pcmag.com — It's been true since the dawn of the PC's creation: if you know anything about technology, you end up helping out everyone else. The IT pros at your office have their specialized tools to assist them. Here's a collection you can take with you, the home-based IT person handling tech support for family, friends, and friends of friends.
Aug 16, 2010 View in Crawl 4
Closed AccountAug 16, 2010
This is so true - and helpful.
brucealmightyAug 16, 2010
17 pages? Buried.
pyehacAug 17, 2010
1) small screw driver kit
2) regular sized Philips and standard screw drivers
3) copies of OSes (no need the serials, since you'll be getting them from the actual computers if they don't have a restore disc)
4) a copy of a live CD (ubuntu, knoppix, etc) to copy files
5) if you want, you can get an antivirus program that can run from a CD (but you either have to update it before you run a scan or burn a new disc every month or so)
6) a SD card + reader and the latest programs and definitions of popular scanning programs such as avira antivir, malwarebytes' antimalware, super antispyware and hijackthis. If you want, then in another folder, rename the .exe files so a rogue program won't be able to detect them before they run.
There might be more programs I forgot, but that's what I remembered when I was repairing computers for a living.
vidorianAug 17, 2010
I never went without a cd that had a memory sector test program on it, volt meter, and floppy boot disk. Never used an sd card always used a usb flash drives.
saikyanAug 17, 2010
Why SD over a USB flash drive?
zombies187Aug 18, 2010
Its a bad idea. SD is slower and it would have to plugged in via USB anyway. It could be that some malware is more attracted to USB sticks, but my guess is that would rare. Anyway, a real tech would have a writing switch to prevent viruses from jumping on the USB stick. Also you might have to install a driver. USB all the way. There is no benefit to SD in removing viruses.
universaltoolAug 17, 2010
Most of them I can agree with, but honestly Avast! I lost all respect for this article when I saw the tool that has created more work for me as a network professional then all the viruses, spyware, bad users and poor technicians combined.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
diemunkiesdieAug 17, 2010
Don't worry guys, diggers to the rescue:
1. TeamViewer
Platforms: PC/Mac/Linux/iPhone/iPad
Price: Free for personal use
Your parents can't figure out how to upload a picture to Facebook; you live 3,000 miles away. Do you try to talk them through the process on the phone? Why bother, when you can take remote control of their desktop from anywhere? Have them install TeamViewer's QuickSupport utility, so you can take over even from an iPhone or iPadonce they give you the ID and Password generated at launch. It's secure because they have to provide the numbers to give you permission. And it works like a charm.
2. Avast! BART CD
Platform: Windows
Price: $149 per year
BART stands for "bootable antivirus and recovery tool." Its Avast's version of an antivirus rescue CD. Before you gulp at the price ($149), consider the power this software, on a disc (or even a USB flash drive), can be a major life-saver if you encounter an infected PC. It can do a complete malware cleanup of your computer, even into the Windows registry.
3. Soluto
Platform: Windows
Price: Free
Wondering what all that crapware is that loads when Windows starts up? And if you really need it? Soluto is can help. It uses a "patent-pending low-level driver technology" to detect when you're frustratedor more specifically, to pinpoint programs that cause frustration. And it crowd-sources data so you and other Soluto users can get quick fixes.
4. Ubuntu LiveCD
Platform: Any
Price: Free
Sometimes Linux is the most useful solution for solving Windows problems. You can go with any flavor, but I prefer the simplicity of Ubuntu, which has all the tools you'd need on its LiveCD a bootable, workable version of the operating system that runs from the CD/DVD drive. Better yet, run it on a USB flash drive. It's totally free (they'll even mail you a CD for free), gives you access to all the files on your (probably non-booting) hard drives, and you can run memtest to check your RAM, Disk Utility to check the hard drive, and even edit drive partitions.
5. USB 2.0 Universal Drive adapter
Platform: Any
Price: $34.99 list
Got an old drive laying around you want to check? No matter what the connector SATA, IDE, ATA, ATAPI, in any size (even for laptops) this universal cable from Newer Technology will let you connect it to a computer via USB 2.0. It even works for formerly-internal hardware like old Iomega Zip drives. Everything you need to connect that outdated storage comes in the box.
