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Pc-Check® Diagnostic Software & Hardware Diagnostic Tools
Pc-Check®, Pc-Check® Windows® and Pc-Check® UEFI
Review by: Jennifer Griffiths
Video & Testing by: Philip Griffiths
REVIEWED 2018. PLEASE CHECK FOR LATEST UPDATES www.eurosoft-uk.com
Introduction :
In this edition of Tech For Techs we are going to be talking about much needed tools. No, I don't mean the handy dandy screw driver, though it is very useful. The kind of tools we are focusing on today are the diagnostics kind. Everyone has their own way of diagnosing a fault. Most of us can guess it straight away. But what happens when the guess work leads to hours of unnecessary work? What if we could wave a magic wand and get the diagnostics as well as stress tests done as we go on about another task? You can! With Pc-Check® it's diagnostics made simple. Read more...
Manufacturer statement:
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REVIEWED 2018. PLEASE CHECK FOR LATEST UPDATES www.eurosoft-uk.com
About the Product:
Pc-Check® UEFI diagnostic software delivers fast-acting, direct ‘native’ UEFI-only pre-boot hardware testing, even with Secure Boot enabled. Pc-Check UEFI detects and tests 64Bit non-legacy, bare-metal components – not the software drivers. No operating system in the way – no Linux, no Windows, no secure boot or BIOS interference. Just pure UEFI diagnostic tests on installed components and all kinds of storage: Remarkably 256 DIMM up to 2-Exabytes, and drives with ‘Multi-Exabyte’ sizes, plus ‘Kilo-core’ CPU packages at 1024, and more to come. Excellent test results you can rely on to pinpoint failures, reduce returns, RMAs and repairs. Super-fast problem locator – reliability every time. Perfect for professionals who build, service and repair the latest PCs, particularly super-servers.
Pc-Check® Windows® diagnostic software performs the latest Windows/WinPE hardware testing, including 64Bit UEFI and 32Bit, utilizing enabled device drivers, including UEFI. Its testing strength lies in its unrivalled, targeted, system stress tests, delivering only Windows-based tests on installed components and storage: Versatility with unlimited DIMM reporting, 512Gb (W8.1) to 1TB (W10, 64Bit) memory; and drives with 2-Exabyte, plus CPU packages at 256 core /package, video, and UEFI enabled hardware. Enhance QA practices and services, providing informative test results for technical support calls. Perfect for professional system integrators, technical support teams, service and repair, or when managing remote-installed systems of any kind.
Pc-Check® Self-boot diagnostic software, still the first and original, DOS-based, direct-booting hardware test, independent of installed OS such as Windows or Linux. Pc-Check® Self-boot fully tests installed components and storage such as:
Notably memory for 128 DIMM up to 3.5 Terabytes, and drives with ‘Multi-Exabyte’ sizes, and CPU packages to 160 maximum. For 32/64Bit, pre-UEFI or secure boot disabled PCs, it quickly determines PC hardware faults and overall condition, revealing hard to find intermittent failures. Reduces returns, RMAs and repairs. Perfect for professionals from smaller repair shops to full scale computer service and repair, PC laptops and servers too.
About Eurosoft Eurosoft (UK) Ltd – renowned as the developers of Pc-Check® for over 30+ years – offer progressive PC diagnostic and data erasure software for an amazing variety of computer services globally. Resolving hardware issues reliably and securely, we assist businesses with PC hardware repair and services, OEM manufacturing and system integration, and a wide range of IT and MSP support. As the longest running, PC diagnostic software company in the world (over 35 years), no other diagnostic software has intellectual property (IP) that spans more than three decades. Affordable, effective and ready to rock your hardware to the core.
REVIEWED 2018. PLEASE CHECK FOR LATEST UPDATES www.eurosoft-uk.com
Packaging:
In the package/clear envelope, you get (depending on the package) the contents will differ. In basics you will get an installation DVD that you use to create the media with what you want to test with. *USB/DVD etc* Also in the package is a DVD test disk and CD test disk which you will use to check the Optical Drive works. There is an audio test cable and a USB preferred port plug and basic instructions also included. Your license information will be sent via email.
REVIEWED 2018. PLEASE CHECK FOR LATEST UPDATES www.eurosoft-uk.com
Differences in the Versions:
Pc-Check®
Pc-Check® is a self booting tool, that is designed to boot up when you start your computer from a USB Pen, HDD, or optical disk, It will work on new and old computers, but you will have to disable secure boot for it to work on newer ones. It comes with a Windows interface (eTestManager) for optimising scripts and creating the boot media. You can also create scripts within the program once its booted and save them so you can use the same script on another computer. Once the tests are done you can save the report and then print it out if you wish.
