Tech Apps for the PROs

[pcgenie]

I'm trying to get a list of all the APps a tech would need on the road.

Please make any suggestions to add to this list.


Norton Ghost

Diskkeeper

Bootable CDs - Suggest Hiren's Boot CD - (Nice options to use for troubleshooting)

Ad-Aware

Spybot

AVG Free edition/or other antivirus


What other apps do you suggest.

[Gabriel]

Hi,
To add on your list:
1. BartPE - a must have fo any computer guy. A live XP environment from CD. get it on http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/
2. Partition Magic and/or System commander.
3. a Bootable Dos CD with low level application - HWINFO, Ghost, FDISK, format Etc.
4. All version of Windows (Including NT and servers - this is not big deal since you can stream many cd's into one).
5. all version of Office
6. Newest Service packs of all windows based OS(6a for NT, SP4 for Win2k, SP2 for XP).
7. a disk with common drivers - NVIDIA Cheapset (NFORCE), NVIDIA VGA (detonator), ATI VGA (Catalyst), Raltek Ethernet Drivers, 3Com Ethernet Drivers, Intel Ethernet Drivers, AC97 Sound.
8. A disk with common application - Prefer Freeware (so you won't have "law" problems), Application like IRFAN, 7ZIP, Deepburner can be very helpfull for a customer.
9. A disk with Kiddie games (shareware and freeware) - don't laugh, you will be amazed how the avarage customer is happy when you grant him/her the possibility to occupy the childerens.

Hope I helped you,
Gabriel

[confus-ed]

Personally I suggest NO apps whatsoever ! :D - I take my laptop & mobile :p (sure that's got lots of things on it ! ;) & since I can connect pretty much anywhere with it, its got 'everything') but you are gonna look pretty silly when the customer has no cd drive or its not working etc ! :devil:

So before you think about apps, how about making sure you can use them !? :thumbs:

[InTheWayBoy]

I have a whole case that I carry with me:

1. TechCD (Bootable) - Has the software I need to use on every PC. I wrote a small article about it on my website:

http://inthewayboy.net/index.php?blog=3&title=techcd&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

Enjoy!

2. SuperTech (Bootable) - A custom BartPE setup for when I need access to NTFS files, or when I don't feel like playing in DOS.

3. WinXP (Bootable) - This has both Home and Pro, as well as the latest service pack and updates. The installs have been customized using nlite.

4. Win9x (Bootable) - This has Win95B, Win98SE, and WinME as well as the latest updates and utilities. The installs have been customized using msbatch.inf

5. Updates - Just a compilation of the most recent major service packs and updates for all operating systems.

6. ISP - Has all the huge install files for most major ISP...AOL, MSN, PeoplePC, Earthlink, Juno, etc.

7. TechDVD (Bootable) - Basically all of the above on a DVD+R!

All the bootable ones use Bootable CD Wizard to launch, and they all have these basic functions:

1. Boot to DOS
2. Boot to FPROT Scanner
3. Boot to PC-Check
4. Boot to Microscope
5. Boot to PQMagic
6. Boot to Ghost
7. Boot to Acronis Tools

I update the discs a few times a week, using various vbscripts to automate the whole thing.

[TechZ]

Well most of them seem to be covered,

1] UBCD http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
2] UBCD4Win http://www.ubcd4win.com/
3] As many anti-spyware, cleaner, free AntiVirus apps.
4] Standalone AV cleaners http://mirror.edskes.com/ (NOD32, McAfee)
5] MS Malicious Software Removal Tool http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
(not the Anti-Spyware pay app)
6] Latest Drivers from nVidia, ATI, VIA, nForce, etc.
7] Definately some freeware games/demos (Gabriel is absotively posilutely right :thumbs: )

[gazzak]

All of the above and Winzip. Also Acrobat Reader is important in my job, maybe not so for you!!

[Outcoded]

GoldMemory - http://www.goldmemory.cz/ (cheap, but not free)

[TechZ]

Memtest86: http://www.memtest.org/
Yeah and I also carry Adobe (thank Gaz) and a codec pack, like KLite (Full version) http://mirror.edskes.com/

[confus-ed]

Yeah and I also carry ...