6. TRENDnet Network Cable Tester
Platform: Any
Price: $52.99 direct
If you work with a lot of Ethernet cables, at home or the office, you know that running into just one bad patch cord can lead to the tearing out of hair. Before you let that 10Base-T, 100Base-T, or other cables drive you nuts, test the continuity of signals and proper pin/wiring. This hardware will work on cables as long as 300 meters (984 feet).
7. Magical Jelly Beans KeyFinder
Platform: Windows
Price: Free
Sense an upcoming "nuke it from orbit" scenario with an old or cantankerous Windows system? Don't get carried away until you make a backup. Even if you have original disks to re-install programs, you might lack some all-important product keys (those numbers that are used to legally install many programs). KeyFinder is a freebie that pulls the keys for over 300 programs, including older versions of Windows and Office. If you need serious power such as recovering numbers from Windows 7 and Office 2010 upgrade to the $24.95
8. PAGE NOT FOUND
9.Targus Travel USB 2.0 4-Port Hub with Laptop Light
Platform:Any
Price: $29.99 list
Never leave home without a mini-USB hub. This tiny one has a USB port like you'd find in a Flip camera, plus a flip-up light you can use to illuminate a keyboard.
10. Offline NT Password & Registry Editor
Platform: Windows
Price: Free
Don't let the name fool you, this software also works with Windows XP, Vista, and 7. What does it do? When you forget the all important administrative password for your PC, it lets you reset it (as long as there is at least one other valid account to use). You boot it from a CD and it will auto-detect other accounts and offer to reset them, whether for other users or the admin.
11. Anti-Static Wristband
Platform: Any
Price: $5.99 direct
This one is basic, and you can get these from many sources (the band pictured is from Belkin). Put it on your wrist, clip the other end to the computer you're working inside, and you're grounded again static shock, which can harm internal components.
12. Speccy
Platform: Windows
Price: Free
Sometimes all you need is some information. Like, just what kind of chip is in this computer? How much RAM does it really have? What kind of graphics chip is powering those monitors? You can find all that info and a lot more with a quick launch of the free Speccy software.
13. Darik's Boot and Nuke
Platform: Intel systems
Price: Free
Another boot disk? This is the one of last resort for hard drives you don't want to ever recover any data from. DBaN is all about securely wiping all data from the platters, forever, with no recourse for recovery.
14. Flexible Shaft Racheting Screwdriver
Platform: Any
Price: $19.99
Many models exist, but the one from ThinkGeek is especially nice and necessary for anyone getting into the innards of a PC. You can come at screws from almost any angle, and the ThinkGeek tool has 15 changeable bits, five driver sockets, and a magnetized hex opening to help pick up dropped screws and hold the bits in place.
15. DriveImage XML
Platform: Windows
Price: Free
If you have a working computer that you sense might be in danger, it's time for a backup. Quick (depending on the drive size) and thorough, DriveImage XML will make a complete backup image of the drive just make sure you have a larger drive to back up to. And thankfully, you can run it from a bootable CD. It works with Windows XP, Server 2003, Vista, and 7.
16. LookInMyPC
Platform: Windows
Price: Free
Don't start troubleshooting until you get a full report on what's going on with a PC. One of the best tools for that is the newcomer, LookInMyPC. It provides a complete report on your copy Windows 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, and 7 everything from the type of BIOS you have, to installed hotfixes, to registry run entries. It can even e-mail reports, so you can get your smarter friends to help you out.
