Bootit Bare Metal (BootIt BM) is a comprehensive disk management tool that provides advanced partitioning, boot management, disk imaging, and scripting capabilities. It’s designed for users who need granular control over their hard drives and operating systems, going beyond the basic functionalities offered by standard disk utilities. This powerful software allows you to manage your system at the “bare metal” level, providing direct access to disk structures and boot processes.
Partition Management with BootIt Bare Metal
BootIt Bare Metal offers a robust set of partitioning features compatible with various Windows versions (9x to 10, including Servers) and x64 systems. It supports MBR, EMBR, and GPT partitioning schemes, allowing for flexible disk configuration:
- Create, Resize, and Manage Partitions: Effortlessly create, move, copy, delete, and even undelete partitions. Non-destructive resizing is supported for FAT/FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, and Linux Ext2/3/4 partitions, ensuring data safety.
- Advanced Partitioning Options: Create over 200 primary partitions on EMBR disks and convert between MBR, EMBR, and GPT disk types. Control drive geometry and easily enforce Windows 7 partition alignment standards.
- Large Drive Support: BootIt Bare Metal supports hard drives exceeding 16 exabytes in size, accommodating even the largest storage capacities.
Boot Management Capabilities
BootIt BM excels in managing multi-boot systems, providing unparalleled flexibility for booting multiple operating systems from various hard drives and partitions (up to 16).
- Multi-Boot Configuration: Boot any partition on any supported hard drive, including logical volumes. Boot multiple operating systems from a single partition.
- Boot Menu Customization: Customize the boot menu by hiding/unhiding partitions, swapping drives, and adjusting the partition table order for each boot item. Automatic OS detection simplifies setup. The Direct Boot Menu allows booting directly into any partition.
- Enhanced Security: Secure your computer with user IDs and passwords for added protection.
- Broad OS Support: Supports booting to various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, MS-DOS, OS/2, and more.
Disk Imaging with Image for DOS
BootIt Bare Metal includes a full version of Image for DOS, a powerful disk imaging tool with a graphical user interface. This integrated feature simplifies creating and restoring partition and disk images:
- Comprehensive Backup and Restore: Create backup images of single or multiple partitions, or entire drives. Recover quickly from drive failures, corruption, or data loss.
- Seamless Migration: Migrate to a new drive by restoring an image or cloning the original drive. Expand existing partitions to utilize larger drive capacities.
- Wide Compatibility: Supports various Windows versions, x64 systems, and Linux file systems. Compatible with internal and external drives, including USB 2.0, IEEE1394, and eSATA.
Powerful Scripting with TBScript
The paid version of BootIt Bare Metal includes an enhanced version of the TeraByte OS Deployment Tool Suite Professional with the TBScript engine. This feature enables automation and customization of various disk management tasks:
- Automated Tasks: Automate partition creation, deletion, resizing, and disk image backups and restores.
- Hardware Preparation: Utilize existing .TBS scripts to prepare Windows for different hardware configurations.
- Advanced Configuration: Access and modify files within supported partitions, including OS configuration files.
Conclusion
BootIt Bare Metal offers a comprehensive suite of tools for managing disks and operating systems at a granular level. From advanced partitioning and multi-boot configuration to robust disk imaging and powerful scripting capabilities, BootIt BM provides the necessary tools for power users, IT professionals, and anyone needing precise control over their computer systems. Its “bare metal” approach allows for direct manipulation of disk structures and boot processes, making it a valuable asset for system administrators and enthusiasts alike. If you need a comprehensive and powerful disk management solution, BootIt Bare Metal is a tool worth considering.
