IT Engineer Tools & Software
Tools for diagnosing PCs, supporting users remotely, recovering systems and managing disks and networks.
Who this toolkit is for
For IT engineers, IT support and helpdesk staff who keep computers and users working. Most tasks start with built-in tools; add specialist utilities as your work needs them.
Essential (10)
Core tools that are broadly useful.
System Diagnostics
Start with what Windows already records: system information, event logs and reliability history usually point to the cause.
- System InformationBuilt into Windows
Why you may need this: See hardware, drivers and system configuration in one place.
msinfo32Microsoft documentation - Event ViewerBuilt into Windows
Why you may need this: Find errors, crashes and failed services.
eventvwr.msc
Networking
Confirm addressing and reachability before assuming a device or application is at fault.
- ipconfigBuilt into Windows
Why you may need this: Check addresses, gateways and DNS, and renew DHCP.
ipconfig /allMicrosoft documentation - pingBuilt into Windows
Why you may need this: Check whether a device responds.
ping example.comMicrosoft documentation
Process Troubleshooting
When a PC is slow or a program misbehaves, these show exactly which process is responsible and what it is doing.
- Process Explorer
Free
Why you may need this: Find what a process is doing and what it has open.
Winget (verified)winget install --id Microsoft.Sysinternals.ProcessExplorer --exact --source winget - Task ManagerBuilt into Windows
Why you may need this: See what's using resources and manage startup apps.
taskmgr (or Ctrl+Shift+Esc)
Disk Management
Check drive health and free space early: failing or full disks cause many problems that look like something else.
- Disk ManagementBuilt into Windows
Why you may need this: Initialise, partition and format drives.
diskmgmt.msc
Bootable USB
A bootable USB drive is the standard way to reinstall operating systems and run recovery tools.
RufusOpen Source
Why you may need this: Create bootable USB drives for installs and repairs.
Winget (verified)winget install --id Rufus.Rufus --exact --source winget
Recovery
Get an unbootable machine running again, or rescue the files from it, without making things worse.
- Windows Recovery EnvironmentBuilt into Windows
Why you may need this: Repair startup and restore Windows when it won't boot.
Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup (or: shutdown /r /o)
Terminal / PowerShell
PowerShell and the Sysinternals tools handle tasks the graphical tools cannot, and scripting repeat jobs saves hours.
Windows TerminalOpen Source
Why you may need this: Modern terminal for PowerShell and Command Prompt.
Winget (verified)winget install --id Microsoft.WindowsTerminal --exact --source winget
Recommended (14)
Useful for particular parts of the work or course.
System Diagnostics
Start with what Windows already records: system information, event logs and reliability history usually point to the cause.
- Reliability MonitorBuilt into Windows
Why you may need this: See when problems started and what changed.
perfmon /rel
Remote Support
Help users without travelling to them. Use tools your organisation has approved, and always get the user's consent first.
- Remote Desktop ConnectionBuilt into Windows
Why you may need this: Connect to Windows PCs you manage.
mstscMicrosoft documentation 
RustDeskOpen Source
Why you may need this: Open-source remote support you can self-host.
Visit Official Website- OpenSSH
Open Source
Why you may need this: Administer machines securely from the command line.
Visit Official Website
Process Troubleshooting
When a PC is slow or a program misbehaves, these show exactly which process is responsible and what it is doing.
- Process Monitor
Free
Why you may need this: Trace file and registry activity when an app misbehaves.
Winget (verified)winget install --id Microsoft.Sysinternals.ProcessMonitor --exact --source winget - Autoruns
Free
Why you may need this: Find what starts automatically and slows startup.
Winget (verified)winget install --id Microsoft.Sysinternals.Autoruns --exact --source winget
Disk Management
Check drive health and free space early: failing or full disks cause many problems that look like something else.
- CrystalDiskInfo
Open Source
Why you may need this: Check drive health before it fails.
Winget (verified)winget install --id CrystalDewWorld.CrystalDiskInfo --exact --source winget
Bootable USB
A bootable USB drive is the standard way to reinstall operating systems and run recovery tools.
VentoyOpen Source
Why you may need this: Carry many ISO files on one USB drive.
Winget (verified)winget install --id Ventoy.Ventoy --exact --source winget
Recovery
Get an unbootable machine running again, or rescue the files from it, without making things worse.
- Rescuezilla
Open Source
Why you may need this: Image and restore disks from a bootable USB.
