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Recommendations for Computer Repair Kits?
lpq asks: "I've recently starting doing some computer repairs and don't feel organized when it comes to tools. I'm wondering what any people who do computer building/repair use for a portable kit? Are any of the toolkits any good? Or are they just cheaper tools than I might already have with a cheap vinyl case? I saw some expensive kits -- but it looked like one of the main difference is rather a driver device with scads of fittings, the more expensive kits seem to go with separate tools. One had 15 socket screwdriver type tools where I get the same in less space with a ratcheting screwdriver and an adaptor for sockets. I noticed many kits with soldering irons -- not something I've had a need for in most computer upgrades / repairs. Ideas? Basics things to have?"
Tom's Hardware
I don't think many of us need all the stuff this guy carries, but it's a nice article to get you started.
Any plain-Jane kit you can buy at your local Radio Shack or Fry's. There's really no need for an extravagant repair kit. You just need: various screwdrivers, a grapler to get out-of-reach screws, and possibly an IC remover. Not much else to say about repair 'kits.'
Get a $5 cheap kit, and make note as you go what tools you need, and aquire them. Jensen Tools is a good place to check out. Kind of pricey, but a pretty good selection of tools,. test equipment, etc.
Lots of geeks swear by those all-in-one tools, but with those you usually get the lowest common denominator for each tool, and a bunch of tools you'll never use. I'd recommend just hitting your local hardware store and freestyling it. For a few bucks you can get a decent hammer, crescent wrench (get one metric and one standard), and small saw (unfortunately, many cases and motherboards aren't actually built to standard dimensions). That should be all you need to get started. If you don't have an antistatic leash, you can make one out of a strip of duct tape. Tape one end to your wrist and the other end to something large and metal (I use my car, but metal shelves should suffice), and you're set.
Karma: Good (despite my invention of the Karma: sig)
Ratcheting screwdriver with all the heads.
Crimping tool, Network Test tool. That is about it.
Jensen's 'Create-A-Kit" is kind of neat to see the selection of tools available to you.
- A screwdriver with #2 Phillips, flat and assorted Torx bits
- A small set of little-tiny screw drivers for laptops
- A penlight
- A telescoping mirror
- A telescoping magnetic pickup or grabber
- A big (40+) CD case to carry all your utility software
- A couple of blank floppies
- A '98 boot diskette (for machines that won't boot off CD-ROM for whatever reason)
- Spare IDE/FDD cables
- Spare SCSI cables and terminators
- Spare Cat-5 cables of various lengths including one short cross-over and a couple of inline couplers so you can daisy-chain them
And if you still have room: a mini-hub, spare NIC, spare video-card, HDD for imaging, laptop with PCMCIA nic and modem
Enjoy!
Hey Taco! Looks like you're using the "infinite monkeys and typewriters" scheme to generate Ask Slashdots again...
My most-used tools:
Screwdriver with swappable magnetic bits. It's murphy's law: when the screw falls, it will fall into that one corner of the case that you can't reach.
Flashlight. Preferably a mini mag light. They're bright as hell and they're easy to hold in your teeth when you need both hands =)
Paper Clips. They're impossible to track down whenever the CD drive gets jammed, so you'd better have one on you.
Dentist's mirror. To read the serial number or FCC ID on that card that you're too lazy to pull out of the box.
Sledgehammer. For those really frustrating projects.
This is all pretty common-sense stuff, but with the exception of the sledgehammer, most of the jobs I do get done with those tools.
I tend to leave my kit places, so I am always buying pieces. It depends on what your doing. Mostly you will need different size phillips head screwdrivers. The kit I currently carry can be seen here. You will want to get a small flashlight as well. If your going to be running cable through walls and such, make sure you have a vaccuum to clean up the carpet. Also its nice to carry a small compartment container to seperate small pieces. You may need a pen and paper to write notes on, especially if you dont have the motherboards manuel available. Make sure the screwdrivers are not magnetized. You may look smart wearing a wrist static guard, but ive never worn one. //shrug. good luck pal
pretzel_logic
This is the only tool I've needed in a long time... Cybertool 41. It even has interchangeable sockets on the screw driver including torx®. And the socket fits most videocard/printer cable locking nuts. Plus you get all the other good stuff that comes on a regular swiss army knife.
Here are some great uses:
1. socket screwdriver - case/card screws and sockets
2. knife - cardboard boxes / shrink wrap
3. pen - yup, that's right a pen to write down serial numbers, etc.
