STFU && RTFM

Like their physical counterparts, software tools are absolutely necessary for successful IT support. I usually divide them up into two categories; CD images and executables. The first are usually distributed in the form of iso-files. I usually carry the following with me, along with blank CDs, so that I can make the tools I need to:
 

• ERD Commander
  • ERD Commander is a tool made by SysInternals. It has been distributed to enterprise clients, and I have not seen it online as a download.
• OphCrack
  • OphCrack is a Windows Password Cracker that has been nice to have around a few times. It does exactly what you’d think it does; it cracks Windows user account passwords.
• Super Grub Disk
  • Super Grub Disc is a neat tool to repair MBR and GRUB.
• Ubuntu
  • Ubuntu is one of the most prolific Linux distributions available. I use it for disc diagnostics and data retrieval.
• Ultimate Boot CD
  • UBCD is a toolkit unto itself, and has diagnostic tools to last you a lifetime. It has saved me a few times, and allowed me to diagnose errors correctly at others.
• Windows Memory Diagnostic
  • The Windows Memory Diagnostic does exactly that; helps you run diagnostics of Memory modules.

 
I usually carry these iso-files with me on a memory stick. That way, I don’t need to worry about losing CD’s, and I’m always able to make more tools should I need them.

From time to time, I come across having to burn an ISO onsite. I usually carry with me an external hard drive on which I have a few essential ISO’s, such as Ubuntu, UBCD or GParted. Now, while I have software to burn ISO’s on my computer, I don’t always bring my computer with me when going to see a customer. Luckily, there is a nifty little app to help me burn the discs I might need.
 
The program is called “Free ISO Burner“, and it does exactly what it is meant to do, no more, no less. There are two advantages to this program. The first is the fact that it takes up less than one megabyte of storage. The second is that it runs, simply and smoothly, without installation. These two features means it’s one of the many programs I always have with me on a memorystick.
 
A quick word on ISO’s. Wikipedia defines ISO’s as

“…an archive file (also known as a disc image) of an optical disc in a format defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This format is supported by many software vendors. ISO image files typically have a file extension of .iso. The name ISO is taken from the ISO 9660 file system…”

Simply put, ISO’s contain the files and formatting of a specific optical disc (CD, DVD, BRD), and allows you to burn that image to a second disc. By burning the image, you get a carbon copy of the original disc. This is great for distributing software installation media over the net, and is also practical when you are stuck, without the CD you need, at a client’s offices. Provided, of course, that you actually brought the ISO…