IT guy toolkit

Here is a nice little utility I just found out about and didn''t notice listed in my skimming... Autopatcher.

What it does is allow you to install all of the updates for a Windows XP/2K/2K3 machine before having to connect it to a network. Which is nice if you have a virus infested mess of a corporate network like we do here.

"Stric9" wrote:

Here is a nice little utility I just found out about and didn''t notice listed in my skimming... Autopatcher.

What it does is allow you to install all of the updates for a Windows XP/2K/2K3 machine before having to connect it to a network. Which is nice if you have a virus infested mess of a corporate network like we do here.

That''s not a little utility stric9. The full download is huge.

"Stric9" wrote:

Here is a nice little utility I just found out about and didn''t notice listed in my skimming... Autopatcher.

What it does is allow you to install all of the updates for a Windows XP/2K/2K3 machine before having to connect it to a network. Which is nice if you have a virus infested mess of a corporate network like we do here.

If that''s the case and you''re a Windows shop, why don''t you run a Softare Update Services server on a secluded subnet of your network, it would do the same thing.

I run it at home on the domain (yes I run a domain at home) and it''s the shizzle, I just review the updates at my leisure and approve the ones I want for the systems I have and the all my pcs are upgraded overnight (I''m pretty sure you can do it on demand too).

It''s going to get better when they make it Windows Update Services and it will do MS Windows and Office updates in one package.

EDIT - You don''t need a special server to run the download Windows 2K/2k3 server will run it fine. If you use Group Policy then you can manage the clients through that or they can be set up with the client tool. You can also implement master update servers and site servers (that get their updates from the masters) if you''re spread out over a huge geographical area and you can specify whether to use MS''s WUsite or your local server so you can allocate your bandwidth.
It''s definately nice if you''re not large enough to mandate SMS from your IT Director.

EDIT2 - You don''t need a domain to run the SUS, but it does make management easier through group policy. You can use the local group policy to do unmanaged (ie workgroup) machines. And you''re right it''s not a ''for everyone'' solution.

Thanks a ton Eezy! You just saved me alot of work. Also the most essential thing for a Toolguy that MUST be used is this:

Link
IMAGE(http://www.jinx.com/images/products/293bgBlue.jpg)

Edit: Holy sh*t how the hell did I get to 1000 posts already? I was at like 829 last week.

If that''s the case and you''re a Windows shop, why don''t you run a Softare Update Services server on a secluded subnet of your network, it would do the same thing.

While your solution is interesting and pretty cool. For my needs I just dont see setting up a server and a private domain as an easier alternative to simply burning a cd. This is also an easier solution at home if you just want to set up a machine without having it connected to your network, or perhaps update a machine where no internet access is available.

Oh and to keep the thread on topic here is a link to the Microsoft XP Power Toys page. The Alt-Tab replacement is pretty cool as it shows you a picture of each app you can switch to.

"Edwin" wrote:

Thanks a ton Eezy! You just saved me alot of work. Also the most essential thing for a Toolguy that MUST be used is this:

Link
IMAGE(http://www.jinx.com/images/products/293bgBlue.jpg)

Edit: Holy sh*t how the hell did I get to 1000 posts already? I was at like 829 last week.

B''cuz youse one verbose bastid.

Really? I usually find myself lurking and reading more than posting.

"Edwin" wrote:

Really? I usually find myself lurking and reading more than posting.

The thread has already begun!

And you misspelled my name too! At least you fixed it.

"Edwin" wrote:

And you misspelled my name too! At least you fixed it.

Hey, I was up until 3:30 working on a paper. Cut me some slack, ''k?

As requested in another thread, here''s a recommendation:

Hard Drive Crash: Quetek File Scavenger.

Very easy to use, works GREAT.

Here''s a list I refer to often
http://aumha.org/freeware/freeware.p...

A particular Favorite is Restoration, which recovers deleted files.
I''m also partial to Getdataback and SpinRite

I left out two;

BartPE boot CD and floppy disks and FireDaemon for Windows Servers.

Here''s a great one I just found

Burn Express

Let''s you burn audio and data (files or ISO) CDs. It''s simple, quick, tiny and best of all free.

Someone mentioned SysInternals before: they''re the best resource for Windows process utilities. Their file activity monitor, process monitor, and socket monitor helped me hunt down several virus infections and breakins. And it''s all freeware.

I''d like to Toss in a handy app for puter cleanup/maint. to go along with SPybot and AdAware.. I also run Crap Cleaner as well. Basically, whenever I do a scan with Adaware and then spybot, i finish it up with a CC scan/clean.

