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MichaelNZ

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#240281 30-Aug-2018 17:06
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Is there any good software I can use to test ex-lease laptops and desktops prior to sale? Ideally produce a report I can then print off or save?





WFH Linux Systems and Networks Engineer in the Internet industry | Specialising in Mikrotik | APNIC member | Open to job offers


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nunz
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  #2081767 31-Aug-2018 08:23
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Tuff Test - https://www.tufftest.com/ Full tests of boards, ports, screen, etc. Simple printable report.

 

Any linux distro - has memtest86 for memory test. - Screen shot using camera

 

HDD Scan for SMART - Allows non destructive and destructive tests on disks as well. http://hddscan.com/

 

 

 

I've used Tufftest for years. You can run one off tests or burn in tests. Small fee to purchase is well worth it.

 

 

 

I normally use memtest 386 for memory - it has been a gold standard for years.

 

On a booted windows machine hddscan is portable and lets me see a graphical output of smart - easier than under linux unless you are linux familiar.

 

Tufftest for everything else - use it for hdd scans, board tests, and other tests. If you want to run serial and parallel tests then you will need feedback / loop plugs to test those.

 

Tufftest can be a little flakey on some types of advanced memory tests - seen it hang on extended memory so thats why memtest86.

 

 

 

Phone plus camera gives good screen shots which can be more genuine looking to potential clients (as it is a live shot) than a printed report.

 

Ran a shop doing 30 plus repairs etc per day using these tools. Never failed me.




Lias
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  #2081831 31-Aug-2018 11:23
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nunz:

 

Tuff Test - https://www.tufftest.com/ Full tests of boards, ports, screen, etc. Simple printable report.

 

 

Am i dreaming or is that software pretty much state of the ark...

 

  • Supports Intel P4, PIII, PII, P1, 486, 386, 286, 8088, 8086 & compatible AMD and Cyrix-based PCs.
  • Supports up to 4gb of RAM "including RAMBUS and DDR SDRAM"
  • Supports up to 4 IDE, EIDE, SATA and/or SCSI hard drives per PC

 

 

 





I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.


xpd

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  #2081854 31-Aug-2018 12:00
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Passmark have some good software, such as the burn in test etc.

 

 





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wratterus
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  #2081855 31-Aug-2018 12:02
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A lot of notebooks do have good built in diagnostics. Dell are excellent - just F12 on POST and run the diags. HP do have decent diags, you can create a flash drive to boot from if the notebook doesn't have the proper diags built in.

I'd normally check the HDD SMART too - you can just pop the drive out, connect it to a different PC and run a tool like Speedfan - this generates you a nice little online report of the HDD - again assuming there is no OS on the PC. Otherwise you can just do this from the PC itself. 

Memtest 86+ for RAM testing. 

 

 

 

 


hio77
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  #2081864 31-Aug-2018 12:54
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nunz:

 

Any linux distro - has memtest86 for memory test. - Screen shot using camera

 

 

 

Phone plus camera gives good screen shots which can be more genuine looking to potential clients (as it is a live shot) than a printed report.

 

Ran a shop doing 30 plus repairs etc per day using these tools. Never failed me.

 

 

Personally that would be a massive turn off as it comes across rather unprofessional IMO.





#include <std_disclaimer>

 

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

 

 


solutionz
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  #2081881 31-Aug-2018 13:24
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hio77:

 

nunz:

 

Any linux distro - has memtest86 for memory test. - Screen shot using camera

 

 

 

Phone plus camera gives good screen shots which can be more genuine looking to potential clients (as it is a live shot) than a printed report.

 

Ran a shop doing 30 plus repairs etc per day using these tools. Never failed me.

 

 

Personally that would be a massive turn off as it comes across rather unprofessional IMO.

 

 

Could invest in a crash cart adapter if you really wanted to (would give the ability to screenshot on PC).

 

It'd be overkill for that purpose however they are super handy to have around (I have this model) and can be used to jerry-rig up a remote KVM when needed (PC > Crash-cart > Laptop > RDP = profit!). Especially useful for managing headless mining rigs on a laptop.

