The Technician's Essential Tools/Utilities?

[LABFE]

I'm hoping to get some advice on a technician's essential tools and utilities? I basically plan to provide mostly onsite services, but will take PC to home lab when needed. Services to include PC repair/hardware repair, data recovery (on a basic level, not physically damaged disks), malware removal, PC tune-ups, wifi setup, tablet/smartphone configuration, software/hardware troubleshooting and installation, and may provide some support to small businesses with up to 4-6 PC network.

Thus far, I have a Zalman VE300 loaded with the following: all Windows ISO's, Parted Magic, Avira Rescue Disk, Kaspersky Rescue Disk, Snappy Driver Installer. What other utilities should I look to add to the Zalman? I've heard a lot about Fab's Auto Backup; do I need this in addition to Parted Magic? Which bootable antivirus/rescue disks to you like? I've read that Parted Magic can do some basic hardware diagnostics; do you recommend any hardware diagnostics beyond this? Do you use PC Check by Eurosoft?

I have two laptops one on Windows 10 and the other on Windows 7, 500GB and 320GB external hard drives to backup user data/images, some various thumb drives, and anti-static wriststrap. I also plan to purchase the Belkin 36 Piece Computer Toolkit, anti-static mat and bags, and a class C fire extinguisher. And load up on compressed air cans, disinfecting wipes, microfiber cloths, iKlear.

What am I missing/overlooking? Last curiosity, what does it take to break into supporting Mac's? I know iOS extremely well, but no experience with Mac's. Is it sufficient to purchase one and just simply become familiar with it and perhaps take on some simple jobs to get started? Sorry for lengthiness, but just trying to cover it here as opposed to creating several new threads. All feedback is appreciated whether a little or a lot as I'll read it and research your suggestions.

 

[myleso]

D7, Fabs, External drives, RepairShoppr (free starter is available) are good stuff so start with. For Macs: bootable external drive, TechTools, I also use diskwarrior but techtools is a good to have. iFixit has some good screwdriver sets for techs

 

[frase]

Knowledge, and not just click utilities cause they say its good. One needs to understand what they are actually doing. iFixit are shite and overpriced.

Fabs6 - good for backups
Macrium Reflect good for Images
Snappy Driver is good for drivers
wsusoffline for updates

 

[MDD1963]

http://windows-repair-toolbox.blogspot.jp/

The tool above requires the PC in question have an internet connection to be able to download most of it's array of tools, however, a quick glance at the tools is pretty much a 'who's who' list of many widely used cleaning tools referenced today, so, a tech would likely best include them on an accessory USB or CD/DVD as well. (AdwCleaner, JRT, MBAM, HitmanPro, Rkill, Roguekiller, TDSSKiller, Sysinternals Proc Explorer/Autoruns)

 

[cypress]

Excellent information here so far.

I use Windows Repair Toolbox as my tool for Virus and Tune up. I run the Automated and step away while it does some of the work.

Fabs Autobackup 6 Pro is a must. Very good program that will pay for itself over and over. Doing a data migration this Saturday, and what am I using? Fabs! lol.

Macrium or Easeus Todo for Image backups, also AOEMI has gotten good reviews as well.

Snappy Driver for updates, and WSUS for windows updates like stated before.

Another big plus for www.Repairshopr.com for setting up your ticketing system and keep track of repairs and invoices. Start out with the Free version for now and you can always upgrade to the next versions later on.

I also want to add in Kabuto check them out at www.kabuto.io they are the makers of Repairshopr, first 50 devices are free and try out the Monitoring for 60 days. I install that on every computer that I come in contact with now.

Also pick up an External Hard drive to transfer those Fabs auto backups or keep Image files for at least 30-60 days. 1TB of space at the very least.

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

Knowledge, and not just click utilities cause they say its good. One needs to understand what they are actually doing. iFixit are shite and overpriced.

Fabs6 - good for backups
Macrium Reflect good for Images
Snappy Driver is good for drivers
wsusoffline for updates

This kit has worked very well for me and a few other techs I know: https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Tools/54-Bit-Driver-Kit/IF145-022-1

And for the price you could replace the whole set a few times without much thought, but you can buy individual replacement tips as needed.

 

[Markverhyden]

You should also grab the complete Sysinternals Suite

 

[glricht]

And you should also grab the NirSoft suite of tools. For individual tools see http://www.nirsoft.net/ or for a launcher see http://launcher.nirsoft.net/

It has all sorts of tools that we use all the time: MailPassView, WebBrowserPassView, WirelessKeyView, AllBrowsersHistoryView, and *many* others.

 

[LABFE]

Knowledge, and not just click utilities cause they say its good. One needs to understand what they are actually doing.

I'm not missing knowledge although I learn something everyday. I have a 4-year degree in Information Technology from Oklahoma State University. I have Security+ certification. I've recently read Mike Myer's Guide to the A+ Exam, the entire book. I'm just switching from a security specialty to the aforementioned and looking to put together the best tools because I have high standards and I wish to work efficiently. Perhaps you actually mean well though. Anyways, thanks for your suggestions.

Keep it coming folks! Good stuff here.

 

[acscva]

http://www.gegeek.com/ has a good selection of items that you can download to a usb drive also.

 

[Altster]

http://windows-repair-toolbox.blogspot.jp/

The tool above requires the PC in question have an internet connection to be able to download most of it's array of tools, however, a quick glance at the tools is pretty much a 'who's who' list of many widely used cleaning tools referenced today, so, a tech would likely best include them on an accessory USB or CD/DVD as well. (AdwCleaner, JRT, MBAM, HitmanPro, Rkill, Roguekiller, TDSSKiller, Sysinternals Proc Explorer/Autoruns)

+1

 

[Altster]

http://www.gegeek.com/ has a good selection of items that you can download to a usb drive also.

