It happens all the time: you are investigating a PC issue or hunting for a rogue device on a network, and the perfect tool is nowhere to be found. A well-prepared USB drive allows you to carry a digital "first-aid kit" in your pocket, ready to be deployed at a moment's notice.
This article covers my go-to hardware and the essential software suite every technician should carry.
The Foundation: Hardware & Setup
Firstly, you need the right drive. I recommend the SanDisk Ultra series. They are affordable, durable, and—most importantly—offer fast read/write speeds, which is vital when transferring large logs or ISO files.
However, the real secret is how you format it. Instead of a standard bootable drive, use Ventoy. Ventoy is an open-source tool that allows you to simply "drag and drop" ISO files onto your USB. When you boot from the USB drive, it provides a menu to select which ISO you want to run. No more reformatting every time you need a different installer.
The Essential Toolkit
When building your drive, organization is key. I recommend creating a Tools folder with sub-folders labelled by function. This keeps your workspace clean and efficient.
Network Discovery
Scanning a network is a fundamental IT task. Whether you are locating a hidden printer or finding an available static IP, these two are essential:
Advanced IP Scanner and Angry IP Scanner. My preference between the two is Advanced IP Scanner, but I run both as Angry IP Scanner is downloaded as a dmg file, which is compatible with Mac OS. This is an area where Advanced IP Scanner cannot be used in, so having both ready to go is extremely convenient.
Drive Health
A failing hard drive is a ticking time bomb. CrystalDiskInfo provides immediate insight into a drive’s health by reading its S.M.A.R.T. data. It helps you catch failing sectors and overheating issues before the data is lost forever.
Storage Analysis
Low disk space is a recurring headache, especially on older machines. While many use the classic WinDirStat, WizTree is the modern technician’s choice. It reads the drive’s Master File Table (MFT) directly, meaning it can scan a massive drive in seconds rather than minutes. It provides a visual treemap that makes spotting giant "space-hogging" files effortless. For example, you can find old PST and OST files sitting on dormant profiles that are no longer needed, applications that take up masses of room but never get used. Running this as Administrator will give you the best insight on the state of the drive.
Security Scanning
When a device is acting "glitchy" due to bloatware or browser hijackers, AdwCleaner (by Malwarebytes) is the best portable solution. Unlike the standard Malwarebytes suite, AdwCleaner requires no installation. It is a "one-and-done" executable that effectively clears out adware and PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs).
Troubleshooting: Systinternals and BlueScreenView
The SysInternals Suite is a Microsoft created - folder of different tools that can assist in troubleshooting any windows machine. Featuring file, disk, network, security and process tools, all with documentation on the Microsoft Learn page.
BlueScreenView is used when a "Blue Screen of Death" (BSOD) occurs, this tool by Nirsoft automatically scans the minidump files created during the crash. It highlights the specific driver or file that caused the failure, saving you hours of trial-and-error.
Bootable ISOs (The Emergency Bench)
Thanks to Ventoy, you can keep several bootable environments on the same drive. At a minimum, I recommend carrying:
- Windows 10/11 Installation Media: For quick OS repairs or clean installs.
- Hiren's BootCD PE: A "pre-installation environment" loaded with its own recovery tools.
- Ubuntu (or a lightweight Linux Distro): Perfect for testing hardware or accessing files on a drive when Windows refuses to boot.
Final Thoughts
A technician is only as good as their tools. While the specific software you choose might vary based on your niche, having a fast, organized, and "Ventoy-powered" drive is a massive force multiplier. As you encounter new challenges, continue to add to your toolkit; eventually, there won't be a problem you can't solve from your pocket.
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