Format & Reinstall Steps

[d-max]

Hi,

I'm sorry if this submitted before

I think Format a customer PC and re-installing the OS is the common routine job in computer shop, I like to have the steps of this job with tools used to get it done, I'll start:

1- Backup user files using tool: GFI
2- Backup Drivers by tool: drivermax
3- Get the Software keys by tool: ProduKey with Mr.Bryce scripts
4- ............... you start

excuse me for my poor ENG

 

[MobileTechie]

It's a good idea to have a step by step list. You could add "double check with customer that they have backed up and understand they will lose some programs".

You might want to look into Fabs Autobackup rather than GFI as it's portable and makes a great job of backing up shortcuts, favorites, mail files and so forth.

 

[ATTech]

PXE boot a MDT WinPE Image which runs a task sequence that:

• Runs offline USMT backup that stores the file on a network share indexed by MAC address
• Runs a software inventory script on the system and stores it with the USMT backup.
• Runs a script records general information (Computer name, product key, windows version, etc.).
• Installs a captured image based on the operating system that has the basics installed and runs a script to correct the HAL.
• Installs common drivers from a network share.
• Restores USMT backup

After it's done, I install any missing drivers and common software. If they want to pay for it, I install uncommon software too.

Beforehand, I take an image of the machine, but I'm looking for software that can do this through PE so it can be scripted.

 

[kfaer]

It's a good idea to have a step by step list. You could add "double check with customer that they have backed up and understand they will lose some programs".

You might want to look into Fabs Autobackup rather than GFI as it's portable and makes a great job of backing up shortcuts, favorites, mail files and so forth.

double check with customer, that is in the policy, good.

for GFI is free and Fabs is not! am I right?

 

[Xander]

Installs a captured image based on the operating system that has the basics installed and runs a script to correct the HAL.

After it's done, I install any missing drivers and common software. If they want to pay for it, I install uncommon software too.

Why not update your captured image from a system that has all the crap removed?

 

[MobileTechie]

Fabs costs about £5. It's well worth it.

 

[Martyn]

Fabs costs about £5. It's well worth it.

Just used it today on a System Restore, perfect

 

[ATTech]

Why not update your captured image from a system that has all the crap removed?

What do you mean? The image is captured from a reference virtual machine that only has the OS + Service Pack/Updates, Adobe, Java, and Silverlight on it. This isn't done every time I image a machine, I update every so often depending on application and windows updates.

Short of making an image back-up of each machine prior to doing any work for CYA purposes, I'm not capturing an image with a bunch of crap on it.

 

[MobileTechie]

PXE boot a MDT WinPE Image which runs a task sequence that:

• Runs offline USMT backup that stores the file on a network share indexed by MAC address
• Runs a software inventory script on the system and stores it with the USMT backup.
• Runs a script records general information (Computer name, product key, windows version, etc.).
• Installs a captured image based on the operating system that has the basics installed and runs a script to correct the HAL.
• Installs common drivers from a network share.
• Restores USMT backup

After it's done, I install any missing drivers and common software. If they want to pay for it, I install uncommon software too.

Beforehand, I take an image of the machine, but I'm looking for software that can do this through PE so it can be scripted.

Now that sounds like a pro backup system. very nice.

 

[DarDar]

PXE boot a MDT WinPE Image which runs a task sequence that:

• Runs offline USMT backup that stores the file on a network share indexed by MAC address
• Runs a software inventory script on the system and stores it with the USMT backup.
• Runs a script records general information (Computer name, product key, windows version, etc.).
• Installs a captured image based on the operating system that has the basics installed and runs a script to correct the HAL.
• Installs common drivers from a network share.
• Restores USMT backup

After it's done, I install any missing drivers and common software. If they want to pay for it, I install uncommon software too.

Beforehand, I take an image of the machine, but I'm looking for software that can do this through PE so it can be scripted.

would disk2vhd from sysinternals work?