+1 -- and what a great resource for great information.

 

[Altster]

I'm not missing knowledge although I learn something everyday. I have a 4-year degree in Information Technology from Oklahoma State University. I have Security+ certification. I've recently read Mike Myer's Guide to the A+ Exam, the entire book. I'm just switching from a security specialty to the aforementioned and looking to put together the best tools because I have high standards and I wish to work efficiently. Perhaps you actually mean well though. Anyways, thanks for your suggestions.

Keep it coming folks! Good stuff here.

Experience! Get a few computers and infect them with loads of malware and see how easy it is / isn't to completely clean out. And then do it again. Find someone whom will allow you to observe them working with issues like what you are looking for - kinda like being an apprentice. Book knowledge is nice but there are many among us who don't have all of that book "learnin'" and do this for a living.

 

[gadgetfixup]

Some of the best techs I've employed didn't have a scrap of credentials, on the other hand some of the worst, actually most of the worst techs I've hired had a stack of credentials.

I've hired some that even thought they were much better than me at fixing computers. I had to remind them that never have I given them a system I couldn't fix, they on the other hand, couldn't say the same. I've fired some of those jokers that thought their paper made them experts. They'd talk riddles of theory and hypothesis and turn a simple 2 hour job into a full day job.

The best tech I've ever hired could barely turn a computer on when I hired him. He was 13 years old and just immigranted into the USA 3 months before he started working for me. What he had was an eagerness to learn, good work ethics and respect. In 5 years I molded him into one of the best techs in our area. He graduated High School with honors and moved away to attend engineering College (Rose-Holman). This young man bailed out plenty of our College grad techs with their problems. In his broken Polish accent he'd just chuckle and tell them to get a refund on their education. LOL

Three of these College gurus later quit after I wouldn't give them the raise they demanded and each started their own business. None of them lasted a year. I don't think a single one of them are even in the tech field anymore. I know one is a steelworker and lost track of the other two. I'll take a greenhorn with ambition, good work ethics and respect over a College grad any day. One you can teach and the other already knows everything.

 

[LABFE]

@inbargains -- I definitely wasn't trying to open this up to a discussion about my credentials; I'm not delusional just because I have a degree in Information Technology. I was simply responding to one members post for which they "liked" my reply. Although I respect what you're experience has been.

Would like to stay on point though regarding the technician's essential tools! Keep it coming regarding this fellows; would like to hear from as many as possible regarding my initial post/thread opener? Also, I've stumbled upon TechSuite by RepairTech and wondering how many use it or another similar third party, seemingly all-in-one Computer Repair Toolkit? If you use these, what's been your experience so far?

 

[gadgetfixup]

I definitely wasn't trying to open this up to a discussion about my credentials

I understand but when you make comments like

I'm not missing knowledge although I learn something everyday. I have a 4-year degree in Information Technology from Oklahoma State University.

on a forum with very seasoned computer techs that have been in this game probably longer than you've been on this earth, you should expect to hear our experience with young College graduates in this field. My point was only to say being able to memorize a book and pass a test in a classroom doesn't always equate to correct application and execution of said knowledge in the field. Don't throw the bait out there and complain when you get a bite.

We call TechSuite by RepairTech, TechWARU for the most part. We've had subscriptions for about a year but I'm not sure how many of our techs still use it. It's similar to D7 as they actually were partners at one time I believe. I like it because we have it hooked to our RepairShopr so reports are linked to customer work orders. That makes it nice if we get a return to see what these snapshots looked like when we last worked on the computer and compare them to present conditions.

We use all the tools and even some not mentioned here. As others have said it's not the tools that will make you good or bad in this business but rather your understanding and efficiency in accurately discovering an error and correcting it. I think every tech develops his own methods based on his experiences. I know I have tools I have a lot of confidence in and others I wouldn't bother to update much less use. Another tech might believe the tools I use are terrible and he has confidence in tools I dislike. At the end of the day the computer has to be fixed correctly. Sometimes none of the available tools do this job.

The goal of break/fix guys is to fix a machine in under 2 hours. 2 hours labor is about the most you can charge a customer these days for repairs. Your routine should be able to accurately inspect, find faults and repair a system in less than 2 hours.

 

[LABFE]

@inbargains-- Look, you should go back and reread what was said, and reconsider creating clutter in this thread. It's my understanding that this forum is so tech's can provide assistance to one another and thereby all participants benefit. I had created this thread and the second person that replied said something that could be interpreted as suggesting that I wasn't qualified to pursue this line of work. Which caused me to be concerned that when read by others might be detoured from responding to my post. So I simply stated some of my qualifications to put that to rest so the true topic could be addressed. It's not like I declared "I'm awesome" and "the best" and those with college degrees "are always the good technicians." I'm here to get advice, not debate about college degrees. Who knows, you might end up becoming my most helpful mentor. And I'm probably a good deal older than you might be estimating.

 

[frase]

..um no I just stated knowledge would be a good tool. So how was that demeaning from your "Quals" when you did not state this in the OP.
BTW- Third Thread.

 

[LABFE]

..um no I just stated knowledge would be a good tool. So how was that demeaning from your "Quals" when you did not state this in the OP.
BTW- Third Thread.

Frase, I have no hard feelings. In fact, I looked for a way to say so in my last post, but didn't see how without over-complicating it. I just felt it could be read that way and is why I simply responded to it. Eh, I just want to move on with the subject of my thread.

 

[frase]

Frase, I have no hard feelings. In fact, I looked for a way to say so in my last post, but didn't see how without over-complicating it. I just felt it could be read that way and is why I simply responded to it. Eh, I just want to move on with the subject of my thread.

all good no stress, I was probably abrupt