Best Tools for Computer Pros

[damunzy]

Almost everyone knows about tools like Spybot, Adware, CCleaner, etc. but they all

require an install in order to be usable- what is out there for the technicians that

go out and fix computers for other people?

My personal tool box contains:
Hiren's BootCD 9.5

c't

Projekte/CTUpdate - MS Windows and Office updates written to CD/DVD to be easily

transported and installed on a system that doesn't have highspeed Internet.

Individual programs I use to clean computers:
CCleaner
AVG Free
Spybot S&D
HiJackThis
TweakUI (2k and XP PowerToy)

Programs to load on customers' computers (standard):
Flash
Shockwave
Adobe Reader (was doing Foxit Reader but back to Adobe)
Java VM
AVG Free
CCCP (Combined Community Codec Pack)

Programs to load (extended):
Open Office
Paint .NET
IM programs (AIM, MSN, Yahoo!, Google Talk, and Pidgin- if the owner doesn't have a

preference I load Pidgin up).
Google Search

Other programs that I bring along just in case:
7-zip -
Firefox -
Opera -
Maxthon -
ImgBurn -
CDBurnerXP -
VCdControlTool -

 

[Zelig]

I use a variety of tools, depending on the circumstances...

Haven't used ad-aware in ages, since they updated to include the service for non real-time scanning. Spybot runs fine installed to flash drives, external hard drives, or having the install burned to a cd, and ccleaner actually includes a portable version (no installer) on its download page.

 

[Ghost Ranger]

The tools from Sysinternals are useful...

Haven't used ad-aware in ages, since they updated to include the service for non real-time scanning.

Also, all it ever seems to find is cookies...

 

[ArmOrAttAk]

GNU/Linux is what the computer pros use.

 

[kuukkeli]

Adobe Reader (was doing Foxit Reader but back to Adobe)

May I ask why? After I switched to Foxit I haven't found a single reason to go back to Adobe.

 

[Padma]

The one thing I always carry with me to fix someones computer is a Linux Live-CD. It helps me get to places on the drive that MS doesn't want me to go, and better fix problems.

 

[GoodGame]

I find TuneUp Utilties to be convenient (I'm still using 2007).

I'm really like the protection of the Kaspersky internet suite, though it really need to be turned off once in a while on my P4 (pre dual core).

 

[Ghost Ranger]

May I ask why? After I switched to Foxit I haven't found a single reason to go back to Adobe.

The eye candy?