Sorry to dwell on the point ;) .. but you all seem determined to carry every utility known to mankind ! .. KISS !! :kiss: .. Keep it Simple Stupid ! You can go on forever with a list like this & still miss something obvious ! ;).. (Guaranteeing yourself internet access seeming to me a better idea as you'll always forget something/mislay it/find its out of date etc)

I mean so far nobody even said a zero fill utility & of all the utility cd's I have that one gets used most as I can't run those from another source ..

& while I'm here (having a moan !) - I'll question the notion of 'latest' Nvidia/ATI drivers & suggest a better phrase - how about 'latest stable' ? - New drivers being famed for their 'not rightness' on occasion ! ;)

& for memory testing, the MS utility is surprisingly good ! :eek2: - Windows Memory Diagnostic (http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp) & its even free (well done billy - for once ! :))

[TechZ]

I guess its the fact that u cannot foresee the situation when going to work on a pc. Better to be prepared I say.

[Jeff the Brit]

I've found a Knoppix Live CD to be a useful toolkit addition. I carry a DVD burner and a bunch of rewriteable discs, most handy for backing up customer data from a hosed install.

[geeksRus]

i've found that Ultimate Boot CD has most things i need...along with another with latest versions of ad aware, spybot, spyware blaster and AVG as well as A squared and x-cleaner free and crap cleaner.

[pcgenie]

I ask this to get a main idea of apps that other use that I'm not familiar with, which I have seen a few. Reading the write up article after I finish this reply.

KISS..Load of crap that statment is..as being concerned with being a tech. If we kept it simple stupid, we'd be the stupid fool the customer called because we weren't prepared.

As far as the access the internet comment. Come on...Broadband may be big for most of us, btu them damn AOL users and older folks just haven't picked it up. I deal with a lot of 56K dial up users.(not to be confused with 56k ATM) Internet isn't even an option.

Great recommends though..everyone..I love em..I have to figure out how to use the PE Builder..I had seen but not tryed it..It ask for stuff from a floppy when I used it for making a bootbale disk, I couldn't find how to make a bootable cd using the PE builder I had. Any way..Where can I get instructions on how to make the CDs that will give the menu for installing ..say the Win9X type of CD..Those are the things I'm looking for . . Free version are always our best weapons on the "LAW" issues revolving our works..

Again, thanks for the input..

Drivers was a great suggestion...I actually hand out a CD with 3 version of the NVIDIA/ATI drivers, and adware/spybot and AVG, as well as a few smaller apps for them to choose from. Gives the customer that, AW what a great tech feeling...Tehy usually mention on your way out too.

[confus-ed]

..KISS..Load of crap that statment is..as being concerned with being a tech. If we kept it simple stupid, we'd be the stupid fool the customer called because we weren't prepared..

Now that's the kind of language sets folks off ! :rolleyes: .. However I'm a big boy & I'll take it in my stride ;) - take this how you will .. but you are gonna look mighty stupid clutching all your disks when you can't actually use them in the machine you are trying to fix ! I know who'll look stupid then ! :p

I do a lot of 'mobile teching' & not just for home users but business too, so my required utility list is a mile long !, I tried this carry endless utilities stuff for ages & then somebody said to me - 'what are you doing ?' while noting it took me 1/2 an hour every time before setting off to get organised, so I procured a laptop (it doesn't have to be fancy as long as it can meet minimum specs of any o/s) & got myself a suitable plug in card (mind the UK has about 90+% coverage for signal) to give me access & its the best money I ever spent .. btw just to give you an idea, there's 60 gig's worth of utilities & images on my 'baby' - & that's an awful lot of cd's !

[Gabriel]

.... laptop (it doesn't have to be fancy as long as it can meet minimum specs of any o/s) & got myself a suitable plug in card (mind the UK has about 90+% coverage for signal) to give me access & its the best money I ever spent .. btw just to give you an idea, there's 60 gig's worth of utilities & images on my 'baby' - & that's an awful lot of cd's !

I see your point - but for me is no good. An adequete laptop cost her more than 1100US$ (basic IBM R50e). in this price I can actually buy myself two Desktops(and still have some pocket money). Also, DSL and cable coverage rate in my area is somewhat 50% of the houses.

I think I will pass on it in the meantime.


Cheers,
Gabriel

[confus-ed]

I see your point - but for me is no good. An adequete laptop cost her more than 1100US$ (basic IBM R50e).. Also, DSL and cable coverage rate in my area is somewhat 50% of the houses..

