[kwlug-disc] OT: "No I will not fix your computer."

[Paul Nijjar]

On Thu, Oct 31, 2013 at 11:41:03PM -0400, Rashkae wrote:
> 
> Yes,, installing Windows is something I charge between $150 to $300
> for.  (and often, I'm actually taking a hit on it.)  That seems like
> a lot, I know, but by the time, you copy off the data, install
> windows, activate windows, install udpates (reboot, wash rinse
> repeat at least 4 times.),, then install apps, update those,
> download and install new drivers, restore application, restore data
> files in the correct location,  (ie, make sure Outlook is linked
> back to it's old pst files, all e-mail accounts are
> reconfigured...etc. ) install anti-virus, etc etc.... at the end of
> the day, you just spent the better part of a whole afternoon on that
> one computer. 

I wish we were allowed to discuss Windows repairs on this mailing
list, so that I could hint at the various tools I have discovered to
speed up this process a little (which you probably already know about): 

- wsusoffline.net : makes doing updates much less painful, particularly on
  WinXP
- Ninite : not suitable for repair shops, but really nice for
  installing free third party apps for individuals. (It is very much
  not free software, however.) 
- WPKG : a fair amount of work to set up, but great for installing
  third party apps and keeping them up to date (more for labs than
  individual installs, though)
- Driverpacks.net : again, more useful for WinXP drivers, but still a
  great resource for things that are not sound cards

Alas, this is a Linux discussion group, and so we must not mention
such tools here (even though WPKG and wsusoffline are free software).

- Paul 



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