As a self-employed PC tech, I'm always looking for new (or new-to-me) utilities to make my job easier and more profitable. In that spirit, I'd like to ask other PC Techs, or those that work on computers a lot, to post what utilities you make use of when fixing computers. Free or low-cost is best, but if something costs big bucks, but you couldn't live without it, post away...
Here are some of my favorites (many of which I've recommended before) - Please be sure to follow the licensing requirements of each program. Some are free for personal use, but become commercial, pay programs when used by technicians, or on computers owned by anyone other than a private person:
Ultimate Boot CD for Windows - Donationware. - this is my favorite, most used tool, that saves me countless hours. You can build a custom, bootable CD with many utilities that are indispensable for PC repair. By the way, the UBCD4W is based on the original ->>>BartPE bootable CD. It's stripped down in comparison, but sometimes that's a good thing...
Norton (Symantec) Ghost (in various versions) - commercial license. - Ghost, especially in the older versions (Ghost 2003, or Ghost 8), will allow you to easily image and/or clone hard disks without installing the program on the computer (the product CD is bootable, allowing "cold" imaging). Making an image of a hard drive before working on it in any other way helps to ensure you don't lose any customer data, and gives you a baseline to go back (revert) to if anything goes wrong. Ghost 8 is especially powerful if added to the UBCD4W disc above...
Acronis True Image 10 - commercial license. - this is the major competitor to Ghost. It also clones and images hard discs. A bootable CD can be made that allows for "cold", offline imaging and recovery. Files can be recovered from systems that will no longer boot into Windows. I'm quickly becoming partial to True Image over Ghost. Again, True Image can be added to the ultimate boot CD for Windows to make it especially useful.
Windows Updates and Patching Systems: AutoPatcher - Donationware. allows techs to download and install all Windows security updates on target systems without needing an Internet connection, plus it's much more automated, require maybe one or two reboots at most.
Speaking of automation (getting new/repaired systems up and running quicker): Win-Get - open source. allows you to automatically download the latest version of many open source & free programs, and then automatically, silently install them. InstallPad - freeware works in a similar manner. I highly recommend both of these programs. Other similar programs include AppSnap, WPKG, WinLibre!, and others.
Remote Control/repair: I'm really liking the free ShowMyPC.com - very very simple for clients to download and run, so you can take control of their PC and do simple remote repairs. Similar is Zolved Remote Control.
Magic Jellybean (Windows XP) keyfinder - recover Windows XP CD-Key - when added to UBCD4W will even allow you to recover the key with the system "offline". IE PassView - recover/save Internet Explorer site-passwords before wiping systems. The website has a TON of other very useful password recovery tools (for mail accounts, wireless network SSIDs/Passphrases, etc).
Easy Uninstaller - a program that lets you select MULTIPLE items to be removed at one time...so you can walk away and do something else, perhaps... - Haven't used it myself, but Absolute Uninstaller looks like another useful free uninstaller that can 'batch uninstall' programs.
Fab's Auto Backup lets you quickly and easily backup things like IE Favorites, E-mails and settings, then you can use it to restore the files again...included on UBCD4W, or can be run from within Windows...
"AutoRuns" - by Microsoft - this tool is similar to HijackThis, in that it shows just about every single thing that starts automatically on a computer, and lets you remove the things you don't want...
Another Ghost alternative is DriveImage XML - freeware. - this is also included on the UBCD4W disc...this program seems a tad slow to me, but it does work...
Regshot.exe from this page allows you to take a snapshot of the system registry, and then a second snapshot after you've made some type of system change via the GUI, and then it detects what changed, and makes you a .reg file that you can use to effect the same changes on other systems. Good for getting you personal tweaks onto other systems easily.
Haven't tried this yet, but this webpage claims you can make a universal Ghost image with a program named MySysprep. Supposed to complement Microsoft's Sysprep tool.Here's another page with info on using Ghost and Sysprep together...
One more website I feel I have to mention: Shell Extension City - I seem to come across more free, useful little utilities there than just about anywhere else. Browse the alphabetical listings on the left side of the page.
