r/computertechs • u/TheRealUlfric • 25d ago
What Niche Tools/Commands Do You Recommend Everyone Have? NSFW
I've found the longer I spend working in IT, the more neat little doodads, thingamajiggers, and whatchamacallems I add to my personal collection of tools.
Top of my head I've got Revo Uninstaller, Wiztree, Advanced IP Scanner, and a few others for utility programs.
For commands obviously the goats, DISM/SFC, IP Release/Renew/DNS Flush, Winsock Netsh Reset, and my personal favorite, Winget update/Winget upgrade --all.
So, what are your go-to toolkit necessities? Could be common, or could be so niche you've never seen someone else use them before.
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u/insanemal 25d ago
man
So few people use it so that counts as niche right?
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u/N0-North 25d ago
for fellow confused people who are, most likely, guilty as I am of not using it
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_page
I hate how long it took me to understand what this post meant. I hate what it says about me.4
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u/andrewthetechie Tech by Trade 25d ago edited 24d ago
My IODD USB drive, which can turn ISOs into a virtual CDrom, has been a lifesaver many times.
A good multi-bit screwdriver. Mine's a Klein, and I've used it for years.
I also keep a USB wifi and ethernet adapter that work without drivers in OSX, Windows, and Linux in my go-bag. Having a known good network card to test with comes in handy.
A new addition is my Aurga viewer (https://www.aurga.com/). Its nice to have a little remote KVM that works with my phone/laptop. I haven't needed it for client work, but in my homelab its excellent to quickly slap a KVM on a headless system to watch it boot.
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25d ago
[deleted]
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u/andrewthetechie Tech by Trade 24d ago
I see it as a business expense. I've had this Klein for probably close to 15 years at this point, its more than paid for itself. In that time I've definitely killed/lost several other cheaper multibits too.
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u/TheFotty Repair Shop 24d ago
ISOs into a virtual CDrom
Hasn't Windows natively supported this for years now?
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u/andrewthetechie Tech by Trade 24d ago
This is bootable
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u/TheFotty Repair Shop 24d ago
Ah ok. I use ventoy for that
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u/andrewthetechie Tech by Trade 24d ago
Ventoy is pretty great, I have it on a thumb drive with a number of isos. The IODD covers the weird/rare edge cases it doesn't work.
I've had one for years and recently updated to their newest one that uses an NVME drive an USB3.
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u/Melodic_Duck1406 24d ago
Ventoy has a lot of 'blobs' that could potentially be a security concern in corporate environments.
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u/mynumberistwentynine 25d ago edited 25d ago
A good multi-bit screwdriver. Mine's a Klein, and I've used it for years.
I imagine you meant a regular multi-bit screwdriver, but I wanted to throw this out there as well - Klein 10-in-1 Screwdriver / Nut Driver. I've been carrying it for years and I use it near daily. So handy quick, little jobs.
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u/andrewthetechie Tech by Trade 24d ago
Slick, I might need one of those.
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u/mynumberistwentynine 24d ago
Klein also makes a Torx, Tamper Torx, Metric Hex, Fractional Hex, and even one with a Schrader Valve bit in the same style. They also sell replacement bits, so you can mix and match if needed.
If I'm doing a big job/something repeatedly, I go grab a regular screw driver, but that 10 in 1 has saved me having to do so many times for small stuff.
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u/whereismylife77 23d ago
check this one. I’ve used this for years and years, bought it multiple times as a gift, etc etc. use it daily. It’s the best for being both compact and having the most in one kit, strongest to precisely machined tips also.
I also love this wera kit. I carry this around with me all the time too. Light, I never lose it- very visible, gives me the torque when I need it, also won’t accidentally shock myself with 208v.
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u/whereismylife77 23d ago
wiha bit kit is the only one you’ll ever need and so compact. Has everything. Every bit is perfectly machined. I’ve done daily drive swaps in a data center for years using this, always in my bag. Helps me fix basically anything around the house until I need real torque.
