Hi Guys

well i have been coming here regular now since i found this site last month, and the reason for this is that it is by far the best puter based help and advice forum i have come across...
anyway....i have started working for mysefl as a computer tech/troubleshooter, though i am first to admit i dont know it all, very little in reality, but at the same time dont believe in my knowledge, though i have helped many friends and family and they say otherwise i find it hard to give my thoughts regarding pc probs as there are so many ways of fixing things and i hate the thought of being laughed at if im wrong.

anyway...the reason i am posting is to ask you brain boxes out there, what is the best "general" software that would in theory get most pc's out of the blues.
Ive reasonable knowledge of most aspects of problems, and what i dont, as many many computer techs have told me whilst looking into working for myself, if in doubt Google as 99% of techs do this.

I have also created a website and wouldnt mind some input as to what else i can put on the site that would attract people to me, wether it be expanding what i can do to general computer info.
i wont put my web url here yet in case it not allowed, but if given go ahead i will post it.


Thanks
Steve

Hi Steve,

The fact of the matter is - ask anyone of the staff members here, and they'll say I know alot. Ask me personally. I'll say I know jack ****.

And don't worry about getting laughed at...being an IT technician is all about being wrong most of the time...no 2 errors are exactly the same...they may have the same error number..and the same resolution...but might have different circumstances.

A format is good for 1 person - and not good for another - never rely on this as your first and only tool to fix a problem.

In regards to the best software...it depends on what's wrong
Virus - I find that the Prework steps we have here is the best way to clean a computer...there is no such thing as an All-in-one wonder program that will do as good of a job (as ladygreenwitch will agree with me).

The best way you can make sure that a computer has no troubles...is make sure it's 100% up to date with windows, and schedule a defrag every week. If the user doesn't keep going to bad sites - then you won't need to worry about virus scans for more then once a month as a general check.

This won't help particularly but it is a good idea:

Make a maintenance timetable for all your customers, just a simple table with a list of tests/tasks that need to be done and how often.

Like:

• Virus Scan
• Spyware Scan
• Defrag
• Registry Clean
• (cant think of any others atm )

And make it clear how important it is to run these.

Chris

i made that up for work...well something similar...

Added Windows Update to the list...

Yep thats one i forgot

Thanks

I like the idea of the time table for customers. will be starting that today

I am one for wanting to fix a fault rather than reformatting and re installing, i hate it if a computer gets the better of me.
I agree we all have out own choices on whats good software and whats rubbish, but i try to keep an open mind when people tell me of software i have not used or used a long while ago and found no help.

so far on the jobs i have done only once i have had to reformat, the pc in question had 2 antivirus suites running and it seemed either one or both locked the computer down, safe mode wouldnt allow anything either. it annoyed me big time but i had exhausted all i knew.

any more suggestions more than welcomed

thanks
Steve

Yep everyone prefers avoiding reformat.

Marked as Answered.

Chris