windows help building the ultimate bootable diagnostic tool?

[Phillip McCleod]

someone a couple months ago asked what the 'best' diagnostic tool was, but my new job as computer tech has got me searching for the 'ultimate' tool. i am comfortable in linux because thats what i learned in college but my job revolves around windows machines and clueless users so my boss want me to stretch my comfort zone and find windows-based solutions.

here's what i started putting together but any added ideas would be welcome.

dual-bootable 320GB external usb 3.0 hard drive with four partitions:
/dev/sdX1 - dedicated boot partition home of chainloader (grub2 for now)
/dev/sdX2 - system1 (40GB, ext3): backtrack 5r3 (ubuntu packed with forensic apps) plus testdisk and clamav
/dev/sdX3 - system2 (60GB, variable): variable isolinux, windows, mac osx, vm's, etc
/dev/sdX4 - data (216GB, ntfs)

i'm pretty happy with system1 (bt5+) but system2 i could use help with. i'd like to go ahead and install windows 7 and diagnostic tools on it since i mostly work with windows systems but what would you pack into a windows-based diagnostic? are there any specific recommendations for windows apps or even console commands equivalent to 'testdisk', 'gparted', 'photorec', and 'dd'? what about pro-grade antivirus apps up to the task of removing rootkit and other pernicious malware?

i can't believe i'm saying this but.. i need windows help!

[gvstn]

1. Just want to mention

Testdisk and photorec will both run on Windows.

diskpart is the Windows command line equivalent to Disk Management and is pretty powerful for almost any formatting/partitioning need.

[Phillip McCleod]

2. i did not know that

about testdisk and photorec. excellent because i seem to use them a lot. i'll play with diskpart too.

[hobbit709]

3. I use UBCD a lot

Have it both on CD and USB flash drive.
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
Windows either works well enough to run it's built-in diagnostics or it won't work at all until you find the problem and fix it.

[Phillip McCleod]

4. we have a ubcd at work actually

i haven't used it yet.. i usually use 'boot repair' (a linux livecd) for boot probs but as i said i need to broaden my mind.

nice way of putting it.. i'm starting to figure that out about windows. i know my boss is all about it but i think he's warming up to linux just because sometimes it saves us time or does something windows won't easily do (like duping a DVR hard drive).