 

[Xander]

Sorry, ATT, I'd misread your post as "uninstall common software" instead of "install uncommon software". DERP.

 

[iptech]

Hi,

I'm sorry if this submitted before

I think Format a customer PC and re-installing the OS is the common routine job in computer shop, I like to have the steps of this job with tools used to get it done, I'll start:

1- Backup user files using tool: GFI
2- Backup Drivers by tool: drivermax
3- Get the Software keys by tool: ProduKey with Mr.Bryce scripts
4- ............... you start

excuse me for my poor ENG

No it's not, it's generally thought of as an idiot's idea of computer repair.

Learn how an operating system should work and you will fix it in half the time it takes you to nuke and pave. Mr Bryce will sleep easy knowing he's not encouraged you in your tardiness and that his script might have missed the one product key your client really needs.

 

[16k_zx81]

I run win transfer wizard -> drive 1
then linux boot and dump user / docs and settings to a second drive

I do this with every machine so I have 2 backups on 2 separate drives of all their docs/pics/emails etc before doing anything else

If they dont have a sticker I use Magic Jellybean

If drive needs partitioning (I will usually partition larger drives) - Gparted boot

Then install os

Driverpacks to add drivers

freenew.net to add basic apps / dotnet / k-lite

If they want their apps transferred I use Laplink and defer cost for single use license to customer (after getting their consent)

 

[joydivision]

With rootkits sometimes a N&P is by far the quickest and simplist way to sort it. It does depend on the circumstances on a typical PC with just office and a browser installed I see no commercial logic in taking a long time to remove a rooklit and still not being 100% certain its clean.

Also never use the drivers stored on an infected PC because rootkits often infect the drivers, I always always download the latest drivers from say Dell's website which ensures they are infection free and upto date.

I do often remove rootkits without N&P but it really does depend on so many other circumstances.

 

[ATTech]

would disk2vhd from sysinternals work?

Is there a way to easily restore it if necessary? I can imagine loading it into a virtual machine, and using clonezilla to create an image, then transferring that image to an external but that sounds like too much work.

Is there the equivalent vhd2disk?

No it's not, it's generally thought of as an idiot's idea of computer repair.

Learn how an operating system should work and you will fix it in half the time it takes you to nuke and pave. Mr Bryce will sleep easy knowing he's not encouraged you in your tardiness and that his script might have missed the one product key your client really needs.

I think(hope?) you're misreading the post a bit. I don't think he means N&P is a common fix, but a common job. I get people all the time just wanting me to restore their computer.

 

[iptech]

I think(hope?) you're misreading the post a bit. I don't think he means N&P is a common fix, but a common job. I get people all the time just wanting me to restore their computer.

It's not a common job, nor routine for me; it does appear to be for many of the new-generation of 'techs' that are coming onto the scene though. It's too often used as a fudge and a workaround for lack of technical knowledge and personal application.

I read his post as it was written by him, not as it was interpreted by you.

 

[ATTech]

I read his post as it was written by him, not as it was interpreted by you.

And as he wrote, it's a common job, he didn't say it was a common fix. It sucks that you don't get much people just wanting restores. It's such an easy thing to automate and charge normal rates for. Plus, my setup makes it less and less of a change for the client. Now I'm certainly not going around talking people into restores when they just need a simple virus removal, but I'm not talking the people out of it if that's what they ask for. To each their own, I guess.

 

[MobileTechie]

So what s/w do you use to deploy the images?

 

[ATTech]

So what s/w do you use to deploy the images?

MDT 2010 (This is filler)

 

[iptech]

It sucks that you don't get much people just wanting restores. It's such an easy thing to automate and charge normal rates for.

No it doesn't, my customers value their data and value my ability to be able to repair their computer with minimal fuss or drama. Many of my customers have bespoke & custom installs, nuke 'n' pave would be an expensive and lengthy option for them with bespoke system developers wanting hundreds of £s to reinstall software and systems.