Visit Official Website
File Transfer
Copy logs, installers and backups to and from servers securely.
Virtualisation
Test software, updates and fixes safely before rolling them out to users.
VirtualBoxOpen Source
Why you may need this: Test systems and software in virtual machines.
Winget (verified)winget install --id Oracle.VirtualBox --exact --source winget
Backup
Make sure there is a restorable copy before you change anything significant.
- File HistoryBuilt into Windows
Why you may need this: Keep versioned copies of users' files.
Control Panel > File History
Hardware Information
Identify exact components and check temperatures and sensor readings when diagnosing hardware faults or planning upgrades.
Terminal / PowerShell
PowerShell and the Sysinternals tools handle tasks the graphical tools cannot, and scripting repeat jobs saves hours.
PowerShell 7Open Source
Why you may need this: Automate administration with the current PowerShell.
Winget (verified)winget install --id Microsoft.PowerShell --exact --source winget
Specialist / Optional · Show specialist tools (13)
Consider these for particular modules, tasks or environments.
System Diagnostics
Start with what Windows already records: system information, event logs and reliability history usually point to the cause.
- Windows Memory DiagnosticBuilt into Windows
Why you may need this: Test whether faulty RAM is causing crashes.
mdsched
Networking
Confirm addressing and reachability before assuming a device or application is at fault.
WiresharkOpen Source
Why you may need this: Inspect traffic when a network problem isn't obvious.
Winget (verified)winget install --id WiresharkFoundation.Wireshark --exact --source winget
NmapOpen Source
Why you may need this: Find devices and services on networks you manage.
Winget (verified)winget install --id Insecure.Nmap --exact --source winget
Remote Support
Help users without travelling to them. Use tools your organisation has approved, and always get the user's consent first.
- TeamViewer
Freemium
Why you may need this: Widely used remote support; commercial use needs a licence.
Winget (verified)winget install --id TeamViewer.TeamViewer --exact --source winget
Disk Management
Check drive health and free space early: failing or full disks cause many problems that look like something else.
WinDirStatOpen Source
Why you may need this: See what's using disk space.
Winget (verified)winget install --id WinDirStat.WinDirStat --exact --source winget
Bootable USB
A bootable USB drive is the standard way to reinstall operating systems and run recovery tools.
balenaEtcherOpen Source
Why you may need this: Flash images with validation on any platform.
Winget (verified)winget install --id Balena.Etcher --exact --source winget
Recovery
Get an unbootable machine running again, or rescue the files from it, without making things worse.
- TestDisk and PhotoRec
Open Source
Why you may need this: Try to recover lost partitions and files. Recovery isn't guaranteed.
Visit Official Website
File Transfer
Copy logs, installers and backups to and from servers securely.
- FileZilla
Open Source
Why you may need this: Cross-platform SFTP and FTP client.
Visit Official Website
Virtualisation
Test software, updates and fixes safely before rolling them out to users.
- Windows SandboxBuilt into Windows
Why you may need this: Try unknown software in a throwaway desktop.
Turn Windows features on or off > Windows Sandbox
Backup
Make sure there is a restorable copy before you change anything significant.
Hardware Information
Identify exact components and check temperatures and sensor readings when diagnosing hardware faults or planning upgrades.
Terminal / PowerShell
PowerShell and the Sysinternals tools handle tasks the graphical tools cannot, and scripting repeat jobs saves hours.
Why you may need this: All Sysinternals utilities in one download.
Winget (verified)winget install --id Microsoft.Sysinternals.Suite --exact --source winget
Microsoft PowerToysOpen Source
Why you may need this: Extra Windows utilities that speed up everyday tasks.
Winget (verified)winget install --id Microsoft.PowerToys --exact --source winget
About this toolkit
IT support work tends to fall into a few situations: a slow or misbehaving PC, a machine that will not start, a user who needs help remotely, and preparing or recovering devices. The categories above are grouped around those jobs, and many of the most useful tools, such as Event Viewer, Reliability Monitor and Task Manager, are already built into Windows.
Check what your organisation has approved before installing anything on a user's machine, especially remote support tools. Choose the operating system above to see the tools available for it, with verified installation commands where Aptorise has them.
Build your IT Engineer / IT Support setup
Build My Setup lets you add or remove apps, combine roles, see why each app is included, and get a single install command where verified packages exist. Nothing is installed automatically.