IT Professional Toolbox.

Hey Guys,
I'm bored and was looking through the downloads section here and came to realize. "There are a LOT of stuff here."
I was wondering what (as an up and coming IT professional) I should download and keep in my "toolbox" if you will.
Thanks,
Spock96

 

Sysinternals and Nirsoft tools, WSCC will help you keep them both updated.

 

Thank you Satrow. What do these three programs do?

 

In addition, on every job I make sure I have CCleaner Slim, Malwarebytes and SUPERAntiSpyware on a protected flash drive. Can't count how many times those 3 programs have let me get into a broken machine to see what else is going on...

 

A lot more than I could ever hope to describe!

 

Thank you Caliban, What is SUPERAntiSpyware? I've heard of it but don't know what it really does/is.
What do you mean by a protected flash drive?

 

I see. Haha. Looks like I'll be doing some research over lunch.

 

As an indication of what's possible using just one of the tools from the Sysinternals Suite, Process Monitor, here's a post from a blog every PC troubleshooter should bookmark (the main author of the suite): The Case of My Mom’s Broken Microsoft Security Essentials Installation

I hope you have a long lunch break

 

SAS is a very good, free antispyware scanner...

As far as the flash drive protection, I clean all of the Autorun stuff off of my drives. When I've used a drive on an infected machine, I scan the drive for any files that have been added/changed. I have heard of some techs password protecting their flash drive toolboxes, but I haven't found the need to do so...yet...

 

And, by the way: I second satrow's mentioning of the SysInternals software - damn good stuff...

 

May as well push up my post count a little while I'm at it...yada yada...

I see that there is now a SUPERAntiSpyware Portable (no install) - haven't tried it yet, but it looks perfect for toolbox purposes...

 

I never see the auto run stuff to remove them. Is it just a folder in the drive?

I should start doing the scanning.
I don't think you'd need to password protect your drive.

 

Not all flash drives have Autorun capabilities. Those that do may have a folder (sometimes hidden) containing any automatic launching files.

Some drives, when inserted, create a temporary virtual drive for the handling of files.For example - I have a SanDisk Cruzer 8gb flash drive that creates the following Explorer entries:

1. CD Drive ( x: ) U3 System *//these are the Autorun files, with 'x' being the next drive letter in sequence//

2. Removable Disk ( y: ) *//the main storage area (8gb) of the drive, with 'y' being the next drive letter in sequence//

If I remove the U3 Launch folder, then only the second line would apply...

 

I see thank you.
Well, Now I gotta go and get (and play with) these programs.


What about like InSSIDer or something along the lines of that?

 

Should I run all 3 on a machine?

 

Sandra lite.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/SiSoftware_Sandra_Lite_d92.html

Dunno what professionals use but I always keep coming back to Sandra lite,especially for diagnosing performance issues.

 

Ok, I googled those 3 applications and..... I have no idea! they give you so many things what do I get??

 

I've heard of that once before but, What is it?


I got alot to download then. Haha:-D

 

WSCC will grab all the other tools for you and give you a UI to access them all (plus some Windows tools) from.

Learn about Process Monitor, Autoruns and maybe USBDeview or BlueScreenView first, that should keep you busy for several lunch breaks

 

So just download WSCC and it comes with the other 2 correct?

 

Its a performance Swiss army knife,everything can be benchmarked,from networking to CPU,the results can then be compared to similar systems via the internal browser automatically so no searching the net for similar hardware scores,,also component recognition ala everest,temperature monitor,all enviromental sensors voltage ect.,all drivers installed,running processes everything.

Its not freeware either but its intiuative,easy to use and for those reasons I would say its not aimed at professional users more enthusiastic tinkerers but it does come in handy and its pretty perdy:-D

 

Download and install it, run it, (check install folder settings for the SS and NU - but by default, I think it'll install them all to subfolders of WSCC) then click Update then, after the scan finishes, Download (I think that's the sequence). It's actually easier than it reads ^^ esp. after you've done it 20 or 30 times

When you close the Updater window, the WSCC main screen is left, showing all the tools and help files, etc., in a pretty logical manner.

 

I'll look at it.
Took me awhile to find this post Haha.
Thank you.

 

So,
WSCC
CCleaner Slim, Malwarebytes and SUPERAntiSpyware.
These are the 4 things I should get?
Just put the installers on or install them to the Flash Drive and run them from that?

 

Install them directly to the flash drive would be best, grab the latest updates for them just before you eject the flash drive to take to a job.

Don't forget to carry along a fast browser (Pale Moon 3.6.29?), loaded with a big list of useful troubleshooting bookmarks!

 

Now how do I install them to the Drive itself?
install that Browser to the drive too?

 

If they're all Portable (xxxx.paf.exe?) versions, just choose the flash drive as destination during the install. The browser - yes.

To stand a chance of troubleshooting many problems with computers you need tools that do not require installing when you arrive at the job - the Windows installer service might be unavailable, as it is by default if you can only start the PC in Safe Mode.

 

Thank you Satrow.

 

How to I install them to a flash drive?
How big of one should I get?

 

The ****.paf.exe type of installer files will prompt you during install for a folder/drive to install to. AFAIK, you can then copy the folder over to whichever drive you want to use them from.

Other portable installers may work slightly differently.

Non installers - single files, etc., may work fine copied over to your drive - check that you have the correct license file with each program though, you may need to agree to conditions the first time you run them (the Sysinternals tools are an example of this).

Any size from 256MB up to 8GB or more, depending on whether you also need a full "Live OS" or not and the amount of tools you want to carry. Don't forget - if it's a data recovery job you're going to - you'll need something like a 250 - 100GB 2.5" external drive to save data to (3.5" versions are less portable, need power brick/wall warts and may not function with as many types of data recovery software).

 

Thanks,
Can you explain that a little simpler please?
Are the downloads of these programs on MG the portable versions?
I have one of those big(externally powered) HDs.

 

Many of the downloads on MG's are for the 'slim' or portable versions, you really need to check out each program individually though.

It doesn't get much simpler, it's a generalization , as said - it depends on the individual softwares/programs you choose or need to use.

 

Thank you.

 

No tool box should be without a hammer. I like Delete Doctor, since I can slap it on and kill stubborn programs at startup.

Fresh UI makes a good wrench for getting stubborn settings to change.

Plus you'll want a Linux Live CD. No better Duct Tape exists.