What Programs/Utilities Do You Use to Fix Computers?

Discussion in 'other software & services' started by Brandonn2010, Dec 3, 2011.

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  1. Brandonn2010

    Brandonn2010 Registered Member

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    I'm trying to find out what programs I should bring on a USB drive to troubleshoot problems with.

    Right now I use SARDU with:
    - Panda bootable AV
    - GDATA bootable AV
    - Dr.Web bootable AV
    - Partition Wizard
    - All Windows recovery disks
    - Kubuntu

    What other portable utilities would you recommend? (they don't need to be on SARDU)
     
  2. MrBrian

    MrBrian Registered Member

    Joined:
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    Posts:
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    Location:
    USA
    Here's what's on my flash drive:

    7 Quick Fix
    7-Zip
    Advanced Process Termination
    Autoruns
    AVZ Antiviral Toolkit
    Capacity
    CCleaner
    ComboFix
    CrystalDiskInfo
    Dark Screen
    DDS
    Default Programs Editor
    Dependency Walker
    Device Doctor
    Device Remover Setup
    Dial-a-Fix
    Disk Investigator
    DiskDigger
    Double Driver
    Doug's Windows XP Security Console
    DriveImage XML
    DriverBackup
    DriverMax Setup
    EASEUS Data Recovery Wizard Standard Edition Setup
    Emsisoft Emergency Kit
    ERUNT
    ERUNT Setup
    ESET SysInspector
    Fab's AutoBackup
    FaJo XP File Security Extension Setup
    FileAssassin
    FileVerifier++
    Firefox
    FireGen Windows Update Log Analyzer
    Fix IE
    Fix WU
    FixPolicies
    FixWin
    FreeFileSync
    FreeFixer Setup
    FTK Imager
    GigaTweaker Setup
    Glary Utilities
    GMER
    HD Tune
    HDDScan
    HeavyLoad
    Hidden Utilities XP
    Hijack Hunter Setup
    HiJackFree
    HijackThis
    Hitman Pro Setup
    HoboCopy
    HxD
    ImgBurn
    InjectedDLL
    Kaspersky GetSystemInfo
    Kernel Detective
    KillProcess
    LSP Fix
    Macrium Reflect Free Setup
    Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder
    Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Setup
    Mandiant Red Curtain Setup
    Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer Setup
    Microsoft Change Analysis Diagnostic
    Microsoft FileImg
    Microsoft Network Diagnostic Tool Setup
    MiniTool Power Data Recovery Free Edition Setup
    Mitec Windows Registry Recovery
    Nirsoft Suite
    Norton Power Eraser
    NotePad++
    NTFS File Copy Utility
    Online Solutions Autorun Manager Lite
    OpenedFilesView
    OSForensics
    OTL by OldTimer
    Partition Find and Mount Setup
    PC Fixer
    PDF-XChange Viewer
    Pocket KillBox
    PowerTools Lite Setup
    Prevx Setup
    Process Explorer
    Process Monitor
    ProcessActivityView
    ProduKey
    Q-Dir
    Qfecheck Setup
    Recuva
    RegAssasin
    Revo Uninstaller
    Rizone Security Restore
    Rkill
    Roadkil's CommTest
    Roadkil's Disk Image
    Roadkil's Disk Wipe
    Roadkil's RawCopy
    Roadkil's Unstoppable Copier
    Rootkit Unhooker Setup
    RootRepeal
    RunScanner
    SafeMSI
    SafeXP
    Secunia PSI Setup
    Security & Privacy Complete
    SigCheck
    Simple Port Tester
    SlimCleaner
    SlimDrivers Setup
    SoftPerfect Network Scanner
    Sophos Anti-Rootkit Setup
    SpyDLLRemover
    StreamArmor
    SUMo Setup
    SUPERAntiSpyware
    Sysinternals Suite
    System Change Log Setup
    System Information for Windows
    System Repair Engineer
    TCPView
    Temp File Cleaner (from Addpcs)
    Temp File Cleaner (from OldTimer)
    TestDisk and PhotoRec
    TreeSize Free
    TrID
    TweakUI
    Ultimate Windows Tweaker
    UltraSearch
    Universal Plug-and-Play Tester
    Unknown Device Identifier Setup
    Unlocker
    USEC Radix
    Vba32 AntiRootkit
    WhoCrashed Home Edition Setup
    Windows Installer Clean Up Utility Setup
    Windows Journal Parser
    Windows System Control Center
    Winsock Fix
    WinUpdatesList
    X-Setup Pro
    XP Quick Fix Plus
    XP SysPad
    XP-AntiSpy
    XueTr

    There are some other programs that I also will put on it when I get around to it, and I'm also doing some pruning.
     
