Computer Repair People: What tools do you use?

[kiwi89]

Hiren's boot cd + ubuntu live cd + malwarebytes

[John.D]

If its malware, (and their system is still bootable), I'll use teamviewer, (either in normal windows or safe mode / networking), and check it out. And if there's no programs for it, I'll download them from the other end. Since, I dont drive, I cant tiki-tour around the place. And if whoever wants me to install something, they'll have to bring it here

[Inertia]

I Do Computer Repairs for a living, heres the bulk of what I carry:

Tools:

1 Folder of OS Discs from XP up to date OEM and retail versions as well as x86 and x64 versions, All in ones or each different type, all with the latest sp's integrated.

Hirens Boot CD (10.6 or earleir I think 11.0 broke a ton of things)

1 500GB Freecom HDD with about 200gb of software on it (includes images of the discs above just in case they happen to get scratched) including Hijack this, and variosu security tools and the latest definitions such as malwarebytes, and Microsoft security essentials.

1 USB DVD-RW

1 Set of good standard screwdrivers, and 1 set of good precision screwdrivers. Needle nose pliers, tin snips, soldering iron, solder sucker, solder. Thermal paste remover, thermal paste (AS5), Disposable Jay clothes, PSU Tester. Usb to SATA/IDE cable + Standalone single Molex PSU with Molex to sata adapter.

1 Multi Meter (I use a fluke one, but a cheap one is better than none), 1 Ethernet cable tester, RJ45 Crimps, Cable stripper. Insulation tape, zip ties.

Laptop (with integrated 3G connection)

Stock:

A selection of SATA Hard drives, 1 IDE Hard Drive (80gb) for desktop and laptop.

Sata and IDE DVD-RW Drives for desktop and laptop.

A low end CPU for each socket type (might only be used for testing, as user may want you to collect them a higher spec CPU)

A Good selection of DDR1 and DDR2 RAM (most common PC's use this) DIMM and SODIMM

A low end 775 fully integrated motherboard (most commonly used socket, and often peopel just want a cheap fix)

A Low end AGP and a Low end PCI-E Gfx Card

A PCI Sound Card

Several Wireless N USB adapters.

ADSL2+ Wireless Router & Ethernet Wireless Router.

A USB NIC

Various heatsinks / fans.

A Selection of ATX 24 Pin Power Supplies (Some really cheap, some with 6-pin PCIe ports)

I Also carry a selection of second hand hardware for people who just want their system running with minimal cost, these were usualy donated by previous customers who i upgraded.

1 Reel of Cat5e Cable (was 300m when baught)

100+ RJ45 Connectors & Boots

Spare ADSL Microfilters.

Quality Universal laptop chargers (not imported crap on ebay)

A Selection of laptop DC power sockets.

That just about covers it. i never find myself needing anything for a diagnosis, I only ever have to visit the supplier if the client needs parts and opts for high end parts (rare). or to restock.

i agrea with BouncinDave above, if its realy bad, just rebuild, its usualy more efficient than trying to remove a load of malware and junk, often my fix is to quickly test the hardware isnt showing signs of fault, then backup the users Data and just rebuild the system.

Sometimes you remove all detectabel traces of malware, but you leave in some rootkit that cant be seen or some similar nasty, and within 24 hours the computer is as infected as before.

[QcR]

Hi all,

As an experienced computer technician i use theses softwares. Hope it'll help some of you

Scanning for malware using :

- Combofix ( NOW SUPPORT 64BIT :D )

- MalwareBytes'

- Spyware Doctor 8

- Emsisoft Emergency Kit

- Runscanner 2.0

- Autoruns

- Customer AV if it's good ( Kaspersky, Nod32 etc ...)

- I highly recommend Microsoft Security Essentials

Temp Files

- Ccleaner 3.02 + Ccleaner Enhancer

- Glary Utilities

Registry

- Registry Mechanic

- Iobit Advanced system care

Other Tools

- NTFSCHK

- EASEUS Data Recovery Wizard

- EASEUS Partition Master

- Many others sysinternals softwares

- Many others NirSoft softwares ( Such as Produkey and BluescreenView )

- My own version of Hiren's Boot CD 13 ( I added a few softwares )

Hardware Check

- HDD Regenerator 2011

- Memtest +86 4.10

- Goldmemory 6.92

- Passmark Burnintest

- A few windows cracks

A lot of Windows CDs slipstreamed with latest SPs

Some Docs

And everythings you may find in a computer store !

[P!P]

I repair about 15-30 PCs a week (yeah, I'm busy). I use these tools for virus removal.

- Combofix - hands down the best removal tool out there

- MBAM - I usually run this after Combofix to remove any traces left behind

- Autoruns - more of a tune up tool, than a removal tool but I run it on every PC I work on

- CCleaner - again, more of a tune up tool but I still run on every virus removal

That's about all I regularly need for virus removal. Sometimes I scan offline with Avira or use a tool called TDSSKiller when Combofix doesn't seem to remove everything or the bootloader is infected.

[etempest]

Gparted - (OpenSource/Freeware) http://gparted.sourceforge.net/

> For hard drive manipulation (formating, advanced partitioning utilities)

MemTest86+ (OpenSource/Freeware) http://www.memtest.org/

> Memory (Ram) Testing

[tf76]

Don't forget google

:p

[bspus]

A few more things:

A product key finder. There are loads available, just do a google search. For the installed serials of things like windows and office. If you need to do a reinstall and the client has lost them.

A zip utility that is compatiible with all formats. Like 7zip which is free

A media player that plays pretty much everything without additional codec packs. Like vlc. Because "repairing" often means "make it play my videos"

[G_0]

Figure I'd throw this one out there for the techs:

D7 - http://www.foolishit.com/ if that gets blocked by the filter search google for Foolish.it or Foolish it

Tool is amazing, has a Ketarin file ready to go and update all apps used by the program and has sometimes more then 1 update a day. This tool is now indispensable for me.

I have a USB Key ready to go that will literally fix everything.

This can fit on a 8GB stick:

-Win 7/Vista Drivers

----x86/x64 (From driver packs)

------>Chipset

------>Lan

------>Mass Storage

------>Misc

------>Touchpad

----AMD/Nvidia official drivers

-Tools

----CCleaner Portable (With custom batch files)

----D7 (YOU NEED TO GET THIS)

----Filezilla Portable (With custom batch file for work)

----Fixes

------>Common registry fixes (54 different fixes)

----Removal Tools

------>Common removal tools such as Norton (20 different tools)

----Team Viewer (To work on more then 1 computer at a time)

------>Quick View

------>Team Viewer Portable

----YUMI (I just keep that for myself)

-Windows 7/Vista Recovery Disks

----Win 7/Vista x86/x64 recovery disks only with loaded to memory versions

-Windows 7 Complete (Custom)

----Includes all Win 7 versions with SP1 slip streamed

-Hirens Boot 14.1

----So many tools it's crazy (Mainly use MiniXP and GParted Live, love Kon-Boot)

Would love to hear some more apps from you guys/gals also.

Cheers!

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

1. Install Disks from Win 95 to Windows 7
   
2. A Standard PC Tech Tool Kit
   
3. CCleaner
   
4. A USB thumb drive with Firefox on it
   
5. An external HD in case I have to perform a back up.
   
6. That is about it.