I like to use Belarc Advisor over Magic Jellybean since it gives you the keys for more then just Windows XP CD Key. It includes Office and other programs. I also like UltraVNC, but it does take some configuration to be used. For AV I also prefer NOD32 even though it's a paid for program over AVG or Avast. Otherwise the programs you listed are ones I already use or have used at some point.
I am not a tech, but my knowledge gets me "drafted" at both work and at home.
You should be VERY careful if you either do this for money or support a business--there is a lot of freeware out there that only permits personal use (of what is listed in the OP: UBCD, InstallPad, PC Decrapifier, AVG, Spyware Blaster, AdAware, and probably others fit this category). I don't use any of these, as I can't use them at work. I will still recommend AVG and AdAware to others, but I no longer run them.
Free/open source software is always a good bet. I keep a number of John Haller's portable apps on a stick (so that I can use 7-zip, gvim, firefox, filezilla, etc.) There is a portable version of ClamWin which can be used commercially. It has very good detection, so is good at checking compromised systems. But I suggest most users use something with real-time protection (so will install our corp. antivirus, suggest they install AVG themselves, or buy antivirus protection). A Linux boot CD has also saved quite a few systems.
Prevention is best. In addition to antivirus & antispyware, getting a backup system running is a must. At work, we use amanda+rsync. At home, I often suggest rsync (since it runs on everything, is free/open, and can be use to backup both locally and remotely.
noksagt - Absolutely right. I had started to put what things were Freeware, Donationware, Commercial, Free for personal use, etc, but got sidetracked after only two of them. I'll go back and correct that soon...everybody should make sure they are following the program's licensing requirements...
Furthermore, I too have become a proponent of open source software (thanks to you, actually), and I will go back, where possible, and list open source alternatives...including some good Linux LiveCDs, stuff from sourceforge, OSalt.com, etc. Thank you for your reminder...
I just saw MSKeyViewer-Plus which may also be good. Looking at the pictures 2-4 on the download.com site show some keys that I'm surprised are even shown.
Doz
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 24, 2007 @ 3:44p
The Sysinternals web site, even though it has now been acquired by Microsoft, has a good collection of utilities to analyse, troubleshoot and diagnose PC problems that are available to download for free.
We've been using Blive to remotly support our customers. It's an online desktop sharing program, works just as well as webex, but they have a per minute type account available. works out to ~.30 a minute, which for those who don't use it too much per month works out great. their monthly charge is 49.95/ month so if you use it for less than ~166 minutes a month you'll come out ahead with the on demand pricing.
The benefit to a blive or webex type program is you can have your clients just go to your website, click a button and it'll install the desktop sharing and punch through the firewall/router with no interaction from the client, other then to click "yes" and "ok" a couple times.
well, OP's list covers all of my favorites:Norton magic, ghost, boot CD. I am a FireFox user. Is it a PC tool?
jemson
Member
posted: Aug. 25, 2007 @ 1:32a
As a partition magic alternative, I like the Gparted live CD. Gparted As a ghost alternative, if you have a Seagate or Maxtor drive, there is a lite version of Acronis that you can download from Seagate or Maxtor and then burn a CD to use as long as there is Seagate or Maxtor drive involved.
To help get users away from running pirated software, some other tools are nice: IZarc as an easy to use Winzip / Winrar replacement (it has a big button mode that looks just like Winzip) Xnview and/or Irfanview to replace Acdsee or Compupic
Daddio1949 said: I have to add the password keeper program keepass, http://keepass.info/kedpm is also good--it works wherever python does. I have it on my usb stick & there is a command line version that works over ssh.
jemson said: As a partition magic alternative, I like the Gparted live CD. Gpartedgparted is also on SystemRescueCD. This also has test-disk (for partition recovery) and other useful tools.IZarc as an easy to use Winzip / Winrar replacement (it has a big button mode that looks just like Winzip)Some people complain about the interface to 7-Zip, but PeaZip is another free/open alternative that supports the same formats (and has "big buttons").Xnview and/or Irfanview to replace Acdsee or CompupicI love using GQview on Linux. I found out there's a windows port, but haven't yet tried it. imgSeek and Imgv are other cross-platform F/OSS apps in this category.