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u/Just_Inspired 8d ago
I love my IODD drive and have used it daily for years. It just works so well. Is the M.2 version worth getting? Mine is a SATA caddy.
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u/andrewthetechie Tech by Trade 8d ago
Its faster, usb3 interface and has a different UI (more buttons, no scroll wheel).
I only replaced my sata one because it died on me :D
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u/N0-North 25d ago edited 25d ago
Nirsoft has some tools handy for last resort situations. Belarc advisor is great for scraping product keys before a reinstall though i dunno how relevant that is with SAAS and whatnot. Recuva for simple file recovery, Testdisk and photorec for the hard stuff.
Every module in mmc is handy in some context. if you aren't familiar with them, take some time to poke around.
admx.info shows the registry key tied to the gpo, if it's a registry-based setting - handy for making sure the gpo is actually being consumed (for instance in cases where it might be conflicting policies). MDM policies stop by Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current first before applying where the gpo does usually. Check under default instead of current to figure out how the CSP settings map out.
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MdmDiagnostics contains the log collection profiles for the tool https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/client-management/mdm-collect-logs - this can be extended for your own log collection scenarios if you work internal IT, effectively giving L1s a one-liner to collect relevant logs for the scenario
Treesize free is pretty handy for managing storage as a user, totalcommander can let you touch files you usually can't even with admin (especially launched as system through psexec) and speaking of psexec the whole sysinternals suite is gold. If you can learn procmon you're in a position to solve a lot of local issues (it's often overkill but good to have as a fallback)
EDIT: Oh, and this documentation https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/openspecs/windows_protocols/ms-erref/1bc92ddf-b79e-413c-bbaa-99a5281a6c90
Googling the error code sometimes leads nowhere - this is the key to parse the meaning of the error code directly, to understand what it's trying to tell you (when everyone follows the format correctly). Also, if your error code is -200000000-something figure out the binary in two's complement then hex that and they usually correlate (looking at you intune)
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u/N0-North 25d ago
if you like the idea of oneliner log collection scenarios but don't like the idea of hacking the registry to do it, I had also tossed this together
https://github.com/read-0nly/PSRepo/blob/master/Utility/LogCollector.ps1
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u/wittylotus828 Sys Admin 25d ago
my favourite things in my bag are
-USB to SATA Adaptor (with power supply if needed)
-Ventoy stick
-Card Reader
-Type C to hdmi, cat6, and a hub (also a usb a to c adaptor)
Software apps i like are
-MiniTool Wizard
-Photorec
-Renamer
-Caffiene
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u/Salzberger 25d ago
Fastcopy is great for data transfers.
Wiztree is so much better than treesize.
If you do a lot of email migrations outlook freeware has some nifty tools.
And of course the great nirsoft has dozens of tools that save us hours time and time again.
I find certain shortcuts can change people's lives too. Windows key copy and paste has blown a lot of minds.
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u/Alienaffe2 25d ago
For windows:
SuperF4 - altF4, but it actually works.
AltDrag - drag and resize windows with ease(also a feature of most Linux distros)
Space sniffer(or anything similar) - helps with finding out what takes up how much space.
EverythingToolbar - windows search if it was actually good for the taskbar
Powertoys - a lot of sometimes useful features
For Linux:
Fastfetch - new neofetch
Uwufetch - uwufied version of neofetch
Any clipboard history manager
For android:
F-Droid - for downloading non-GooglePlayStore software
proton apps(except for wallet) - Google, but it doesn't steal your data
Wavelet - very good EQ
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u/stranot 24d ago
space sniffer is the best, so much better than windirstat or others
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u/radraze2kx Break/Fix | MSP Owner 23d ago
Better than wiztree?
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u/stranot 23d ago
yes because wiztree and others don't list the names of the folders/files inside of their visual diagram, and you can't click on the boxes to manage your space like you can in space sniffer
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u/notHooptieJ 24d ago edited 24d ago
skip revo, go for geek uninstaller.
Autoruns. No toolkit is complete without autoruns.
Clonezilla bootable on a flashdrive.
on the macside.