Here is a topic with several different CD Burning programs. http://gamerswithjobs.com/index.php?...

"cuebert" wrote:

I''d like to Toss in a handy app for puter cleanup/maint. to go along with SPybot and AdAware.. I also run Crap Cleaner as well. Basically, whenever I do a scan with Adaware and then spybot, i finish it up with a CC scan/clean.

Damn, cuebert, I thought I was the only one obsessive enough to run all three of those products!

"mateo" wrote:
"cuebert" wrote:

I''d like to Toss in a handy app for puter cleanup/maint. to go along with SPybot and AdAware.. I also run Crap Cleaner as well. Basically, whenever I do a scan with Adaware and then spybot, i finish it up with a CC scan/clean.

Damn, cuebert, I thought I was the only one obsessive enough to run all three of those products! :lol:

Hehehe... I likes me some smooooth runnin'' puters''

"Kriegshund" wrote:

Good set of screwdrivers (philips, flathead and hex-head)
Needle-nose pliers

I tend to like to have extra screws and ties - ya know, in case you have to go into someone else''s system and its a mess already.

I have salvaged a few systems with this gem..

http://ubcd.sourceforge.net/

I try not to keep a particular set of tools as mine get loaned out and not returned too often. With UBCD I keep an image handy on my laptop and burn one off when I need it.

So, I have a question for you all. What shareware or feeware Registry Clean up tools do you run. I use to use RegCleaner (it was free) and I ran through it''s replacement''s trial period (RegSupreme). Now, before I default and buy RegSupreme, is there something out there I should use. I have some Win2k but mostly WinXP clients.

I agree with Eezy in regards to SUS. We actually push updates via our SMS network, similar to SUS, but it removes the headache of having to deal with updates. You just have to be careful to test the updates before pushing them out. It can create an instant headache if you have problems.

CEJ, Crap Cleaner is awesome for deleting all kinds of junk Windows or other applications may leave behind.

Spunior, two thumbs up for Crap Cleaner. It did the trick. Thanks.

For your drive wiping needs, do not forget Darik''s Boot & Nuke in either a floppy or bootable CD format. It wipes out all of the data on old PC hard drives and media for the low, low cost of . . . free. God Bless the open source community. Try explaining to a CIO why you need to purchase deletion tools. They just look at you with a blank look and shake their head ''no'' a lot.

Ugh? I thought YOU were a CIO!

"Gorilla.800.lbs" wrote:

Ugh? I thought YOU were a CIO!

Naw. I actually know how to fix things.

OK all...would be nice to have another sticky or forum for people like me - please call it
""Basic toolkit for dumbasses who don''t work in the computer industry and don''t understand what the f*** most of these files do!""

Thank you...if I had the time to read through all these FAQ''s and files, and figure which one did what to my pc vs a server vs my firewall vs whatever...hell, I''d go into the IT business.

Until then, anyone who would like to post a ""Dummies guide to maintaining you and your kids'' PC''s "" would be a most welcome addition [keeping in mind just tell me what to load, and how to use it, and speak slow enough that even my 8 year old son can follow the instructions!]

Thank you, and I now return you to your regularly scheduled ''supergeek-speak'' topic

(I mean, as if I know how the hell to differentiate using the Win or Linux version of a product, much less what to click ''clean'' on on the 45 different cleaning tools you all have.)

signed
~Help for the PC-lingo challenged gamer~

Hey I was screwing around this weekend and found something I thought they broke with WinXP. Scheduled Defrags.
Even you can use this one PigPen!

I''m assuming you have the classic windows start bar, adjust if you don''t!

Go to START/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Scheduled Tasks
Double Click on Add Scheduled Task
Click Next
Click on Browse and select C:\\(Windows Dir)\System32\Defrag.exe
Select your schedule (weekly or monthly) and click Next
Select the day of week/month and time of day to run defrag and click Next
Select an admin account and enter the account''s password (if there is one) and click Next
Put a check mark in the ''Open Advanced Properties'' box and click Finish.
When the Advanced Properties look for the RUN line (it should be near the top.
You need to add at least one argument and that''s the volume so it should look like this:
C:\\(Windows Dir)\DEFRAG.EXE C:
but you can add -a (analyze only) or -f (force, use this if you''re low on disk space) for example:
C:\\(Windows Dir)\DEFRAG.EXE C: -a

Full info on the command line version of Defrag can be found here:
Disk Defrag

Thank you Eezy - do the rest of you see how eezy it is to speak in simple layman''s terms...it really is, and think of the benefit to humanity you thusly have!