4. pliers - tighten/loosen bolts or fix bent pins
5. scissor - cut cable/ strip cable/ cut wire ties
6. tweasers - set dip switches, pickup screws in tight spots
7. etc... all the way to 41.
I use my knife at least 50 times perday. It has come in handy quite a bit
...was for a metal dish, with high walls, about six inches across, with a very magnetic base. It sticks to metal, and any screw or latching piece will stick to it. No more building a little pile of tiny screws as I take apart a computer while hoping they don't roll away or I knock them over.
It's for home, but I'm thinking about getting another at work.
You cannot apply a technological solution to a sociological problem. (Edwards' Law)
"computer repair kilts", and I was wondering if I had missed out on yet another fashion trend...
"Your superior intellect is no match for our puny weapons!"
Personally, for tools, A screwdriver is ususally enough. (Get one of the four-in-ones.) The only other tool I'd add is a mirror. (Get an old makeup mirror, the kind that's in a compact that had makeup on one side and the mirror on the other. It keeps the mirror protected. I got one from my mom when I was in high school, works great.)
The most important thing is parts. Gonna throw away that old 386? Take out all the screws, IDE & floppy cables, power supply cables. (And sort the screws by size.) Add a couple network cables, maybe a USB cable, and a power cable.
A couple boot floppies for various OSs (make sure they've got CD drive support), and that'll do it.
I hear you ask...
r e
'98 boot disk (and bootable CD)
Spinrite
MemCheck
CheckIt/QAPlus
pcAnywhe
VNC
WinZip
Acrobat
DOS version of PKZip
Collection of common nic/video/printer/etc drivers
Copies of major OS's (Win2K, 98 OSR2 etc.)
Copies of Office
Copies of SP's and patches
Copies of browsers (IE, Netscape, Opera)
L0pht Crack
Your favorite IP scanner and other IP tools (e.g. Putty)
Other tools depending on OS's you work with (e.g. JCMD for Netware, Upromote for NT, the Win2K/NT resource kits, 'Nix boot disk and utils and hundreds of other favorite need-specific utils)
- Spare screws and jumpers of all sizes
- Needle-nose pliers
- Canned air
- Cable tester and fox-and-hound (tracer)
- Spare power/usb/parallel cables
- Wooden pencil or tongue-depressor (for cleaning mice)
- Paperclip
- Pen
- Sharpie permanent marker
- Assorted gender changers
- SCSI cable adaptors (e.g. 68F-50F)
Probably more stuff...!
"Stand back or the stewardess gets it with this little tool."
http://www.leatherman.com/products/tools/wave/defa ult.asp
t ool-adap ters/default.asp
It's all I really need.
Oh yeah, this helps:
http://www.leatherman.com/products/tools/
It works nicely.
"The only way to learn a new programming language is by writing programs in it." - Brian Kernighan
So you don't need any special tools. I've been repairing PCs for almost 20 years now and it's extremely infrequent that you need anything outside this list (and you shouldn't go beyond these tools without some electronics training anyway):
- 1 #2 phillips-head screwdriver with magnetized tip (removes almost every screw in a modern PC and no, you can't damage anything with the magnet)
- 1 small flathead screwdriver (not used that often, except to remove spring clips on CPU coolers)
- 1 set tweezers or needle-nose pliers (to move jumpers and small wires around)
- 1 set pliers (to remove and install motherboard riser screws, etc)
- 1 flashlight
- 1 small ziploc bag or pill tube to hold extra screws
- 1 grounding wrist strap
- 1 can compressed air (or tiny vacuum)
That's it. Keep them in a pouch if you want. Don't go buying any fancy toolkits; they're for suckers. The only other tools you need are probably going to be software-based.Sledgehammer. You don't always need it, but when you do, nothing else can substitute for it.
I have a little Radio Shack kit as recommended above, which I endorse. Here's my breakdown:
Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, in two sizes each (you need a dinky little pair for some screws).
Tweezers (these can get awfully useful)
Two hex drivers in different sizes (so you don't strip case screws...I love hex drivers).
Torx screwdriver with two sizes of head that doubles as a large hex driver.
Pair of tweezers.
Little gitchie-grabber thingie to grasp tiny parts where your fingers can't fit.
Case to store extra screws and screws in use. Losing screws from the case you're working on can get really, really easy.
The non-useful bits that came with the kit: IC removers. Why the *hell* do they ship IC removers with repair kits any more?