MWAV is a nice, free, AV scanner (based on Kaspersky). It doesn't install, just decompresses and runs. You have to pay if you want it to clean stuff, but if you aren't sure if a system is clean after using other tools it's a nice way to double check yourself. Or prove to someone that their AV software isn't working.
CounterSpy is a great Spyware removal tool. It runs resident so stops most stuff before it even gets in. It's got a 15 day trial, after that it's $20 for one year of updates. If you have customers who can't keep their systems clean, this may be what you want (it's faster, cheaper and rated higher than SpySweeper)
CopyWipe is freeware. Great for drive duplicating and secure wiping. The copy process will offer to skip errors too, so if you have a drive with some bad sectors this may be able to copy it for you.
Doz
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 25, 2007 @ 11:15a
CPU-Z and PC Wizard are a pair of great freeware tools that will tell you everything you need to know about your PC Hardware setup and some Windows configuration details.
I was looking at the reviews on download.com - a lot of people are complaining that this installs a toolbar in IE that is hard to get rid of. I've never heard of this program so have no idea how true this may be.
minidrag said: sc0rpio said: I replaced Windows Defender with Spyware Terminator.
I was looking at the reviews on download.com - a lot of people are complaining that this installs a toolbar in IE that is hard to get rid of. I've never heard of this program so have no idea how true this may be. I was able to uninstall the Crawler Toolbar.
I like it because it tells me what hardware each pc has in it.
EVEREST Home Edition is a freeware system information, system diagnostics and benchmarking solution for home PC users, based on the award-winning EVEREST Technology. It offers the world's most accurate system information and diagnostics capabilities, including online features, memory benchmarks, hardware monitoring, and low-level hardware information
Drive Snaphot. Free drive images for 30 days and unlimited viewing of backed up images. Does a shadow copy so you can image your drive from within windows. Great tool when added to UBCD.
melissa77
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 27, 2007 @ 11:27a
Another awesome tool. Roadkil's Unstoppable copier! I use this s/w to copy files in Windows especially working with corrupted files/hard drives.
I started to categorize things in the Quick Summary by license and application. It currently only has the anti-spyware & anti-virus on UBCD4win & lacks descriptions, but this can help organize our efforts.
TM1
piņata
posted: Aug. 27, 2007 @ 2:29p
Kill Disk Pro is one of my favorites. Quick and easy way to wipe a HDD. Ghost to restore. Winternals is good to have, but expensive. I am still using an older version and it does everything I need it to do. Not really a utility, but I have made my own Hosts file and keep that on a thumb drive. Of course, AdAware and SpyBot. The DOS prompt!
These are all free. I use some of these, so if you're cheap this is the way to do it. It's now more than 100. 46 best free utilities: Text
kronus
Ancient Member
posted: Aug. 30, 2007 @ 3:29a
Windows Updates and Patching Systems: AutoPatcher - Donationware. allows techs to download and install all Windows security updates on target systems without needing an Internet connection, plus it's much more automated, require maybe one or two reboots at most. Killed by MS today. AP is no more
Sad day Posted by Antonis Kaladis on August 29th, 2007 | Comments
Today we received an e-mail from Microsoft, requesting the immediate take-down of the download page, which of course means that AutoPatcher is probably history. As much as we disagree, we can do very little, and although the download page is merely a collection of mirrors, we took the download page down.
We would like to thank you for your support. For the past 4 years, it has been a blast. Unfortunately, it seems like it's the end of AutoPatcher as we know it.
Just wanted to add that Comodo.com now has free** Firewall, Antivirus, and Antimalware products available...some are XP only now, with Vista support to be added soon
Forgot to add in my previous comment about autopatcher - there is a very nice alternative, called CTUpdate. To avoid too much duplicate posting, read about that here - bye bye autopatcher
I've found another handy tool - Windows Updates Downloader. This lets you download (pretty much) all available updates for easy integration with nLite and other unattended Windows discs. It's much quicker and easier than trying to find and download all updates on your own.
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