Geek Squad MRI question?

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SilberCobra

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Is there any apps similar that do diagnostics and Anti virus run in a wizard interface with bartpe and windows like MRI?
 
From what I understand, running MRI is such a waste of time. I once heard that most "agents" let it run overnight because the full scan takes anywhere from 6-12 hours, depending on the system. That's completely absurd.

For hardware diagnostics, you can use things like memtest, drive fitness test, or various commercial suites. For virus removal, you can build a bartpe disc of your own, use whatever available AV and spyware scanner you like, and scan with that...

But....the problem with relying on just the scanners is that they're likely not going to do all of the work for you. You can be much faster and more thorough if you learn how to do some manual clean-up first, then use a few select tools to clean up stuff that you missed. There are plenty of threads on the topic.
 
Not specificly and not as scripted as the MRI.

Still you can get nearly the same types of tools and put them on a Bart or live cd. If you were really good at scripting you could then automate a lot of the process.

With that being said:
The MRI leaves a lot of good troubleshooting on the table because the processes at Geek Squad rely so heavily on running the MRI.

As a good example when you have a computer running slow there are many things that can cause this. If the MRI finds infections then the buck tends to stop there and ALL of the slow performance is attributed to the infections. Yet.... the slow performance can also be attributed to a fully compressed hard drive.

Or in the case of no infections the solution tends to be install more ram, tune up and send you on the way but there could be some other problem like a system process or.. as above a compressed drive.

When you try to cookie cutter a repair process something is going to fall through the cracks and you skills will get dull over time because you get tunnel vision on how to fix things... (That is what happens with many Geek Squad locations.)
 
How do you feel about using a laptop with ubuntu (Backtrack tools and Bitdefender), using an usb to ide and just open the case with extension to scan that way? I have made a boot cd with the tools and apps I prefer to use but was only wondering of a faster way to run with out the client saying I could have done that. (To make it easier to kind of make him think it actually takes more trouble for him do it instead of me)
 
Sorry for the stupid questions. I have worked on many family and friends computers with out certification and learned my way for 15 years, I am 23. the thing is I have been wanting to start but have been putting it off for my family. The economy the way it is, is the resaion I have decied to start working with the thing I love (Computers), I also love to tinker, but anyways. I am also ording post cards for laptops and desktops. so that will help with some diagnostics. thanks for listening anyways.
 
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I've created a few, well boot images, since I don't use CDs, that are designed for different purposes using WinPE, scripting and various tools. You would be hard pressed to find one that is is intended to be as automated as the MRI do to a number of issues ranging from program licensing to software preference.
 
SilberCobra said:
No, not a whole lot. I am willing to learn though.
Click to expand...
Then before you attempt to create advanced scripts involving a PE environment, I'd recommend learning basic scripting and programming concepts. There are plenty of resources on the internet, in book, or in schools that you can learn from, so I'm not going to bother posting any specifically.
 
SilberCobra said:
Is there any apps similar that do diagnostics and Anti virus run in a wizard interface with bartpe and windows like MRI?
Click to expand...

Why would you want to.

Diagnose what system is causing the problem and test that. Why would you test a CD-ROM when the computers having a memory error?

THE MRI CD's are for pizza techs and BB/GS sales people that pretend to be techs. Since they don't know how to diagnose a system they need the wizards.

I downloaded the MRI CD just to see what it was all about and I found it to be a complete joke.
 
vdub12 said:
Why would you want to.

Diagnose what system is causing the problem and test that. Why would you test a CD-ROM when the computers having a memory error?

THE MRI CD's are for pizza techs and BB/GS sales people that pretend to be techs. Since they don't know how to diagnose a system they need the wizards.

I downloaded the MRI CD just to see what it was all about and I found it to be a complete joke.
Click to expand...
Are you suggesting that the concept of the MRI CD is for pizza techs, or the actual MRI CD itself, because I'd love to here an explanation on the former.
 
SilberCobra said:
..... was only wondering of a faster way to run with out the client saying I could have done that. (To make it easier to kind of make him think it actually takes more trouble for him do it instead of me)
Click to expand...

Don't do this. And don't spend more time on a job than you need to just because you think the customer will think it was easy enough for him to do. The fact is that if the customer was able to do it, he would have. Even if the fix is a simple, easily available fix it app. It's not just about how you fix something, it's about knowing what exactly is wrong and knowing what exactly to do to fix it. Whether that means running a program or modifying a registry entry. Even if you don't know exactly how to fix it, you understand enough about the problem and how computers work to be able to find the solution to the problem.

There are a ton of easy to fix problems. There are probably just as many that are easy but I don't know about them. But if I came across something I didn't know, I would know what search terms to use and what to look for. A lot of times I won't find a step by step fix anyways. I find little clues from this page or that page, then eventually put what I have found together and then I can fill the gaps myself because of my experience and understanding. You can too, the customer can't. That's what your being paid for.
 
A major machine broke down and no one could get it going. They finally had to call in an engineer. The engineer said, "Well, I will come, but it will cost you $5,000 dollars."
"Ok, Ok, Anything if you will only get it working again."
The engineer arrived. Stood around for a few minutes looking at the machine, then walked up and pressed a small button and the machine started working.
"What's this? You charge $5,000 for pushing a button?"
"No. $500 was for the plane fare. $4,500 was for knowing what button to push."
Click to expand...
Some softwares only exist for those that can't do the job themselves. Don't get on the fast train to Repairsville with these Fixit CDs. There was an old commercial when I was growing up for a muffler chain, "First you get good, then you get fast." Learn how to manually remove a virus or diagnose a problem and you'll find you can get the job done well in a fraction of the time it takes to wait for a CD to tell you the same thing.
 
ATTech said:
Let me rephrase the question:

Are you suggesting that the concept of the MRI CD or the actual MRI CD itself, is for pizza techs?
Click to expand...

Not sure exactly what you mean but the BB/GS MRI CD is tailored for novice techs that don't have experience diagnosing a problem. It also gives vague results, this I believe is one reason BB/GS have so many miss diagnostics.

When you say the concept of the MRI CD, I am not sure what you are referring to. The concept behind the system was not tailored to professionals but rather giving non professionals a way to look professional.
 
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