I added the following to the kit:
Pair of forceps. Holding wires or little bits out of the way can come in handy. Fishing/bait kits have these.
Needlenose pliers. Useful for all sorts of stuff. I strongly recommend these.
May we never see th
I don't do MUCH techwork any more, but unfortunately, I've never in my life actually been able to walk away from it.
99% of the time, the only thing needed, hardware-wise, is a #2 philips screwdriver. For safety and completeness, though, a set of "precision" screwdrivers and at least one smallish flathead are good, too. Lest I forget, the possibility of my patient saying "Compaq" on its chassis also merits my inclusion of #8 and #10 Torx, which are both hard to find.
Very thin needlenose pliers, and a thicker set for miscellaneous bending.
A pair of tweezers.
Dental mirror.
Wire snips.
Multimeter & oscilliscope (er, I keep that one in the car).
Dusk mask and thin, wool painters gloves (screw static, I can touchtype in them and they keep my hands from getting cut).
Bandages (in case my hands get cut) & neosporin.
Canned air.
Wrist strap in case my customer is paranoid or something.
Sears 3.6V cordless screwdriver, if I'm working on several machines that day.
2.5" to 3.5" hard disk adaptor.
Intel Pro/100 NIC
8GB 2.5" hard disk, filled w/ software installs & diagnostic packages.
USB CD-RW
8x Parallel CD-ROM.
An assortment of ribbon cables (IDE, 50-pin SCSI, floppy, serial etc).
A collection of power splitters and adaptors
Socket 7 HSF.
Slot 1 HSF
Slot A HSF
80mm case fan
Floppy disk drive
14.4 USR external modem
Some AA batteries
Keyboards: 1 AT-style w/ PS2 adaptor, 1 USB
Mice: 1 serial, 1 USB w/ PS2 adaptor
A lighted magnifying glass
Spray n' wash (in car) and spray-n-wash wipes
Artic Silver
Deodorant & clean shirt
basically lint-free rags
Crimper
Velcro ties & plastic "zip" ties
Cable tester
4-port switch
Spool o' cable & some connectors
Punch down tool.
Known-good 14" monitor (in car, also) and matrox millenium PCI card.
A wide assortment of RAM (presently: 2x72-pin 64MB FPM, 128MB PC100, 256MB PC2100, 64MB 72-pin SODIMM, 256MB 144pin SODIMM, 128MB PC800 RIMM + cRIMM)
Lots of screws & spare jumpers
Dremel tool
Add to that essentially a complete collection of every driver, operating system or software package I've installed more than once (about 70 CDs, I think), and you're basically set.
I carry everything around in a big, soft-sided tackle box.
Hardware that I choose to carry around is generally on the the basis of very wide support. You'd be hard pressed to find an OS that didn't know what to do with a Matrox Millenium, for example.
Last thing: Big bottles of tums and asprin. Not for the work, which is easy, but for the endless demands from people who realize that you know how to fix computers.
-- I wanna decide who lives and who dies - Crow T. Robot, MST3K
1. Navy seal Phillips screwdriver, medium size.
2. Customers wallet.
First, there are two kinds of tweezers: one you squeeze to close, and one you squeeze to open. The latter are much easier to work with in small spaces, since you don't have to hold them.
Second, I use my "flat-head" screwdriver all the time for things like prying. Nothing serious, of course, mostly for things like working snug case covers loose. You can use the many-in-one screwdriver for that purpose, but it's not quite as good for it (and it's heavier and bulkier).
Third - and this one is priceless - one of those screw-grabbers. It's shaped like a syringe, and when you push in the top part, thin little "grabbers" stick out and can be used to grab all sorts of things (usually screws, but anything about that size will do). It's even handy for starting screws going, since you can't drop the screw out of it: you just stick the screw in the grabbers, let it tighten, then turn it into the hole. Once it gets going, you can swap out to a screwdriver. This is so valuable for places where there's not enough room to get your fingers, and where the screw can become lost forever if you drop it trying to get it in.
If you work with network stuff a lot, you'll want a crimping tool and a wire cutter/stripper. Mine is pretty fool-proof: you put it in the slot for the gauge of wire it is, squeeze hard, and it takes off the insulation without cutting the wire. A big timesaver there.
Oh, and mine also came with a plastic capped cylinder that initially held solder. But as I never use the soldering iron, I put a couple bags of computer-type screws in there. When I'm working on a system, I take the bags out (they ziplock closed) and store the screws I remove in the cylinder to keep from losing them.
