WireShark

[TLBAT] The IT swiss-knife

In my previous article I wrote about removable media used to access dead/dying computers and I mentioned a bootable USB drive that you can always have with you. Personally I have the USB pendrive always with me because it is tied to my car keyholder.
Let’s describe my USB swiss-knife: it has a bootable WindowsXP that has been built as described here and also features the PortableApps suite loaded with the WireShark utility, the InfraRecorder and all the standard applications that may save you some time on almost every x386 computer.

In addition I added a Tools folder filled with:

• BGInfo
• Double Driver
• KeyFinder
• Microsoft Key Update Tool
• HijackThis
• AntiVir

BGinfo: This tool adds some useful information on the desktop background and is highly configurable.

Double Driver: Useful for saving all installed drivers that can be used for driver reinstallation after a format.

KeyFinder: It finds the Microsoft Windows XP /Office product key.

Microsoft Key Update Tool: It can change the WIndows XP product key.

HijackThis: Really helpful tool that helps discovering BHO, Hijacks and spywares.

AntiVir : Free antivirus software.

So adding these tools to the PortableApps Suite made my swiss-knife for easy problem solving on most computers.