Pc-Check® Windows®
Pc-Check® Windows® is a self booting tool, that is designed to boot up when you start your computer from a USB Pen, HDD, or Optical Disk. You can also run the program from within Windows. It comes with a Windows interface (eTestManager) for optimizing scripts and creating the boot media. It allows you to do core component testing for the latest UEFI hardware and devices and will also work with non-UEFI devices. With the Windows version you can test device-driven hardware like video cards and cameras. You can also check system health indicators like CPU usage and temperatures.
Pc-Check® UEFI
Pc-Check® UEFI is a self booting tool designed for running on computers with a UEFI BIOS, there is no need to have an OS installed on the computer nor do you need to disable secure boot for it to work. The UEFI version does not rely on other Operating Systems to test UEFI hardware. It comes with an intuitive user interface for easy use. You can test device-driven hardware like video cards and camera. The UEFI versions come as a USB version only.
REVIEWED 2018. PLEASE CHECK FOR LATEST UPDATES www.eurosoft-uk.com
Installation:
In basics, install off of a DVD. This may take quite a while as it may need to download specific updates for the machine for you to be able to run it. Once the program is installed, you will be able to create boot media of choice. While all boot medias will have the standard tests, you will be able to create scripts. That way if you want to run specific tests in a specific order, you can do on the boot media from the saved scripts. When creating the media you will be prompted for your licence information and this will be saved to the boot media device so you do not have to enter it every time. While a lot of these steps can be skipped, you could just run the boot disk they gave you but you would need to input your information every time and you will not have pre-designed scripts. Also, I would not recommend using the Master Disk daily as it could be scratched or left in a machine and you would no longer have the program.
REVIEWED 2018. PLEASE CHECK FOR LATEST UPDATES www.eurosoft-uk.com
Testing:
We used the standard Pc-Check® version of this program on several machines in our shop with different issues. The one test that impressed me the most was the hard drive test. It was easy to use, and gave clear and detailed report of the drive health. It was clear to see that one drive had failed. In a red area FAIL was written. I left it to run as I worked on other tasks in the shop, such as building. You can save the report and print it if you choose. This is handy to give to a customer and it looks professional. The navigation on screen was easy, you just move the arrow keys to what you want to do and press Enter.
We also ran the Windows based version of the program and got the same results. To confirm no misreporting, we ran PassMark DiskCheckup, HD-Tune and CrystalDiskInfo. While CrystalDiskInfo confirmed the fault, HD-Tune and PassMark funnily enough said there was no problem. This proves a point, using a program such as Pc-Check® is far superior than free/cheaper options.
REVIEWED 2018. PLEASE CHECK FOR LATEST UPDATES www.eurosoft-uk.com
Pricing:
20% discount for TFT members on selected items. (Join Tech For Techs at https://www.facebook.com/groups/TechForTechs/)
There is a 10% discount on off site licenses of 5 or more for Tech For Techs Members that contact us directly (not combined with other discounts though).
Depending on the package you go for, the product starts at £139.95 plus VAT up to £184.95 plus VAT. However, there is an option to buy a package with all programs included @ £219.95 plus VAT (which we would recommend best at value for money) This way you would have every program you would need which would cover old, new, and Windows environment PCs.
REVIEWED 2018. PLEASE CHECK FOR LATEST UPDATES www.eurosoft-uk.com
Conclusion:
Pc-Check® cut my diagnostics time in half! Not only did it save me time, but it proved it was very accurate. Some programs will sacrifice one for the other and that just doubles a work load. I found this program to be a must have in our shop. It took all of the guess work away and let me focus on the other things that needed doing. With a bench full of repairs and builds you can't afford to get bogged down in diagnostics and stress tests and get behind. I am confident that any tech would be happy to use this tool. I can't recommend it enough.
Stand out point:
Time saving!
Pros:
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Cuts diagnostics time in half
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Can run off of a USB pen, just boot to it
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Easy to use User Interface
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No need to click on anything while the test runs/allows me to do other things
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Clear easy to read results Pass/Fail
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While some people may think it is expensive in reality it is very good value for money. Time is money.
Cons:
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I can't find any
Additional notes:
We are that happy with this product that we will be using it a lot in the future in our store, we will test all computers that come into our store for repair,stress test new custom built PC we make, and incorporate it into reviews in the future.
Scores:
Value For Money:
Time Saving:
User Friendly:
Reliability:
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