Geek Squad MRI question?

[mkeathley]

I worked for BB/GS when the first OFFICIAL MRI disk came out. I remember the ones before it. thats where they got the name from. They were osmehwta automated but mostly was just a collection of pirated tools they used. The offical MRI came when they started to try to get legal.

I have local competitors who brag that they have a copy of it, btu I find I have no use for it. I agree its for basic use of a person who doesn't know how to work on computers.

I personally love BB/GS as almost 80% of my new customers are thier screwups. I hope they run more commercials real soon....LOL

Also remember that msost virus removals with BB/GS are done by Agent Johnny Utah I remember when they came about too.

I used to be quite active on Geek Squad Forums the unofficials forums, its amazing that msot of this stuff was done by just a few original GS employees.

 

[atlanticjim]

Is there any apps similar that do diagnostics and Anti virus run in a wizard interface with bartpe and windows like MRI?

To answer the original post:

Look at UBCD4Win.
It uses a BartPE shell and has many very very useful tools.
I don't leave home without it.

 

[Mushin]

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.

All bias aside I say that the MRI is a good tool but the implementation is poor. Many of the tools on the disc are decent and their automated scanning is nice (Especailly in the Best Buy store environment where the agents are pulled every direction. That is what I mean about poor implementation. They can rely too much on the disc and not enougn on the actual techs abiliteis.

To answer your question about testing a CD-ROM drive when there is no sign of that being the problem.... there are a few reasons.

1.) A complete diagnostic service will reduce professional liability as people can not say you broke xyz ot that it was working before it was brought in for service.
2.) A complete diagnostic service can be used to look for other revenue opportunities. Sure that DVD drive might read discs fine but what if it will not burn right.

There are many other reasons.

Still it does depend on the circumstances of the repair. if you are on site you probably not perform a lengthy diagnostic service.

 

[ATTech]

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.

So If I were to create a boot image that ran through basic tests and scripted it to automate these and other things such as virus removal, and I were to put an easy to use GUI on it for my own pleasure, would that make me a Pizza tech?

 

[gunslinger]

So If I were to create a boot image that ran through basic tests and scripted it to automate these and other things such as virus removal, and I were to put an easy to use GUI on it for my own pleasure, would that make me a Pizza tech?

I think it would make you a better more efficient tech. I have actually been looking into doing pretty much the same thing. Any time you can automate something to save some time I say go for it.

I think where the pizza tech crap starts to come in is when you have a disc and expect the disc to do the work for you. So basically anyone who had that disc could do anything you could do. THAT would make you a pizza tech.

 

[vdub12]

I think where the pizza tech crap starts to come in is when you have a disc and expect the disc to do the work for you. So basically anyone who had that disc could do anything you could do. THAT would make you a pizza tech.

I think that explains it well.

You would be amassed at how many times I here someone bragging about having an MRI CD. Its funny, they actually think it makes them a tech.

 

[Xander]

So If I were to create a boot image that ran through basic tests and scripted it to automate these and other things such as virus removal, and I were to put an easy to use GUI on it for my own pleasure, would that make me a Pizza tech?

If you had the skills and knowledge to create such a disc, you would already know how to disinfect a system anyway. Your disc would be a tool.
If you lacked the skills to disinfect a system without such tools and needed that CD to get any job done, I think that would make you a pizza tech.

The Best Buy "techs" aren't always well-titled. Some are completely competent but many can't function without these tools. Same goes with those in our field. While a tool like that might save me some time, I don't need it.

 

[myPCTechs]

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.)

You're assuming that Geek Squad hires people with SKILLS in the first place.

OK, low dig and I'm sorry - if you work at Geek Squad that was a joke...

Anyways, what Mushin posted was very insightful and accurate. No automated tool can come close (yet) to making up for lack of computer repair experience. However, there are a lot of great tools that can provide a lot of assistance to someone that already knows what they're doing. As others have said, the benefit comes in knowing which tools to use for the job depending on the initial symptoms you've encountered.

 

[gunslinger]

Like I said before the problem starts when the tech can't do his job without the "special" disc. I don't see any issues with having an automated process to do things you are going to end up doing one by one anyway. As a very basic example: On pretty much every slow computer that comes through the door I will run Ccleaner, easy cleaner, ATF cleaner, and pureRA. This takes care of any and all junk and temp files and speeds up malware scanning quite a bit. Whats wrong with automating this process? It takes maybe 5 mins to run these manually or I could automate it and shave maybe 4 mins off that time. Same with malware scanners. Why not have one script that will run 2-3 different ones. Now just take it one more step and have one both scripts run back to back with the push of a button. Things like this come in handy when you have 4-5 computers going at once. I can be manually removing a bit of malware on one hard to fix system while the "magic" disc is doing 80% of the work on the others.

Nothing wrong with this IMO.

 

[vdub12]

Like I said before the problem starts when the tech can't do his job without the "special" disc. I don't see any issues with having an automated process to do things you are going to end up doing one by one anyway. As a very basic example: On pretty much every slow computer that comes through the door I will run Ccleaner, easy cleaner, ATF cleaner, and pureRA. This takes care of any and all junk and temp files and speeds up malware scanning quite a bit. Whats wrong with automating this process? It takes maybe 5 mins to run these manually or I could automate it and shave maybe 4 mins off that time. Same with malware scanners. Why not have one script that will run 2-3 different ones. Now just take it one more step and have one both scripts run back to back with the push of a button. Things like this come in handy when you have 4-5 computers going at once. I can be manually removing a bit of malware on one hard to fix system while the "magic" disc is doing 80% of the work on the others.

Nothing wrong with this IMO.

Why would you run more then one temp file cleaner in the first place? Honestly I think your wasting your time.

