Unix knowhow to fix MS PC's
 

Im trying to start a business fixing peoples computers. What I would like to know is what tools a experienced unix user would use to fix WinPC's? I guess what IM trying to say what are the best gpl or similiar liscenced tools to use with MS?

depends on what your trying to fix on the MS machine. There are lots of tools for the diffrent jobs. A boot distro probably would be the best. Its kinda like the tool box to house your tools on a dead MS pc. :)

What distro can scan for spyware and viruses etc, and chkdsk etc?

Don't know about spyware but there are several antivirus programs for linux do that (clamav). For checking filesystems there is fsck, but I don't know how well it works especially for ntfs. Another useful tool is chntpw, it is a windows nt/2k/xp registry editor. The latest version of Knoppix has ntfs write support, add a virus scanner and chntpw and it would be perfect for the job.

nothing can scan for most spyware unless you are in safemode or windows is up and running as the registry is not fully accessable until the OS is up, thus the large portion of the problem with viruses and spyware type programs in windows.

a light live cd is INSERT, but a lot of people, myself included, really like the Knoppix live CD.

if the computer has 1G of ram you can install knoppix to a ramdisk and have access to the CDRom as well as having knoppix run faster. but with the knoppix live CD you have f-prot with a nice little GUI to scan your entire system with. in INSERT you have a GUI for ClamAV so it is a matter of preferance.

INSERT is ONLY a cleaning type or recovery type setup thus its much smaller size at around 50M vs 700M for Knoppix.