What software do you use/recommend?

tucsonpc · Jan 11, 2012

Hello,

First, I would like to apologize. I did some searching, but the relatively popular terms bring up a lot more than what I'm looking for, so I decided to start a thread...

I am genuinely interested in starting up my own PC Repair/Consultation company. One of the (rather large, at least in my view) issues I'm coming up with is... what on earth do I use?

In working on my own computers, as well as helping out friends and family with their issues, I've developed a list of programs I often like to use. However, I'm far from fluent in legalese, so the ToS/EULA walls of text I try and work through are pretty tough.

For example, Malwarebytes is one of the most popular tools around. However, as a technician, charging a client, would I be allowed to install the free version and scan the client pc?

Many tools are "free for personal use" but require a license for commercial. I interpret 'commercial use' to mean something along the lines of "I'm in charge of IT for some company, and we run the program on X computers, all owned by the company", but that doesn't seem to fit the "I'm a company running the software on a PC owned by a "personal use"-type end-user" situation that I'm looking at.

I think I'm relatively clear on "installing a free (or paid) program for a customer" issue, but what about those customers who just want their PC cleaned up?

Basically, what do techs use for:
Running antivirus scans (I personally use avast)
Running malware scans (such as spybot s&d, malwarebytes, superantimalware)
Backing up client data
Things I can't think of because my train of thought derailed >.<

Any thoughts would be appreciated, and sorry if I've confused you as much as I've confused myself >.<

16k_zx81 · Jan 11, 2012

tucsonpc said:
Hello,

I am genuinely interested in starting up my own PC Repair/Consultation company. One of the (rather large, at least in my view) issues I'm coming up with is... what on earth do I use?

altrenda · Jan 11, 2012

I am not a lawyer, but for me, personally, I define "Commercial Use" as "Using it to make money or to perform a service that I get paid for."

tucsonpc · Jan 11, 2012

16k_zx81 said:
1. Did you read the MBAM license? - Im pretty sure that NO you can't use the free version legally as a tech scanning customer computers as this falls within the realm of "commercial use". But the license will tell you specifically, or if you are still in doubt, an email to MBAM would provide concrete edification.

First, while I haven't gone this far with MBAM, I have contacted the folks with Spybot S&D several years ago. What you suggested for MBAM is exactly what they said, and I'm assuming that's the case for most programs out there. What I'm trying to figure out is... what tools exist that I can legally use that provide similar results.

If I were to take my PC into any repair shop, ordered a virus scan/removal, how would a (legit, letter-of-the-law) technician handle this? Or am I just hoping for too much, and the repair price includes license costs for whatever tools are used?

Second, while I appreciate the links you've provided, they don't exactly address my issue. I'm quite familiar with virus removal and drive cloning. I'm familiar with many of the tools. What I'm after is software that I can install and use on *client* PCs without stomping all over EULAs.

altrenda said:
I am not a lawyer, but for me, personally, I define "Commercial Use" as "Using it to make money or to perform a service that I get paid for."

My mistake. I was thinking "corporate licensing" not "commercial", and I probably have that wrong too >.<

synack2 · Jan 11, 2012

I use MBAM

I consider my self a consultant I am helping them decide what they should do to remove viruses from their pc.

I keep printouts fo the license agreements and have them sign a page that says they approve for me to aggree to these license agreements for them.

I leave the software installed when I am done and tell them how to uninstall it if they wish. If I uninstalled it it would look more like I am using it to do a task and then removing it which would be commercial use.

The sofware companies like this becasue maybe the user will like it and buy the full paid version instead of uninstalling it.

Tekko · Jan 11, 2012

synack2 said:
I consider my self a consultant I am helping them decide what they should do to remove viruses from their pc.

I keep printouts fo the license agreements and have them sign a page that says they approve for me to aggree to these license agreements for them.

I leave the software installed when I am done and tell them how to uninstall it if they wish. If I uninstalled it it would look more like I am using it to do a task and then removing it which would be commercial use.

The sofware companies like this becasue maybe the user will like it and buy the full paid version instead of uninstalling it.

What does your invoice look like? If you read through the license I'm pretty sure that you're still breaking the agreement.

I contacted MBAM directly at the last two organizations I worked for and initiated a agreement for ad-hoc removal for X number of machines. It was shockingly economical.

FoolishTech · Jan 11, 2012

tucsonpc said:
Any thoughts would be appreciated, and sorry if I've confused you as much as I've confused myself >.<

Not to toot my own horn, but I'm surprised no one here has mentioned D7 yet (see the link in my sig.)

FYI my apps are FREE for commercial use as well as personal.

PC-Technix · Jan 11, 2012

I recommend D7. It's the best out their. And there are plenty of topics on it, just put "D7" in the search and away you go.

16k_zx81 · Jan 11, 2012

FoolishTech said:
Not to toot my own horn

You may toot, on this occasion.

But only because you and your product ROCK

Slaters Kustum Machines · Jan 11, 2012

PC-Technix said:
I recommend D7. It's the best out their. And there are plenty of topics on it, just put "D7" in the search and away you go.

Couldn't have said it better. It's updated all the time and if you have any needs or desires FoolishTech does what he can at an alarmingly fast rate. Thanks Nick (FoolishTech)!

synack2 · Jan 11, 2012

Tekko said:
What does your invoice look like? If you read through the license I'm pretty sure that you're still breaking the agreement.

I contacted MBAM directly at the last two organizations I worked for and initiated a agreement for ad-hoc removal for X number of machines. It was shockingly economical.

My invoices are always for Labor-Consulting at $125 per hour. I do very little residential and mostly business though. So for most residential repairs I tell them it is 125 an hour, but I normally limit it to 1 hour unless something really crazy is going on. This also helps with sales taxes in Ohio.

I will have to check out the D7 though, but I am not allowed to till I been a member for 5 days.

tucsonpc · Jan 12, 2012

Wow. I've never heard of D7 until now. On first inspection, it looks pretty fantastic. Thanks.

jimbojambo · Jan 12, 2012

Have a look at uvk too.

KCPCTech · Feb 26, 2012

Commercial Use

The way I take it with the "free" programs is they are paying me to install a program and run it on their computer. I leave it on their computer and tell them to use it. No different than if I installed any other program on their computer.

compnet · Feb 27, 2012

KCPCTech said:
The way I take it with the "free" programs is they are paying me to install a program and run it on their computer. I leave it on their computer and tell them to use it. No different than if I installed any other program on their computer.

How you take it doesn't really matter. You're making money using it, which is against the terms for most of the programs you're talking about, definitely mbam.

anglian · Feb 27, 2012

PC-Technix said:
just put "D7" in the search and away you go.

I tried that when I first joined the forums "D7" it too short as a search term

Maybe it should be renamed "D Seven" or the forums should allow for 2 character searches.

Martyn · Feb 27, 2012

anglian said:
I tried that when I first joined the forums "D7" it too short as a search term
Maybe it should be renamed "D Seven" or the forums should allow for 2 character searches.

I'm pretty sure that you cannot change the search to two characters in VBulletin. It's a good point though about D7, it's such a great program that it should have a better name.

How about a contest Nick and the winner gets a free licence or something?

What software do you use/recommend?

tucsonpc

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16k_zx81

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altrenda

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tucsonpc

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synack2

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Tekko

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FoolishTech

FoolishIT Founder

PC-Technix

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16k_zx81

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Slaters Kustum Machines

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synack2

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tucsonpc

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jimbojambo

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KCPCTech

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compnet

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anglian

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Martyn

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