What is PhoenixUSB?

 

PhoenixUSB is a versatile new tool for amateur and professional computer technicians alike. It is a unique device which solves one of the biggest problems in the computer repair field today: too many software repair options with varying degrees of credibility.

 

What PhoenixUSB does that no other device available on the market can, is provide a comprehensive suite of repair software — both from within a working operating system and independent of one — all in a portable pocket-sized device with our assurance of each program's credibility. With PhoenixUSB, you can forget the days of crawling the web for a software program to fix your computer, having to install it on a dummy machine to check if it has viruses, malware, or potentially unwanted programs (PUP), and then trying to see if it will work for your specific problem or not.

 

Even if your desktop or laptop computer is in a non-bootable state, PhoenixUSB can boot into a special environment on the USB itself in order to troubleshoot the computer, to access files, and to even browse the internet — all without access to the hard drive on it.

 

There are multiple different operating systems (special environments) included on PhoenixUSB. Each system specializes in a certain function depending on what's needed by the user:

 

• For the user unfamiliar with Linux operating systems, we have included Linux Mint, a friendly desktop environment that will be familiar enough for Windows and OS X users.

 

• Kali Linux is included mainly for network penetration and other useful network utilities unavailable in many other operating systems.

 

• Additionally, two different versions of the Puppy Linux operating systems are included for more advanced users who need auto root functionality.

 

This configuration allows a wide range of technicians with different skill sets all the tools they need to diagnose, repair, and recover any computer they encounter.

 

Why make PhoenixUSB?

In the computer industry, there is a high demand for quick, efficient computer software repairs and servicing. With each passing day, companies and individuals alike are moving at an exponentially quicker pace than the day before, and there becomes more of an urgency to save time in every way possible. Computer repairs can be some of the most expensive and time-consuming problems a user or company must face, and can result in serious downtime. In order to combat this issue, PhoenixUSB was created as a compact storage device to:

 

• Make it easier for everyone to service a computer.

• Implement preventive maintenance measures more efficiently and effectively.

• Access, recover and store data from a "dead" computer (one which will not boot to its operating system)

• Provide extremely useful and up-to-date software, all in one place, without the need to scour the web for it.

 

This device contains all the software tools a technician may need in order to troubleshoot, service, and repair a computer. Whether there is a need to remove malicious software, to clone a hard drive, to install software, or to see why a computer isn't working properly, this device was created and designed to be used by technicians of all skill levels. From system administrators or help desk technicians, to users with low computer experience, this product was created to provide a technician with every necessary tool for troubleshooting a computer, with some helpful directions for the technology amateur.
 

 

Why buy our USB toolkit?

 

Functionality included in the PhoenixUSB unit can be found within its boot loader. Programs included are System Rescue (boot repair, analysis system, and a host of other tools), Komodo Rescue (antivirus; boots in its own OS to scan hard drive), Clonezilla (partitioning and partition copying) and more are included in PhoenixUSB.

 

Why our toolkit appeals to professionals

 

Experienced computer repair professionals often make their own USB toolkit; but with PhoenixUSB, having all the features stated above (and more) ready to go out-of-the-box, PhoenixUSB is still an appealing option even for professionals. Setting up a device similar to PhoenixUSB would take the better part of an entire day for an experienced profressional. At the rate computer repair professionals charge, PhoenixUSB is a time-saving option at the cost of barely 2 hours worth of work as opposed to 10+ hours. This makes PhoenixUSB a worthwhile cost/time investment for those capable of making their own, while giving computer repair amateurs the opportunity to have a functional tool kit, just like a professional, at a reasonable price.

 

Post-Kickstarter plans

 

Provided we make any money over the funding goal, we plan on shipping a PhoenixUSB unit -- for free -- to the lowest performing high school of each state, starting with the lowest ranking state from the Education Week Research Center study, until we have sent one to each high school from every state (or run out of left-overs).

 

If PhoenixUSB's Kickstarter goes viral (450% funding or more), we will begin work on a 2.0 version with many more features and also offer a support database for PhoenixUSB.  The biggest reason we did not set our funding goal to support development of a 2.0 version was that we wanted to focus on getting this toolkit into the hands of like-minded computer enthusiasts, and also to inspire those who may someday seek a career in the ever-growing IT field.