17. inSIDDer
Platform: Windows
Price: Free
Got problems with wireless? This free tool gives you a full report on all the wireless in your area. That way you know what channels are in use, what's crowded, what's encrypted, and the strength of competing 802.11 signals over time. And unlike other tools like this, inSIDDer works with Windows all the way up to version 7, even 64-bit, all using your existing wireless hardware. (Serious IT mavens will want to upgrade to the $599 Wi-Spy DBx hardware.)
universaltoolAug 17, 2010
I notice 2 Tools that should be on the list that are missing, very critical and free
Hijack This
Spybot Search and Destroy www.safer-networking.org
These 2 programs provide such a wealth of information and look at parts of the system that frankly no other tool I have found can dig through with as much ease or detail.
rotzooiAug 17, 2010
"Anti-static wristband: Put it on your wrist, clip the other end to the computer you're working inside, and you're grounded again static shock, which can harm internal components."
If the quality of the other advice is as dire as this, I'm staying away from it.
How about actually grounding yourself?
runningflame570Aug 18, 2010
Thats the one bit of decent advice in the article barring DBaN. Perhaps I was taught incorrectly, but he seemed like a pretty smart guy and I was always taught to ground yourself using the case.
rotzooiAug 19, 2010
...but if the case isn't grounded, there's no real use. When working with very sensitive equipment in the lab here, we have to connect ourselves to a pole (much like a stripper pole...) in the office that goes 20ft into the ground below. *That*'s grounding.
But with regular pc's, I just touch the central heating or something I know is grounded decently in most houses.
woundedcowAug 17, 2010
I never considered myself an IT professional, although I am the lone IT guy in the company, I like to think of myself as the company generalist. What surprised me was I had 13 of these. I don't have 10, 12 or 17. Maybe I should rush out and get them.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
lagstarAug 17, 2010
I ate Cinnamon Special K this morning for breakfast. It really hit the spot.
Closed AccountAug 17, 2010
Some of those programs are pretty good, but I would have to add (or replace some of them with):
- Combofix
- MalwareBytes
- Avira AntiVir Boot CD and/or Shardana Boot CD
- Hijackthis
sej7278Aug 17, 2010
1. swiss army knife (cyber version)
2. usb stick to copy data onto
3. linux cd to install over the top of windows so i don't have to do tech support ever again
dwskeltonAug 17, 2010
Buried for Avast! BART CD
$149 pa for an "At-Home IT Toolkit"
Some pretty good picks, but definately should include:
Hijack This
Spybot Search and Destroy
vlite - (For when you lose everything and need to install everything again)
seltaeb4Aug 17, 2010
I read of a tech-inclined guy who made a deal with his extended family:
If you buy PCs, he told them, you'll get no assistance from me; if you buy Macs, I'll help you whenever you need help.
The extended family bought Macs.
His nights and weekends are now his own again.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
crazydave303Aug 17, 2010
I'm not fan of Macs mostly because of Finder (or what ever they call their shell) and other GUI elements. And Oddly enough working in print shops for the past 15 years have made me hate a lot of core OS.
But if any of my computer illiterate family ever asks me about a good computer I will recommend Mac as well. Take it out of the box, install a few apps and have it WORK. Also friends using to produce music have had better luck with it. If you use the *nix and real multi-user capabilities of the Mac this also shines.
-------when people say i don't know what I'm talking about when I say Mac suck here is list-------------
------really you can stop reading here---------
The s**t list I deal with at work: fonts being on alternative resource forks customers can figure out how to get them to me, s**tty drivers for high end printers/digital presses(this is where the company I work for makes money), long load times on programs and large files, s**t price performance ratios, too many full system hard hangs, files switching to different user privileges randomly, hardware systems reconfiguring settings, Not working with the companies network across our multi-branch lan(or is that now a wan?) and other network service not working.
Other s**t: Other then working better with Fire-wire video macs have issues with smooth NSTC video, games and application support, upgrading issues, heatsinks needing reinstalled, missing/unsupported codexs, bright blinking lights in my bedroom from my GF's tower of high pitch squealing doom. I had to deal with OS6 and 7 while doing work that had deadlines.
