Starting Out and looking for some advice.

[brock029]

Hello every one, new to the forum and a new small business owner as you can see on the introduction forum. So like on my introduction page I have very recently officially started my small, home based computer repair business...and I have some questions. The business side of things I have a grasp on (still have alot to figure out though) but my questions more rely on the repairing side of things. So Here they are, any help would be greatly appreciated.

1. I have, and have been using, a few different portable tools for fixing software/virus etc... issues and just want to see if there is anything better or if any one has suggestions on it. I have one flash drive with multiboot on it, inside of multiboot i have both version of OPHcrack, Ubuntu, and a linux based antivirus that I cant remember the name of right now. Drive #2 I have the portable apps suite, ccleaner, d7 (which is amazing planning on buying), the remove norton tool and the remove mcaffee tool, and a few other tools once again cant remember what everything else i have on it. (Also put all of these on DVDs)

2. On another forum post I was reading, harddrive and ram failure seem like a very common issue. What tools do you recommend for running hardware diagnostics?

3. Lastly for the time being, when some one request to have there data backed up what do you back it up to? Do you ask if they have an extra harddrive or external harddrive, do you put it on a dvd, if they dont have any extra storage device do you purchase something for them and charge for it? This is not just for in the process of fixing their computer you back up there data to retore it later this is just if they request to have backups made.

Thanks again!

 

[Tekko]

2. On another forum post I was reading, harddrive and ram failure seem like a very common issue. What tools do you recommend for running hardware diagnostics?

3. Lastly for the time being, when some one request to have there data backed up what do you back it up to? Do you ask if they have an extra harddrive or external harddrive, do you put it on a dvd, if they dont have any extra storage device do you purchase something for them and charge for it? This is not just for in the process of fixing their computer you back up there data to retore it later this is just if they request to have backups made.

Thanks again!

Check out UBCD for diagnostics, it comes with quite a few and you call always add to it. http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

For backups with no restore we use dvds, or sell them a backup solution and run a backup, teach them how to restore, etc.

 

[16k_zx81]

Hi and welcome to the Forum

The best thing you could do at this stage is to search Technibble regarding your questions. As you can imagine much of this ground has been covered many times before. The advantage of doing this is that instead of only having your own thread to reference, you will get a richer source of information from many previous replies.

Once you have read up, if you have any more questions, post again, and Im sure you will find plenty of people happy to help you

 

[brock029]

Hi and welcome to the Forum

The best thing you could do at this stage is to search Technibble regarding your questions. As you can imagine much of this ground has been covered many times before. The advantage of doing this is that instead of only having your own thread to reference, you will get a richer source of information from many previous replies.

Once you have read up, if you have any more questions, post again, and Im sure you will find plenty of people happy to help you

Thanks, and I have been reading the site and the forum for about the last month and really have found a plethora of great information on here. These questions were just ones that I still was unsure about...just trying to double check or get a second opinon on.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

One of the most valuable tools we have is our "Bench rigs".
It's a computer tower with the side panel removed....exposing PATA and SATA ports on the motherboard, also we have some external USB caddies to connect drives to, including laptop drives.

We have a lot of tools installed on our bench rig...hard drive tools, malware/antivirus cleaning tools, etc.

Slave the customers hard drive.....if needed, browse and extract data, and then run tools on it.

As for tools to detect failing hard drive...use them sometimes...but honestly your gut/experience will let you know the drive is failing and you clone it to another and you're done. The time it takes you to run diagnostics on a drive....it's cheaper (for the client) to clone to a brand new hard drive and get it back to the client. The client wins...newer hard drives are faster (hard drives slow over time with wear, not to mention technology of current drives make for faster drives), and it's likely to last a long time...like a new lease on life for the computer.

 

[brock029]

Check out UBCD for diagnostics, it comes with quite a few and you call always add to it.

For backups with no restore we use dvds, or sell them a backup solution and run a backup, teach them how to restore, etc.

That is great, I can also install UBCD onto my multiboot flash drive so that works out perfectly.

One of the most valuable tools we have is our "Bench rigs".
It's a computer tower with the side panel removed....exposing PATA and SATA ports on the motherboard, also we have some external USB caddies to connect drives to, including laptop drives.

We have a lot of tools installed on our bench rig...hard drive tools, malware/antivirus cleaning tools, etc......

Also Great info stonecat, now I have another investment to make!!! haha. So when it comes to a bench rig, is it better to build it yourself and select all of the parts or a used computer off of craigslist would work? There is a guy here in my area who actually sells some decent (older) computers for $20-$30 but as long as the motherboard has sata and ide slots it should be fine right? or for running all of the tools do I want to invest in a better rig with better cpu/ram/etc...?

 

[twincountycomputers]

That is great, I can also install UBCD onto my multiboot flash drive so that works out perfectly.



