Geek Squad "propietary" tools?

The MRI disc is diffidently not a some Ancient Chinese Secret LOL, but basically a very fancy script that runs through a series of diag checks and about 6 different virus scan I guess in an effort to rule out anything obvious. It also has some 1 click fixes built into it.
 
Its all black magic.. lol.. EVIL...

This just does the all the work for the techs.
 
The geniuses over at Geek squad programmed the MRI disk to read time locally, so a simple change in the date on the computer makes an expired disk usable again.

WOW, didn't even think about that, will give it a try after October. I mean they left it in a desktop from a customer that just came from there few days prior. And it was burned MRI DVD copy, that they burned and left. So i took a look, and it's a pretty nice utility all-in one basically. I knew the original was calling home, or something,,, i wasn't updating the virus def at all,,, but at one point ZA firewall popped up an outbound attempt from THERE MRI disk.

They diagnosed this desktop as a bad board,,, when I got it, it booted, posted, was able to get into bio's so knew it was not the board,,,, BUT would not boot completely. ANY diagnostic test would lock up, freeze, AND distorted the screen. so immediately shut down it down, clean heatsink, and fresh layer of artic silver,, but same problem. Reset Bio's and such

swapped memory sticks, same result,,, THEN popped in known working memory... bingo problem fixed.

They were on the right track though, but did not follow thru,,, they must of swapped the memory sticks around, and pulled one at a time etc... for when i got the pc, along with there MRI disk left in drive,,,,, one memory stick left hanging out of dimm,,, AND hard drive was left un-plugged to!
 
That seems like a pretty good tool. I'm guessing they've had this built for two reasons:

1. Their techs need a standardised tool as they are not very skillful
2. It offers great branding and gives the impression they have "special tools".

Both of which seem to make good business sense.
 
I have the one from Soldier X. I used it once for the diag software.

Same here. I used it a few times but I saw no advantage.
First off, it cannot update. . so right away it is only useful as education.

Besides, between my live CD's and my TechTools 3.0, I am pretty much good to go.

The automation takes so much time and is a shotgun approach to what is often a pea-shooter problem. Like yesterday. . opened a comp and by behavior recognized a rootkit (TDSS), took care of that, then saw remnants of a rogue and attacked that. All done with about 45min of actual "screen-time".
 
Staples does use PC Dr it is an all their stores under the tech bench. They also use a "custom" program designed by Norton called Norton Tech tools. Essentiallly Norton System Works. PC Dr is used for their hardware diagnostics. Tech Tools for Tune ups and virus detection.
 
i am not so sure... :)Have

Same here. I used it a few times but I saw no advantage.
First off, it cannot update. . so right away it is only useful as education.

Besides, between my live CD's and my TechTools 3.0, I am pretty much good to go.

The automation takes so much time and is a shotgun approach to what is often a pea-shooter problem. Like yesterday. . opened a comp and by behavior recognized a rootkit (TDSS), took care of that, then saw remnants of a rogue and attacked that. All done with about 45min of actual "screen-time".

I used to think like this, but the more I learned about computers and computer viruses, the more I realize it is silly to believe that you can guarantee a system to be clean - unless you do anything other than a reinstall.
Let's say that you are a virus creator. You create a virus, and maybe it's found in 3 months, maybe in a year, all this time your virus or trojan has been on someones system, and until it does something, to give itself away it is just as good as invisible.

Having been in this since it started, I know that computer viruses are written in many languages. I know that scanners scan by signatures, and some by actions as well, but I don't think you will ever stop all viruses and trojans until some sort of techniques are implemented by the operating system vendors requiring every piece of installed software to be digitally signed by joe software writer with his signature and his accountability.
 
Aim higher

Originally Posted by atlanticjim
Same here. I used it a few times but I saw no advantage.
First off, it cannot update. . .
Mine runs through a bunch of Virus definitions updates, takes like 30 minutes to install updates before it ever starts running.
I think what Jim might have been trying to say is that it can't update because if you're not part of Geek Squad, you're stealing the software. (Not to mention being a dead lazy tech). Someone else has said it calls home; if that's true (and it would make sense), you can bet that includes your IP address. Every time the same IP# shows up on Geek Squad's list, you're just rolling the dice that someone will check with your ISP and show up on your doorstep to put you out of business.

Shane, didn't you just license your business? Is this the professional standard you want to set for yourself and your customers?
 
Yes, The tools from Staples the Norton Tech Tool does "phone home" As a former mobile tech who used work for them and then do 3rd party onsite services for them the tools do register IP data when updating. The report from each scan as well as updates are logged. Once upon a time we had a tech who copied the software and used it at home was busted for just that. The Geek Squad stuff I suspect is no different. Staples instore techs also have access to an array of online tools powerd by support.com.
 
geek squad mri

Ok guys, I have to say I seen the tool in action and yes it is automated and even a monkey can use it.. People are complaining that it takes no skill to use it. True..but that is not the point. From a business perspective. Have a 16 port KVM switch and and 16 machines running at the same time with these tools. You can have several running to rule out several items while you do actual work on other machines. It will speed up this process big time. Why on earth do we not have a tool like this commercially to purchase, or have some one write a killer app and use open source items?

Seriously, this would be killer and I would love to have something like this in my collection. And I would gladly buy something like this in nature if it was available. What do you think?
 
There is an old vulcan proverb. Only Nixon can go to China.

"Special tools" my ass. Maybe special to noobs and end-users but it's just the same generic stuff we in the business use.

Reminds me of the old Calgon commercials from the 1970's (for those of you old enough to rememeber) "Ancient chinese secret":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yW6vObBOVE

If you are over 40 you have probably heard the phrase "Ancient chinese secret" countless times (at least in the USA). :D
 
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