 

[gunslinger]

Why would you run more then one temp file cleaner in the first place? Honestly I think your wasting your time.

The same reason I run superantispyware, and malwarebytes. Because nothing gets 100% of everything. I can run Ccleaner then run ATF cleaner and it picks up things Ccleaner missed. I can run prureRA and it will pick up things both of those missed. It only takes a few seconds. I'm really surprised more techs don't get this concept. Don't take my word for it. Run Ccleaner or your fave temp file cleaner then run pureRA or ATF cleaner. I'll bet you will pick up even more garbage. Why half way do something?

I had a similar debate with a tech a while back. He only used Combofix. That was it. If Combofix didn't get it it was not there. A quick scan with Malwarebytes revealed over 20 more problems.

 

[ATTech]

Maybe I can make MRI-esk CDs and sell them to Pizza techs...

Eh, they'd probably pirate them anyway.

 

[NeutronTech]

Maybe I can make MRI-esk CDs and sell them to PC techs...

Eh, they'd probably pirate them anyway.

LOL I don't know why, but as soon as I read this I pictured a CD with a label on it that is white and red, with red circles, some smaller brown circles, and some green blotches; packaged in a box that looks much like a small delivery box you might find at some Italian restaurants.

EDIT:

Nevermind, someone already did it!

 

[Xander]

Nevermind, someone already did it!

That is a thing of beauty. If I ever got around to distributing CDs to customers of various softwares, I would print labels to look like that. They'd never get the joke but I'd be chuckling on the inside.

 

[contrive]

Custom MRI = Smart Biz

I can't believe the fallacy of generalizations I'm seeing in this post. Of course it's obvious that BB tends to assign GS agents without having experience or book knowledge of I.T. However, just because someone uses such a tool as MRI doesn't automatically make them a "pizza tech".

The GS MRI is in fact a work of art, designed to streamline and standardize procedures. It runs a full hardware check, runs checkdisk, runs defrag, stops replicators, scans & removes traces with 5-6 well known effective scanners, launches an autorun editor, a group policy editor, and can remove login password so further work can be done within the OS. Best of all, it provides a log (written to disk) as evidence of how many traces were removed as well as hardware test results, should a client ever question your work.

Sure it takes 6-12 hours to run. So I run it, do my own manual/post procedures, and have it back to the client within 24 hours: Clean, secure, and optimized.... Wheres the problem with that?

This does not mean its an all-in-one solution and one that a tech should become dependent upon. It pays to be able to identify problems BEFORE running such a tool as to avoid any unnecessary procedures.

I'm currently designing my own and I say to anyone looking to design such a "trademark" tool for your business, you're very well on the right track. I've been in the business for quite awhile now and challenge anyone who would wish to call me a "pizza tech" just because I use such tools.

 

[dannyd]

So i take it you work for Geek squad then??

 

[thebige]

You decided to resurrect a 2 year old thread? Interesting.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

You decided to resurrect a 2 year old thread? Interesting.

Yeah...it's curious. Had to be buried pretty deep in the boards here...can only imagine it came from a search for something.....for something...perhaps all posts with "geek squad"? We've had a few of those CDs we found in systems that were brought to us...obviously GS didn't get it fixed....and those CDs made it to the garbage....lol.

//scratches head for a second...and them moves onto next subject.

 

[angry_geek]

I can't believe the fallacy of generalizations I'm seeing in this post. Of course it's obvious that BB tends to assign GS agents without having experience or book knowledge of I.T. However, just because someone uses such a tool as MRI doesn't automatically make them a "pizza tech".

The GS MRI is in fact a work of art, designed to streamline and standardize procedures. It runs a full hardware check, runs checkdisk, runs defrag, stops replicators, scans & removes traces with 5-6 well known effective scanners, launches an autorun editor, a group policy editor, and can remove login password so further work can be done within the OS. Best of all, it provides a log (written to disk) as evidence of how many traces were removed as well as hardware test results, should a client ever question your work.

Sure it takes 6-12 hours to run. So I run it, do my own manual/post procedures, and have it back to the client within 24 hours: Clean, secure, and optimized.... Wheres the problem with that?

This does not mean its an all-in-one solution and one that a tech should become dependent upon. It pays to be able to identify problems BEFORE running such a tool as to avoid any unnecessary procedures.

I'm currently designing my own and I say to anyone looking to design such a "trademark" tool for your business, you're very well on the right track. I've been in the business for quite awhile now and challenge anyone who would wish to call me a "pizza tech" just because I use such tools.

And yet, neither the disc or the GS "agent" can determine a wireless hardware switch has been turned off or a static IP address has been set in the nic. Instead, the diagnosis is "we need to send it off for further repair. Should only take 4 to 6 weeks." Gee whiz, Mr. Black Shirt, I'm sure glad I paid an extra $300 for that awesome GS warranty! And thanks for the official GS 2 Gb flash drive!

 

[Dan_J]

Hey guys, I'm a former GS "tech" as well. MRI is merely a compilation of things that are available for free online packaged in to a handy GUI. If you take the time to purchase a copy of D7 and take advantage of the custom app features you can accomplish much of the same thing. Also, using yumi you can create usb sticks that enable you to boot to several repair consoles. I knew the MRI system inside and out when i worked there. I've forgotten a lot of it.

Also, funny thing about people bragging about having copies. I often get peoples system that have just come from bestbuy for diagnostics or other work. They leave the damn MRI discs right in the computers. I throw them all away. I've created a much better kit with the tools available on this site and other sources.

I also love Geeksquad too because much of my marketing material hints that we are nothing like them. A large majority of my customers are people that have been burned by them and are looking for an alternative.

Bottom line. Take the time and build up your own tool kit. In the end you will get something much better, easier to use and more effective.