http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/
The above link is for Damn Small Linux… This Live system can boot most PC’s from a Buisnesscard cd or a memory stick (if you have a newer BIOS system).
There is also a way to boot from a ZIP disk.
It comes complete with CD burning software, Web browser, Email client, IRC chat client, instant messageing,FTP server,Firewall,XMMS music system to listen to shoutcast or MP3’s or OGG, HTML editor and a few office tools like spreadsheet and wordprocessors.
Great for impressing friends or clients, you show up, pull out a tiny little device or disk, and have full control over the system to save the day!..
Can Boot dead windows systems, and be in complete comfort, with all the internet tools you need for trouble shooting and contacting tech support and backing up files from the windows file system to cd or zipdrive, or virtual drive/FTP on the internet, or on your LAN. plus you can listen to tunes with XMMS while you back up the dead system :D
I dont recomend this distribution for hard disk linux install, go for kanotix to get a full debian distribution… the only time I recomend installing this on a hard disk is for older smaller hard drives (1-3 gigabytes) will run alot better than windows 3.5 or windows 95.
have fun with this, only a 50MB download!