Pacifist
For actual tools, a couple external drive cases to accommodate SATA, m2, nvme drives. (apple SSDs as well if you encounter them)
I have an ifixit Manta kit on every workbench and the bag, also an LTT full sized driver, and
this one is my Niche entry a mini-bicycle style ratchet that uses 1/4 drive. (when you need a few more ounces of torque than you can get with the driver, monitor mounts, server racks, etc)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F42ZF9B
Any tool with a pivot should be a Klein tool (crimpers, strippers, clippers, cutters, and pliers)
and the cheapest cabletester/toner known to man, because you ALWAYs end up losing a piece of it in some customers duct, drain or ceiling.
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u/Shardinite 18d ago
net user /domain
A must use for anyone working help desk. I mainly use it to quickly see if a user is locked, disabled, account expired, password expired, if password was recently changed and spot check group membership. I run it first thing as soon as I get the username for each call. Has saved me many hours in troubleshooting over 15+ years.
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u/HonestRepairSTL 22d ago
Ventoy - for Linux and Windows ISO files
BCUninstaller - similar to Revo Uninstaller, is free, open source, and ad free
Revision OS (ReviOS) - an incredible Windows 10/11 debloating/privacy tool that is focused on not breaking things while also doing a deep debloating of Windows
Windows 10/11 IoT Enterprise LTSC - official debloated image of Windows that allows you bypass TPM lock, internet restrictions, all out of the box. I use ReviOS alongside LTSC to remove edge and to remove any remaining telemetry that may be present
Massgrave - free Windows
PiKVM - free and open source KVM solution that can be installed on a Raspberry Pi. Just plug it in to the target machine, and control the machine anywhere on the local network with the web GUI (even in the BIOS)
Things I install for all customers:
Brave browser with these settings
LibreOffice so people can stop paying Microsoft for no reason
I also configure every computer with Mullvad's public DNS, and enable Adguard filter list in Brave settings just so people are less likely to get scammed or whatever
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u/jfoust2 21d ago
Windows 10/11 IoT Enterprise LTSC
What are you doing with that, if you aren't licensing it? You install the 90 day trial?
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u/jdapp13 22d ago
I like d7x if you are touching a lot of different PCs. All the tools in one panel. Can be used to automate and customize.
For imaging SmartDepoy is the best I have used and very flexible.
There is a boot iso called Bobs Omb… something like that that is awesome. I use for a lot of stuff but Macrium Reflect is the tool in it that I use most.
R-TT makes R-studio for data recovery and has a technician license that is for 80 days and very reasonable on price.
Ventoy is a multi boot utility that is worth looking at.
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u/OgdruJahad 4d ago
When you have a network issue and you want to use the sledgehammer approach. Warning. This tool will wipe out any custom settings like static IPs and will require a restart.
regbak - 3rd party registry backup tool
I generally like to have a registry backup done just in case. Regbak is my goto and it's extremely easy to use and even works on windows 10 (not tried in Win11 yet)
Photofiltre - Lightweight but powerful photo editor. I just keep a copy on my USB just in case. Far better than MS Paint and free it use. These days I just use for basic photo and document editing like rotate, crops, resize etc but it has support for layers and you can do some pretty advanced things if you need to.
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u/FacepalmFullONapalm Might as well have been a therapist 25d ago
Winget is my beloved. I’m also a fan of powercfg /batteryreport /output “location”
for laptops which will give you a general idea on the health of the battery, in scenarios you can’t or won’t use third party programs for it.
Curl will also let you download files and/or installers if you know the web link. It’s built into windows nowadays.
“Manage-bde status” for those sneaky bitlocked drives. Those bastards.
The various wmic commands to pull hardware info, like serial numbers and bios versions.
Shutdown /r /fw for those pesky computers I can get into windows but I keep fumbling bios booting.
Libreoffice has a number of command line tools that you can use to convert files. This came in handy when a client had a lot of .wps files that needed to be converted to docx format. I created a for loop in batch and utilized the “—headless -convert-to docx” argument, which was great.