Also Great info stonecat, now I have another investment to make!!! haha. So when it comes to a bench rig, is it better to build it yourself and select all of the parts or a used computer off of craigslist would work? There is a guy here in my area who actually sells some decent (older) computers for $20-$30 but as long as the motherboard has sata and ide slots it should be fine right? or for running all of the tools do I want to invest in a better rig with better cpu/ram/etc...?

you're thinking backwards, the guy on craigslist is now your opponent and I myself would never dream of buying a pc on craigslist and using it in any capacity in my business

 

[carlitos31]

What everyone already said

This is other things I do:
1 I keep some flash drives in stock, so if people need their data out of a dead machine, I charge for the labor and the flash drive ( with a profit).
2. IDE/Sata to usb adapters.
3. usb nic cards become very handy
4. If you don't have means of taking credit card payments on the road, a Square account and a smart phone will do wonders, easier to get than a merchant accout.
4. A couple of power supplies
5. Power supply testers.

I"ll continue later on

 

[katz]

Check out UBCD for diagnostics, it comes with quite a few and you call always add to it. http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

For backups with no restore we use dvds, or sell them a backup solution and run a backup, teach them how to restore, etc.

+1 on UBCD - This is one of my main "go to" tools. Burn a CD copy as well for pc's that the usb is faulty, etc.

Also, I wouldn't have a problem with purchasing a used pc from craigslist, even from a competitor if it suits my needs.

I was in a bind recently & needed a few components quick for a job -craigslist came to the rescue.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Also Great info stonecat, now I have another investment to make!!! haha. So when it comes to a bench rig, is it better to build it yourself and select all of the parts or a used computer off of craigslist would work? There is a guy here in my area who actually sells some decent (older) computers for $20-$30 but as long as the motherboard has sata and ide slots it should be fine right? or for running all of the tools do I want to invest in a better rig with better cpu/ram/etc...?

Our past benchrigs...we always nickname them "Franky"...short for Frankenstein. They're a hodge podge of old parts, a tower chassis. Doesn't have to be fast, our current one is an old P4 3.0 H/T....an HP dc5000 tower or something like that. Side panel always off. It's there for work...not for show.

Shouldn't have to hit craigs list..in this industry you accumulate computer guts at such a fast rate you'll have parts for a frankenstein of your own in no time.

 

[brock029]

This is other things I do:
1 I keep some flash drives in stock, so if people need their data out of a dead machine, I charge for the labor and the flash drive ( with a profit).
2. IDE/Sata to usb adapters.
3. usb nic cards become very handy
4. If you don't have means of taking credit card payments on the road, a Square account and a smart phone will do wonders, easier to get than a merchant accout.
4. A couple of power supplies
5. Power supply testers.

I"ll continue later on

1-4. Already done, and for #4 signed up for inuit go pay got the reader in a few days ago.
5-6.I dont have extra power supplies or a tester...but thanks for the info ill make sure to get some.

+1 on UBCD - This is one of my main "go to" tools. Burn a CD copy as well for pc's that the usb is faulty, etc.
Also, I wouldn't have a problem with purchasing a used pc from craigslist, even from a competitor if it suits my needs.

I got UBCD installed to my multiboot flash drive and tested it out last night and yup i agree its pretty awesome.

I agree, I have been trying to find anything for cheap just to have some extra ram especially ddr1 ram. If i can by a whole computer for $20 with ddr1 ram in it, that $20 has already payed for itself.

--------------

And thanks for replying again stonecat, as soon as i get some extra parts I will start to throw some stuff together.

Thanks Everybody!

 

[RegEdit]

What tools do you recommend for running hardware diagnostics?

PC Check 6.5 off Hiren's Boot CD if you can find it. I run Hitachi Drive Fitness Test before I do anything because there's no point in repairing a software system if the drive is failing.

For virus removal it changes every 6 months. I use ERD Commander to edit the registry when trojans hijack the system, MBR Check, Malwarebytes, Hitman Pro, Security Essentials, AutoRuns, Process Explorer, ATF Cleaner, Superantispyware, just to name a few.

You gotta have a rotation of drives. Most customers don't have an external drive.

 

[Fixedathome.com]

PC Check 6.5 off Hiren's Boot CD if you can find it. I run Hitachi Drive Fitness Test before I do anything because there's no point in repairing a software system if the drive is failing.

For virus removal it changes every 6 months. I use ERD Commander to edit the registry when trojans hijack the system, MBR Check, Malwarebytes, Hitman Pro, Security Essentials, AutoRuns, Process Explorer, ATF Cleaner, Superantispyware, just to name a few.

You gotta have a rotation of drives. Most customers don't have an external drive.

Or if you want to use a legal version of PC Check as opposed to the pirated version on Hirens you could get it from here