Cost-effictiveness of hardware testing programs like PC Doctor?

[Larry Sabo]

Given the high price of PC Doctor and similar programs, how cost effective have you found yours, and what are you using? Seems to me I have managed well enough without for many years, although there have been a few intransigent dogs that probably would have benefited from one of these. Bad caps are pretty easy to spot visually, and I am doubtful that these programs can pinpoint motherboard problems other than CPU/GPU/NB problems. CPUs are pretty robust and are almost never faulty. GPU/NB BGA problems are often visibly obvious in the display, although they also frustrate booting. Do you really test USB and other ports with the included loop-back plugs?

Setting aside the marketing value of presenting customers with a report of hardware testing results, was it a good investment? What percentage of the time has your program actually located or helped diagnose a problem that you wouldn't have found through normal diagnostic procedures?

 

[ShinyTech]

I use PC Check by Eurosoft alot because its very good at testing hardware and reporting issues. If you dont want to spend the money on that, running drive fitness test and memtest are just as good except they ony test the hard drive and RAM (thier free). I think hardware diagnostic tools are invaluable, because alot of the time youll send hours trying to fix a computer and then find out its bad hardware. It might take a little more time on some to run it first but it will save you alot of time and man power in the long run.

 

[Larry Sabo]

Yeah, we all run HDD and memory tests as a matter of routine, I assume. You didn't address my questions.

Not to be rude, but I notice that most of your posts are platitudes, making me wonder whether you are just replying to increase your post count. Your web site is very nicely done, so I don't think you're an end-user. Could I encourage you to provide more thoughtful answers, and consider what value you have added to threads.

Having said that, could I respectfully ask you to review my post and offer some insights and/or statistics about PC Check and its cost-effectiveness. Thanks kindly!

 

[ShinyTech]

Sorry if you thought my post was not informative enough let me see if I can clarify a little. Cost-effectiveness...Ok if you spend 299 on PC check as a program to test hardware it should, in the long term save you money. Im not sure how big your company is but lets say you have 2 techs working for you and they work 8-5 everyday. You have 10 computers that need to be worked on. It would be cost effective in that a couple computers could be running the hardware diags while others are being worked on. The tech wont have to go between each computer running different kinds of tests and consuming manpower or effort on them. As one virus is being removed after the hardware test two others could be running a hardware test. Or you could set the computers to run hardware tests as they leave for the day so when they come back they can finish them if theres no bad hardware. Maybe Im getting a bit off the static topic lets go back. If a tech has to run several hardware test instead of one automated test he will have to spend more of his time that could be spent on other repairs.

You charge 99 bucks to fix a computer. A tech spends several hours trouble shooting it actively just to find out it a bad RAM. You have to pay that tech for all that time that could have been better spent.

OR

The Tech starts a hardware test on the computer, then goes off and fixes another computer. When he comes back he sees the RAM, for instance, is bad and that its in slot 2. No trouble shooting, no running tests on each stick seperately, no time spent.

SO instead of the tech working a good part of the day troubleshooting one issue he is able to do several repairs while he waiting for a hardware test to verify.

It just seems like it would allow for better multi tasking.

PC check is a basic program that you can boot to that runs automated hardware tests on each component without interaction.

I like the criticism tho so no worries. If you need more info just let me know as I am new to these forums and appreciate any help in improvong my posts to better help others.

 

[16k_zx81]

dont see whats wrong with memtest x86 and a decent sector-by-sector+smart app.

I have Eurosoft. Its come out of my DVD wallet once in last 6 months.

.

 

[Larry Sabo]

I have Eurosoft. Its come out of my DVD wallet once in last 6 months.

Thanks, Jim, that's the kind of feedback I was looking for.

 

[HCHTech]

ShinyTech hit the nail on the head - the programs give you the ability to automate the tests so you spend less time on the process. I also have Eurosoft and I use it all the time for benchwork (not for hard disks, though - they get tested separately).

 

[Larry Sabo]

Thanks, HCHTech, and ShinyTech. I'd be interested to know what hardware problems PC Check finds for you, and how frequently that happens, e.g., 1 out of every 10 PCs? You both appear to consider it money well spent, whereas Jim does not, I think.

 

[compnet]

Haven't tried either pc doctor or pc check, but researching them and from reading posts on here, I've heard they aren't as accurate as gsmartcontrol/manufacturer tests/memtest. I think if they were accurate and worked properly(fire and forget) on every computer, every shop on earth would use them...

 

[Kitten Kong]

I have used PC Doctor in the past.

It is good for generating diagnostic reports, and does go through a barrage of tests. And does produce a nice report for the client.

However it has not as of yet told me anything I did not already know. I'm slightly on the fence with the program. Yes it is a lot of money to spend out, and in time you could recoup it back, but imo it will take a lot of time.

Yes there are other programs out there, which would do the same thing, but you would have to run them all independently of each other, whereas with this sw, it does it all in one.

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

In 9 years I've never used anything similar or felt the need for one.

 

[jamston]

For me a good instinct and good basic diag would negate having a one for all program. If you suspect hardware there's pretty basic logical routes to pinpointing the problem. Then use the manufacturers diag or memtest or another handy tool to confirm etc. I don't have personal experience but I can imagine as someone else said, the time saved against the cost doesn't make it worth it, definitely not for smaller guys like me anyway.

It's also got me thinking about the pci mobo dig cards and something else that supposed to be good for hardware, but that everyone kind of knows are rubbish.