The Technician's Essential Tools/Utilities?

LABFE, just be careful what you say:). I have a 4 year degree in computers from Ohio University, but to be 100% honest, IMO that degree is really a piece of paper. 99.99% what I know about computers is from on the job experience. Seeing something break or given something broken and being expected to put it back together.

A degree is great but just be careful you don't say that the wrong way to someone. I don't mention my degree usually. One user I help has degrees, and once called asking how to turn on their computer. They could not find the power button. Person is not dumb or anything, but I was just thinking really?
 
Tron script has been getting some use lately. Great if you just wanna set it and forget it.
Tron's author calls it " basically a glorified batch file that automates a bunch of scanning/disinfection/cleanup tools on a Windows system. I got tired of running everything manually and decided to just script the whole thing. I hope this helps other techs and admins."

It runs almost everything you can think of, hoping one of them fixes the problem. Many of the scans it runs have nothing to do with the problem. I find it takes a long time. I looked at it several months ago and found I could fix things in a lot less time.

It's a nice piece of work, but it's designed to "Fight for the User" more than a tool for professionals. It doesn't do any hardware evals like hard disk or memory checks.
https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/3m71gt/tron_v670_20150923_disable_windows_10_telemetry/
 
Anyone else using TechWARU by RepairTech? Or a similar sort of all in one toolkit? What's been your experience? Is it truly an "all-in-one" or do you need other software utilities to accompany it?
 
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Tron's author calls it " basically a glorified batch file that automates a bunch of scanning/disinfection/cleanup tools on a Windows system. I got tired of running everything manually and decided to just script the whole thing. I hope this helps other techs and admins."

It runs almost everything you can think of, hoping one of them fixes the problem. Many of the scans it runs have nothing to do with the problem. I find it takes a long time. I looked at it several months ago and found I could fix things in a lot less time.

It's a nice piece of work, but it's designed to "Fight for the User" more than a tool for professionals. It doesn't do any hardware evals like hard disk or memory checks.
https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/3m71gt/tron_v670_20150923_disable_windows_10_telemetry/

True I can fix most things quicker...BUT! If I'm so busy/tied up with something it's nice to know it's had a certain level of work done on it. Temp files, defrag and updates for example is handy. You can customise the script too. I know d7 can do it etc. but this is free and suits me at the moment :) the debloat is cool too (like duninstaller but its getting a rebuild soon). I'll put forward the idea of diagnostics too I think :)
 
I use a Kanguru USB drive with a physical write-protect switch (link) loaded with all my tools like CCleaner, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, AdwCleaner, etc. that I can stick into an infected machine without worrying that it will contaminate my USB drive. Of course, this method relies on my being aware of whether or not the switch in the "protected" mode, but so far no problems,

I bought one of the click to fix programs that seems to be popular, but there was not much information about what it was doing, When I found out I had to pay extra for education, I stopped using it.
 
Could even use keratin to keep the usb up to date :)
I actually use Ketarin but put the files on a local hard drive. There are also many files I have on the USB that I can't use Ketarin to download, so I do those manually (also to the hard drive) and use Sync Toy to copy to my USB drive.
 
Wow. I've been searching for a write-protectable USB, off and on, for a while now. Apparently Kanguru is the only company in existence that makes them still. I'll have to nab some before they decide to drop the protection like all the rest. Jerks.
 
Wow. I've been searching for a write-protectable USB, off and on, for a while now. Apparently Kanguru is the only company in existence that makes them still. I'll have to nab some before they decide to drop the protection like all the rest. Jerks.

You won't regret it. Got one a couple years ago and I love it.
 
My daily use tools:
-UVK (Ultra Virus Killer) for malware and general software repair automation.
-Easy2Boot (makes multiboot flash drives, a redundant thing if you've got a Zalman drive, but works when the Zalman doesn't)
-Hiren's Boot CD (like it because its got Offline NT Password remover, memtest, mhdd, and hdat on it)
-Win 8 PE iso
-Parted Magic
-R-Studio
-Macrium Reflect (for creating and applying custom and updated windows images)
-Bench machine with hotswap bay, and eSata docks so I can quickly test several hdds' SMART statuses, as well as use ddrescue to clone drives
 
D7
Image for Windows (IFW, BIBM) - Terabyte Unlimited
Gsmart control (boot from Linux distro)
Mhelpdesk (invoicing, clients service requests, inventory) - I spend almost no time on admin as I invoice when I finish a job.
Fabs Autobackup (it can be run from the D7 Interface)
Kangaru with write protect
(Always check the hard-drive first! Save your client and yourself valuable time! Verify they have backups before hand and have them sign a waiver if they don't and do not want an image or backup created first. I've never been burned and you don't want to be.)
Squareup, PayPal Here or some way to take payments onsite.

You are at the right Tech Site. It helped me a ton when I was first starting out.
 
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