Jonathong
asked on
Advice for a Beginner Consultant w/ little experience
Hello all,
I am starting my own PC Repair consulting business soon and would like to solicit some advice. Business practices, services to offer, service to not offer.... etc. I am fresh out of school (which doesn't teach you much) and have limited real world experience. I welcome everything you experts have to say, but I am especially interested in what stuff would be useful to purchase.
Do I need diagnostic software/equipment? (I am currently considering http://www.pcdservicecenter.com/ )
Best way to back-up client machines. I am currently considering Acronis, but have been reading a lot of bad reviews of the latest versions. I like that Acronis is kinda of an all in one package, backup, sync, imaging software.
What is the best software/method to virus removal? Currently I just take the hard drive out of the infected machine and plug it into my computer via a USB converter and scan it with a couple different A/V programs like Malware Bytes, AVG.
Are there any "Must Haves" for the tech guy's tool belt?
I cant think of anything else specific I want to ask, but I welcome anything you guys have to say on the subject.
Thank you very much.
I am starting my own PC Repair consulting business soon and would like to solicit some advice. Business practices, services to offer, service to not offer.... etc. I am fresh out of school (which doesn't teach you much) and have limited real world experience. I welcome everything you experts have to say, but I am especially interested in what stuff would be useful to purchase.
Do I need diagnostic software/equipment? (I am currently considering http://www.pcdservicecenter.com/ )
Best way to back-up client machines. I am currently considering Acronis, but have been reading a lot of bad reviews of the latest versions. I like that Acronis is kinda of an all in one package, backup, sync, imaging software.
What is the best software/method to virus removal? Currently I just take the hard drive out of the infected machine and plug it into my computer via a USB converter and scan it with a couple different A/V programs like Malware Bytes, AVG.
Are there any "Must Haves" for the tech guy's tool belt?
I cant think of anything else specific I want to ask, but I welcome anything you guys have to say on the subject.
Thank you very much.
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Oh, and join COMMUNITIES!!!!
Don't know where you are, but there are consulting user groups ALL OVER. I've been to them in Dallas, Seattle, and New York and I KNOW there are many others in other cities/regions. Also join mailing lists - sbs list on yahoo groups, smbmanagedservices also on yahoo groups. Check meetups.
If it's just you, forming relationships with other consultants can be vital when you need extra manpower or just someone to cover you when you have two emergencies at the same time. Not to mention, the extra knowledge and experience they can offer.
Don't know where you are, but there are consulting user groups ALL OVER. I've been to them in Dallas, Seattle, and New York and I KNOW there are many others in other cities/regions. Also join mailing lists - sbs list on yahoo groups, smbmanagedservices also on yahoo groups. Check meetups.
If it's just you, forming relationships with other consultants can be vital when you need extra manpower or just someone to cover you when you have two emergencies at the same time. Not to mention, the extra knowledge and experience they can offer.
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I have a deep appreciation for Eddie-Lopez's last comment.
1) You can't survive without google.
2) It's impossible to know everything.
Whatever software/hardware.. for data recovery and repair, that you're comforable with and works, is ok.
The only thing you really need to worry about is how to be efficient, so at the end of the day you don't make angry customers and you can still pay your bills. Do what you know, and learn what you don't.
You can still make money on referrals too. ;)
1) You can't survive without google.
2) It's impossible to know everything.
Whatever software/hardware.. for data recovery and repair, that you're comforable with and works, is ok.
The only thing you really need to worry about is how to be efficient, so at the end of the day you don't make angry customers and you can still pay your bills. Do what you know, and learn what you don't.
You can still make money on referrals too. ;)
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ASKER
Thank you everyone for your great answers. Leew your comments, and your website were most useful. Thank you!
ASKER
I see that Norton Ghost has been discontinued. What do you know about Symantec System recovery? It looks like it might be a substitute for Ghost.
Also how do you feel about Recover My Files as compared to Get Data Back by runtime.org?
Thanks again!