Yes Windows has it's issues to be fair:
It just ate my user profile(but recovered it), No real multi-user capabilities, you need to color calibrate monitor with an extra $200 unit(mac is calibrated some what out of the box), no multi-user, if software is not programed to run as a service then it will not run if you are not logged on, software can disrupt the instillation of other software(thanks to shared components and the registry) New hard-drives seem to always not want to work with old units for one reason or another like the retarded BIOS system, and last windows network stack sucks for distributed computing.
strictneinAug 17, 2010
@seltaeb4
Interesting story.
My story: I just read a post by an annoying Mac fanboy.
spartan8103Aug 17, 2010
Hey PC Magazine -- Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajax_(programming)
Try using this next time you want to post a list.
itcollAug 17, 2010
but we all know they would never do that
strictneinAug 17, 2010
They could use Ajax to reload the ads too, if they wanted.
crazydave303Aug 17, 2010
The worst of lucks and best of lucks all at once.
So while reading this article I came across Ubuntu LiveCD, I tried it out, but for some reason when I rebooted my XP profile cooked it self. (not sure what I did) With that profile, my Firefox profile went with it. I wanted my that back more then anything else.
I just figured out how to manually recover the Ff profile. Not only this did this save the day, but I also learned how to save all of it for when I reinstall my OS later this week, not just book marks.
And as an added bonus when I got my Ff profile back the slide show reopened and one of the slides was for Reprofiler. I just fixed my XP profile everything else with it.
sublimeflyAug 17, 2010
I'm done with slide show bulls**t. From now one slide shows will be buried and I think everyone else should join in. I think its time we say no to these scum bags looking for extra clicks with their slide show bulls**t!
pwr4Aug 17, 2010
1. Spinrite
2. Superantispyware
firefox15Aug 17, 2010
Spinrite? Why? So you can rescue data from a bad drive and write it back to the same drive?
thrillhoAug 17, 2010
OK people....Anti-static wristbands? Has anyone ever shorted anything out ever? I used to worry about stuff like this, but now I have stacks of PC cards (un-bagged) sitting in drawers and they always work....
scottussAug 17, 2010
I've worked in IT for 9 years and tinkered for a lot longer, never worn an anti-static wrist band and never had anything damaged.
YMMV
thrillhoAug 17, 2010
That's what I'm talking about...I have 10+ years myself....Can we get a positive 'short' story from anyone, or are anti-static devices similar to the 'underbody protective coat' that car dealers sell for $500...?
xyqxyqAug 17, 2010
Yes people ESD is a lie, every time you touched a doorknob on a dry winter day I was actually on the other side of the door with a battery and alligator clamps.
scottussAug 18, 2010
Wow xyqxyq, you were quick to presume that I had just claimed ESD wasn't real. That's not the case at all, I know it is real. All I'm saying is, in over 9 years, I've never killed components with it, and I'm sure the first time I do, I'll start wearing a wristband (or grab a radiator every now and then, as I've heard of people doing)
xyqxyqAug 18, 2010
Sorry, I just thought it would be funny. I didn't mean to create that impression.
jebediahtboneAug 17, 2010
I had one experience where I was poking around an old computer and I had a static electric discharge. I killed a PCI card, but that was it. I think a lot depends on the conditions like the type of floor (tile vs carpet), humidity, type of clothing, etc.
I always use an anti-static strap when working on customer equipment. It's not that much effort to put on and I'd rather be safe than sorry - especially when my customer's equipment is involved.
zombies187Aug 18, 2010
Sometimes I wonder if I did short something out. Knowing is half the battle.
jabbrwockeyAug 18, 2010
Nobody EVER shorts out a motherboard.
It's always dead on arrival because it ALWAYS has to be the manufacturer's fault.
scottussAug 18, 2010
I've seen plenty of dead motherboards, and it has ALWAYS been something elses fault, actually.