 

Also don't forget PAT testing: https://worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/electricity/appliances-and-fittings/second-hand-appliances/

 

 


Lias
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  #2081896 31-Aug-2018 14:04
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solutionz:

 

Could invest in a crash cart adapter if you really wanted to (would give the ability to screenshot on PC).

 

 

If ya want serious overkill.. I have a couple of remote IP accessible KVM's. You can get them used off ebay for way less than that costs new.





I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.


 
 
 

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solutionz
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  #2081913 31-Aug-2018 14:46
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Lias:

 

solutionz:

 

Could invest in a crash cart adapter if you really wanted to (would give the ability to screenshot on PC).

 

 

If ya want serious overkill.. I have a couple of remote IP accessible KVM's. You can get them used off ebay for way less than that costs new.

 

 

Yeah at the time couldn't find anything as portable or anywhere near the price - think I paid a bit less than that like around $400.

 

IP would be handy, what model you got? 


Lias
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  #2081969 31-Aug-2018 16:22
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solutionz:

 

Lias:

 

solutionz:

 

Could invest in a crash cart adapter if you really wanted to (would give the ability to screenshot on PC).

 

 

If ya want serious overkill.. I have a couple of remote IP accessible KVM's. You can get them used off ebay for way less than that costs new.

 

 

Yeah at the time couldn't find anything as portable or anywhere near the price - think I paid a bit less than that like around $400.

 

IP would be handy, what model you got? 

 

 

I've got 2 floating around

 

Avocent DSR1021 and an HP E01010





I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.


coffeebaron
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  #2082030 31-Aug-2018 19:14
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Also please do the new owner a favour and do a fresh Windows install on an SSD!




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MichaelNZ

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  #2082031 31-Aug-2018 19:18
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coffeebaron: Also please do the new owner a favour and do a fresh Windows install on an SSD!

 

I do a fresh install anyway - on whichever drive was in it.





WFH Linux Systems and Networks Engineer in the Internet industry | Specialising in Mikrotik | APNIC member | Open to job offers


dimsim
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  #2082041 31-Aug-2018 19:53
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Lias:

 

solutionz:

 

Lias:

 

solutionz:

 

Could invest in a crash cart adapter if you really wanted to (would give the ability to screenshot on PC).

 

 

If ya want serious overkill.. I have a couple of remote IP accessible KVM's. You can get them used off ebay for way less than that costs new.

 

 

Yeah at the time couldn't find anything as portable or anywhere near the price - think I paid a bit less than that like around $400.

 

IP would be handy, what model you got? 

 

 

I've got 2 floating around

 

Avocent DSR1021 and an HP E01010

 

 

 

 

Think I may have some adapters for the Avocent if you are interested - bought them off Ebay hoping they may work for my HP IP KVM but alas they didn't.


nunz
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  #2082592 1-Sep-2018 21:29
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hio77:

 

nunz:

 

Any linux distro - has memtest86 for memory test. - Screen shot using camera

 

 

 

Phone plus camera gives good screen shots which can be more genuine looking to potential clients (as it is a live shot) than a printed report.

 

Ran a shop doing 30 plus repairs etc per day using these tools. Never failed me.

 

 

Personally that would be a massive turn off as it comes across rather unprofessional IMO.

 

 

And yet for some it looks more convincing as it is a live screen shot of a working box. 


hio77
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  #2082736 2-Sep-2018 13:03
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Different markets i suppose...

At the least I'd expect a proper photo. Not a phone looking one...
Shows lack of willingness to invest in the product.




#include <std_disclaimer>

 

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

 

 


nunz
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  #2088097 12-Sep-2018 10:56
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hio77: Different markets i suppose...

At the least I'd expect a proper photo. Not a phone looking one...
Shows lack of willingness to invest in the product.

 

Seriously? 5k plus  worth of photo equipment for a shot of the screen then take the 18mega pixel plus photo down to 1920 x 1080  when a decent phone photo is already most of the way there - 4000 pixels wide reduced to 1920.

 

Either way you get a professional shot or either way you get a crap shot by sticking your finger over the lens, or setting it off angle or ....

 

Example Below. Phone or Canon EOS80D set to lower DPI to make it possible to fit on a screen without too much distortion. Reasonable screen shot either way.

 

I do get the feeling hio you enjoy denigrating my posts.

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

 

 


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