  3. Brandonn2010

    Brandonn2010 Registered Member

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    I think that's a few more than I'm looking to have lol.
     
  4. acr1965

    acr1965 Registered Member

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  5. blacknight

    blacknight Registered Member

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    Location:
    Europe, UE citizen
    Really, in case of serious problems I don't fix, but I restore a previous safe and clean disk image, anyway both Linux distro, the best program that I know is http://www.wondershare.com/boot-cd/
     
  6. nikanthpromod

    nikanthpromod Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2009
    Posts:
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    Location:
    India
    i normally use
    Recovery cd
    Hitman pro
    MBAM
    ccleaner
    Anvir task manager
    autorun eater

    finally restore image..:cool:
     
  7. acr1965

    acr1965 Registered Member

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  8. Osaban

    Osaban Registered Member

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    Location:
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    Avira emergency CD.
    Malwarebytes Antimalware
    ComboFix
    HitmanPro
    Easeus Partition Master
    GParted

    These are tools I have used on 2 machines which had no Windows installation CD and therefore had to be cleaned before a good image could be made. It goes without saying that restoring an image, is always the fastest way to return to normality unless one is interested in investigating the cause.

    Lately I've discovered another powerful tool, Linux live CD, which allows to see Windows files and to eliminate any undesirable ones if necessary, a great cleaning tool.
     
  9. roger_m

    roger_m Registered Member

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    Imaging can be really slow - my harddrive is 500 gigs and will soon be replaced by a larger one. I have used imaging products from Acronis and Paragon in the past to back up corrupted Windows installs (there were software errors causing BSODs but no physical errors) so that one day when I had a few days to spare I could restore the image and hopefully find the cause of the BDODs. However the images became corrupted for no apparent reason (all of the other files on the same harddrive are error free) so I have little faith in imaging software.
     
  10. Osaban

    Osaban Registered Member

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    Some people backup their system, and then wait (so to speak) for disaster to strike only to find out their image won't restore. I've restored around a 100 images on my 4 machines, always successfully, mainly with ShadowProtect but also with Acronis and Paragon. My feeling is that no matter what program one uses, it is very important to test the new image straight away, that is on a healthy system.

    All of my restorations were never done to clean up malware, but to remedy to bad installations, software tests, configuration mistakes etc. It is a tool that is reliable once it has been tested on a particular system. It also helps to learn a bit how to partition an HD as some times it is required before restoring a good image.
     
  11. Keatah

    Keatah Registered Member

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    Whatever program fits the task at hand. There's no one tool or suite that can do it all, not even your own kit.

    For virus infections the best thing is restoring from images. You're pretty much guaranteed a 100% operational system afterward.
     
  12. Keatah

    Keatah Registered Member

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    I suggest you're going about this the wrong way, I recommend a small drive of 128GB or 64GB as your Boot/OS/Application drive. That's what you image, that's where the damage can happen, that's what takes the most time to rebuild.

    Image your Boot/OS/Application drive. This is your golden ~ Snipped as per TOS ~ recovery thing.

    Smartly and intelligently put your user data on a totally separate drive. And back that up as you create and modify content.

    This is perfect for the home user and has been proven time and time again to thwart the most tenacious and insidious mal-ware. And it does it without any headaches too!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 8, 2011
  13. tipo

    tipo Registered Member

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    rollback rx. so no tools at all or the greatest of them all.. ;)
     
  14. Brandonn2010

    Brandonn2010 Registered Member

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    I know a lot of you like to just restore an image when problems arise, but I'm talking about portable apps for fixing other peoples' computers. I'd hate to go to fix a family member or friend's computer and just say "oh lets reinstall Windows" everytime. For mine I know I could just restore my image, but I'm talking about fixing other peoples' PCs.
     
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