Thunderstorm, children with orange juice, not being Earthed properly, physically damaged FROM the manufacturer... etc etc.
realwebhatAug 17, 2010
I also have a PCI hardware analyzer for solving all the power-on self test (POST) issues, such as failed memory, monitor, motherboard or other hardware issues.
eqrunnerAug 17, 2010
Really, Out of all the friends computers I have fixed, There are only 2 items in this list, and one of them (static wristband) is unnecessary
truthillusionedAug 17, 2010
Static shock is something to worry about, I've seen it happen on occasion and can really throw a wrench in diagnostics.
rat_manAug 17, 2010
Soluto would be very helpful in the offices.
djpandemoniumAug 17, 2010
http://www.supportdetails.com/
For a quick, basic peek at their specs, IP address, etc.
cheezygrinAug 17, 2010
Some useful ideas in the list, but to be honest, 9/10 problems can be solved with the following:
1) Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
2) Memtest (free bootable CD)
3) HD test software (Free downloads from most HD manufacturers - such as Seatools from Seagate (Free bootable CDs)
4) Medium philips screwdriver
Of course, there's always that darn 10th one that needs every last bit of software you've got...
sshrpAug 17, 2010
I actually wasn't expecting much when I opened this but there were some good suggestions.
Avast! (despite what a couple of others have said) is actually very good. I'm a software developer for an oil company but also do a lot of support at my job. For my own computer I opted for Avast over the Symantec products the company uses as I've had much more luck with it. Symantec's software is fine but in the past we've given our users far too much freedom and they've managed to figure out ways to cause quite a lot of destruction despite having SAV installed (usually from clicking every link on every page they visit).
I'm also pretty excited over the DriveImage XML software. Can't wait to try that out.
joshcdtAug 17, 2010
DriveImage XML seems pretty awesome. I'll have to check it out.
-CDtek.com
rfquinnAug 17, 2010
Hiren's boot CD is (almost) the only boot disk you need. It's definitely not legal, so that's probably why it's not on this list. (It contains a crapload of the best boot-up software - most of which you're supposed to pay for.)
wildbilAug 18, 2010
QFT
prettyboyfloydAug 18, 2010
We use Hiren's bootCD in our office all the time. I cannot determine its legal status with any certainty from the main hosting site http://www.hiren.info, but it is in such wide use, and still available, that I don't think anyone is trying to shut them down. Technically, the mini-Windows XP boot option is the one feature that Microsoft might be upset about, but it is the same pre-execution Windows environment used by the BART PE boot disk and even Mark Russinovich's own WINTernals Admin tools (which Microsoft now owns; Russinovich is working for Microsoft's kernel development team these days).
dtwatsonAug 17, 2010
http://sectools.org/
antdudeAug 18, 2010
Speaking of Memtest86, what's up with the original program not being updated much while Plus version is getting updated. Did the original team die off?
runningflame570Aug 18, 2010
I'm really tired of this kind of crap. If you're a Windows magazine stop calling yourself PC Magazine; it's false advertising. If you're going to be compiling a list of things to fix Windows-specific problems, call it a Windows Disaster Toolkit. If you think that making a slideshow is a good idea, take a few minutes, choke yourself, and don't post that crap.
Buried and buried in the future until they change their name and stop diluting the meaning of PC.
-USB stick with recent versions of common programs (FF, IE, Flash, Java, etc.)
-Ratcheting screwdriver with good selection of bits (flat, phillips, & torx minimum).
-Knoppix or SystemRescueCD, although I prefer SystemRescueCD myself.
-Install discs for common OSes, whoever you're helping can provide the license if needed.
-Common cables and parts (screws, usb cable, sata, IDE, etc.)
There are times when you may need a wire crimper, or cable tester, or a replacement RAM module, HDD, etc. These times are relatively rare though and except for those things that can be carried around in a toolkit of the sort Belkin sells, there is no real justification for keeping them with you at all times.
Really, the above five types of things if kept on hand should easily take care of 90%+ of issues people are likely to bother you with. Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
zombies187Aug 18, 2010
Soluto looks interesting, but I wouldn't use to remove programs from start up because soluto would have to be running to stop it. Use msconfig instead.
angelocaputoAug 19, 2010
Just ordered the Newer Technology Universal Drive adapter from OWC. I've been meaning to buy that, thankfully this article reminded me of its absence in my bag!
rowenaverdaJun 29, 2011
hi friend i am following you and also voted your post so plz do the same for me.