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Bad Computer Days - Wipe + Reload

Submitted by webmaster on Mon, 2009/12/28 - 21:42
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The ultimate software "fix" is to wipe the hard disk and reload from scratch. All data is lost (address books, financial records, pictures, music etc.) and it takes a lot of time. Programs too. Thus it is generally considered the last resort. But many machines are so "slimed" that it should be the first.

 We recently analyzed the time required to do a proper "wipe+reload". The results are discomforting. The procedure is so expensive we included the additional tasks of saving the "image" and "re-image" to preserve the value of the activity.

We used the free software spreadsheet program Gnumeric.  We set up seven columns. Task is one of Reload, Image or Re-image. The action is a short descriptor of the subtask to be performed. Actions are described briefly later. The units are one of time in minutes and space in gigabytes. The base is the minimum amount of time or space required to do a subtask even if the decision is not to do the subtask. Quantity is for a typical reload of a smallish machine. With the advent of ever larger hard disks, the task can be much larger. The rate is cost per unit. We used the current LSNet rates of $1 per minute and $0.30 per gigabyte whether for storage or transfer.

 

 

Time study
Task Action Unit Base Rate Quantity Amount
Reload Pickup Time 0 $1.00 30 $30.00
  Setup Time 5 $1.00 5 $5.00
  Backup Time 10 $1.00 20 $20.00
  Transfer GB 0 $0.30 3 $0.90
  Software Time 0 $1.00 60 $60.00
  Diagnostics Time 10 $1.00 15 $15.00
  Repair Time 0 $1.00 0 $0.00
  Partition Time 5 $1.00 0 $5.00
  Format GB 0 $0.30 40 $12.00
  OS Load Time 15 $1.00 60 $60.00
  Drivers Time 10 $1.00 60 $60.00
  Updates Time 20 $1.00 60 $60.00
  User Time 5 $1.00 15 $15.00
  Security Time 15 $1.00 15 $15.00
  Apps Time 0 $1.00 60 $60.00
  Restore Time 5 $1.00 15 $15.00
  Test Time 10 $1.00 10 $10.00
  Delivery Time 0 $1.00 30 $30.00
Image Service call Time 30 $1.00 30 $30.00
  Boot Clonezilla Time 5 $1.00 5 $5.00
  Config Time 5 $1.00 5 $5.00
  Upload GB 10 $0.30 4 $3.00
  Storage GB 10 $0.30 4 $3.00
  Test Time 30 $1.00 30 $30.00
Re-image Service call Time 30 $1.00 30 $30.00
  Boot Clonezilla Time 5 $1.00 5 $5.00
  Config Time 5 $1.00 5 $5.00
  Download GB 10 $0.30 5 $3.00
  Boot Image Time 5 $1.00 5 $5.00
  Test Time 10 $1.00 10 $10.00
Reload subtotal         $472.90
Image subtotal         $76.00
Re-image subtotal         $58.00
Total           $606.90

 

More than the cost of a new machine. Even a new machine is one mouse click away from becoming "hazardous waste". The sane policy is to capture and store the image. Many computers come with "restore partitions" which get you back to the state when it came out of the box. Once a new machine has become productive, it should be imaged anyway to capture the early effort of installing software and configuration.

To give you an expanded outline of the process:

  • Reload
    • Pickup - The difference between "wall" time and "tech" time, the time a human must pay attention to the process, is sufficiently large to warrant doing reloads in our "lab". Dropoff avoids this cost.
    • Setup - the time required to set up the client's workstation on the bench.
    • Backup - On XP - Documents and Settings, Vista - Users, plus whatever non-system data the customer designates.
    • Drivers - note any special hardware drivers (printers, video cards etc.) and identify source.
    • Transfer - many options, usb memory stick, flash drive, CDR, DVD-R, FTP.
    • Software - identify the programs required for normal operations, locate the source disks or identify downloads. Record configuration and check for data outside the normal "user" tree.
    • Diagnostics - note any hardware issues and run diagnostics on the hard drive. Check the CD/DVD reader for functionality.
    • Repair - replace hard disks and optical drives as necessary.
    • Partition - repartition the hard drive and write a new MBR (Master Boot Record).
    • Format - format with the NTFS file system. Use the "long" format to assure drive functionality.
    • OS Load - use a "slip streamed" operating system image to minimize the number of updates required.
    • Updates - run all operating system updates
    • User -  create a non-priviledged user to reduce the likelihood of introduction of harmful software.
    • Security - install basic security tools, virus and malware scanners.
    • Apps - install required software applications.
    • Restore - restore backed up data.
    • Test - make sure the required application run.
    • Delivery - return to customer and install.
  • Image
    • Service call - it is important to take the image soon after reload but when functionality is established.
    • Boot Clonezilla - free imaging software from the National Center for High-Performance Computing in Taiwan comparable to Norton Ghost Enterprise.
    • Config - identity source partition  and destination.
    • Upload - find a secure location to store image until it is needed.
    • Storage - select an off-premise location to hold the image until it is required.
    • Test - reload the image on the source machine to assure that it will work when required
  • Re-image
    • Service call - with modest training and preparation this step could be performed by an end user. At least initially, LSNet staff is advisable.
    • Boot Clonezilla - same as the image process.
    • Config - reverse of the image process.
    • Download - needed if a local copy is not available and the image was stored on a remote computer.
    • Boot Image - remove the "live" CD and boot the restored image.
    • Test - same as the image process.

 The key to making sense of the situation (if that can be done at all) is backup. We'll take you on a trip to the clouds in a future article.