I have two laptops now, but I got away with using a tosh 4200 (I think its got a 350 celeron in it) for ages (cost me £100 on ebay !) & only upgraded as I was feeling rich, & as nobody seems to get it, I'm advocating having your own connection available, not the customers (I have a 3g card -384kbps which is fast enough for the odd thing not already on my laptop) , but I do this full time, part time techs mayn't be able to justify this expense ..

..You try getting a cd to mail in here (or similar) to ask when you don't know/haven't seen the problem before ! :D

[confus-ed]

& since we really wanted a list of apps & not me saying 'you'll be compiling that list for ever, do it different ..' ;) - well how about something to deal with zip files - I must use WINRAR (http://www.rarlab.com/) six times a day at least.

[InTheWayBoy]

I have to disagree with the laptop idea...I, also a mobile tech, can't see the justification of putting a $700+ item on the chopping block everyday. As a mobile tech, I am of course everywhere, and the chance of damaging, losing, or theft of said laptop is too high to risk. I bought one of these clipboards:

http://www.artsuppliesonline.com/catalog.cfm?cata_id=6775

And inside I have everything I need outside of test parts and bulk cable! I have a small 10 cd hard case to hold the CD's in, and that has never let me down. Also, since many PC's are in a troubled state to begin with, network access is usually not an option. I do have one in my car, but it's mounted in the car and is used for GPS and printing only.

But that's just my opinion :thumbs:

And for net access, I use my cell-phone with a USB cable...Sprint PCS baby!

[pcgenie]

but you are gonna look mighty stupid clutching all your disks when you can't actually use them in the machine you are trying to fix ! I know who'll look stupid then ! :p

I carry no more than basic tools some with advanced options like bootable CD, as far as CDs go and then I have one CD for the customer to have with some free basic stuff, which normally has the adware and stuff on it, no need for me to have it on another CD.
If I can't use the cd-rom, then I'm pretty sure I know what part of the problem is, but I'm smart smart enough to be aware of the basic issues of the computer. It all comes down to asking before you visit onsite.

If you are using a laptop that houses 60GIGs worth of tools, awesome, but don't you have to transfer them to the client and install when needed. O wait no NIC to do that..or awesome I can use that good old trusty printer port to transfer(not). Each of us will come across something that may hinder some part of fixing a machine. I do however like the idea of the jump drives. Get a jump drive with a gig of space and have a second option to use onsite.That would work for me.



somebody said to me - 'what are you doing ?' while noting it took me 1/2 an hour every time before setting off to get organised,

Um, Might want to tidy up a bit more. I recommend the CD ORganizer for those having a ruff time doing so.

btw just to give you an idea, there's 60 gig's worth of utilities & images on my 'baby' - & that's an awful lot of cd's

Not really to comaplin or anything but 60GIGs worth of tools seems abit excessive for our kind of work. I use around 6-8 CD-Rs and store them, while maintaining a current copy on my computer that is ready and able to be burned within 7 minutes, 10 on cold mornings.(I run 3 minutes slower when it is cold). To each his own I guess. I just thought a list for others to refer would be nice, doesn't really matter how you store them.

Never triple quoted someone before..LAST TIME FOR THAT..looks like I'm just typing and typing and typing just to type. Guess I might have been.

[pcgenie]

..You try getting a cd to mail in here (or similar) to ask when you don't know/haven't seen the problem before ! :D

Not sure what you meant on this one!

[constructor]

Since most customers have USB these days I found that a couple of CDs together with a 80Gb USB Ext Drive with all of the rest of the Drivers etc does the job v nicely. I just update the Drive Weekly from the server.

[confus-ed]

Not sure what you meant on this one!

I can use my lappie to mail folks, if/when I get stuck ;) - cd's kind of lack that capability ;)

btw earlier I should have put 60gigs worth of programs, images & utilities just in case anybody thinks I am crazy enough to carry that many ! ;)

Constructor makes a good point about an external drive :thumbs: probably my second most useful thing after my laptop.

So methinks you can't compile your utility list until you know what kit you might carry to help you, as it isn't that bright a move taking say ghost along with you to image things if you have no external drive or burning capability present ..

[tommo666]

I don't carry any apps, if the customer doesn't have the original cd's with license it don't get loaded.

I do carry all the Dell resource and driver CD's and a couple of disks with server bioses and utils incase i can't get web access. A few boot floppies and ghost.

That's about it, i do have the firms laptop and that is full of EMC software. Oh and a hotmail/Gmail account