be used as a permanentoperating system. It runs from aLive CD, aUSB flash drive or any type of hard drive. It was designed by a team led by François Dupoux, and is based onArch Linux since version 6.0.[6] Starting with version 6.0, it hassystemd as itsinit system.[7]
For more recent versions, a 64-bit processor is required, with 32-bit processors being deprecated after version 9.03 in 2017.[8][9]PowerPC had a single release with version 0.2.0 in 2004,[10] withSPARC also having one for version 0.4.0 in 2007.[11]
If aPXE boot requiresHTTP orTFTP, at least 1GB of memory will be needed for loading a required file for those into memory. However ifNFS orNBD is used, the 1GB requirement isn't necessary.[12] Running the live cd from memory is recommended for speed and not requiring the boot device to be connected after boot, however it does require installed memory to be at least 2GB.[13][9] Bootable USBs have become preferred over CDs or DVDs due to the more recent size increases of the distribution and due to the lack of optical drives in many modern devices.[9]
SystemRescue is capable of graphics using theLinux framebuffer option for tools such asGParted. It has options such as connecting to the Internet through anADSLmodem orEthernet and graphicalweb browsers such asMozilla Firefox.
TheFile systems supported by System-Rescue arebtrfs,ext3,ext4,FAT16,FAT32,ISO9660,JFS,NTFS,ReiserFS,VFAT, andXFS[14][15]
There are two bootloaders supporting the OS –GRUB &SYSLINUX.[13]
SystemRescue features include:
Additionally, the live cd also allows for booting toFreeDOS,Memtest86+, hardware diagnostics and the ability to create other boot disks from a single CD[16]
The live cd iso file being installed needs to match the system being used; for 64-bit x86-64 processorsamd64 is used, for 32-bit IA-32 processorsi686 is used.[9] The supported architecture is listed at the end of the iso filename.
The CD can also boot from a customized DVD which has almost 4.6 GB of free space for backed-up files. This makes it good for storing all the information that is needed from a hard drive and then formatting it. To burn the DVD, one must burn the image file first and then add all the separate files and folders.[9] This should not affect the general way in which the DVD works. The DVD can then be used to insert those files into the hard drive using Midnight Commander.
The system-rescue iso can be used to create a bootable USB device using tools such asrufus,ventoy, or the dedicated linux tool. The USB must have at least 2GB of storage and be formatted in FAT32.[18]