The kit I have, for reference, is one of the Compaq-branded ones that used to be available at Radio Shack.
For most of the work I did as a support tech on a medium sized college campus, I carried my mini-mag flashlight, a gerber Multiplier, and a 4-in-1 screwdriver. I carried the 4-in-1 because, while the multiplier has both philips and flat screwdrivers on it, they're not very long and the body of the tool gets in the way in tight spaces.
If I carried my bag, I also had a screw retriever along, a set of OS cds, a CD of common software (drivers, browsers, mail clients, etc.) and an extra cat 5 cable or two. That assortment worked for about 99% of my calls. Generally, if I needed more tools than that to dismantle the computer, it was going back to the shop with me anyway.
Is it weird in here, or is it just me?
Sears Craftsman tools have a lifetime warentiee, if they break you walk into any sears store and get a replacement no questions asked. Snap-on is much higher quality (in general), but they in general don't carry the smaller tools computers need. Many tools are lifetime warentiee, but you can't find where to get it exchanged.
Don't fool youself, you will need that warentiee. The non-warentieed tools are generally soft metal that nearly bends working air, they have no hope of dealing with a real part. (Okay, not quite that bad, but close enough) With the good tools you won't have nearly as many problems, but you will eventialy break something. I can't say what (other than your #2 phillips) you will need it for, but you will need it for something.
Oh, in addition to the above: a #2 square drive screwdriver. I've never seen the need for one in computers, but if you ever come across the person who designs computer packaging ask them to change. Square drive is a lot nicer than phillips, it lasts longer and takes more torque if nessicary. (Warning, don't over torque screws putting them in, but sometimes you get a stubberen on that needs extra help to come out). Opinion I know, but I think it is a good idea.
A screwdriver, a roll of duct tape, and some tie wraps. If they'd have had that on the Titanic it wouldn't have sunk.
Keep Austin Weird!
That's all you really need for casual work. If you are talking about a toolkit for more professional hardware/software debugging, you will want to purchase your tools separately on a quality basis. Only the most expensive kits have the quality tools you will most likely desire.
With several years building and repairing behind me I have only ever used 1 screwdriver, crosshead (must be a snug fit for screws), 1 str. blade driver, small for the occasional DB9\25 that still needs it. I do carry a pair of strong self gripping, long nose tweezers but use them infrequently and the one bit of really indispensable kit is 'Blue tack' with which you can place screws into any angled hole at any depth without loosing it (very useful for recovering a screw if you do).
If that doesn't work, it's time to sell them a new computer!
Pssst... Jensen tools.
How many times have you cracked open a case to discover that every drive was held in by a single screw? Or that screw that the owner has stripped and is relying on it being wedged in just right to hold the $400 video card in place?
Of course, it's easiest to acquire these items by simply collecting them over time. That would be a cool thing for an online retailer to sell. "500 piece miscellaneous computer fastner pack... $7..." :)
Oh yeah, in case nobody said it: zip-ties and velcro tie-wraps...
Slashdot quality declines as the number of hot grits posts decreases. - Provolt's Law, Apr-09-2005
You might want to also consider the software tools you might want to have. Specifically, I would recommend a mini-Linux distro such as Tomsrtbt ("Tom's floppy which has a root filesystem and is also bootable.")
A nice small cordless drill works even better must have a clutch. Carry around bits, like phillips head, torx, etc.
I'm surprised that NOBODY has suggested a POST card!
These are invaluable for reparing dead machines. If the machine is dead, you will never have to guess at the problem again. You plug one of these into an expansion slot (PCI in the case of the one listed above), and it displays the POST codes that are generated by the BIOS as it tests each piece of hardware. The one it's displaying when it gets stuck can be looked up in the book and you know what piece of harware is bad. Best $100 you'll ever spend if you fix alot of machines.
What sorts of computers are you people working on, which require the use of dremel tools, pliers, portable bandsaws, and a half-ton of various and sundry other tools? I've got a lot of this stuff, myself, but I don't want to tote it all around with me.
When I work on computers, I carry with me a Craftsman #2 phillips screwdriver and a folding pocket knife that is just a hair too small to be considered a concealed weapon, with a very sharp, half-serrated edge.
I've seldom needed anything else. Hardware diagnosis generally doesn't require a working spare of every part of a PC, and the parts themselves are generally too cheap individually to bother with fixing them.
Turn it on, nothing happens? Make sure power button is plugged in and things all look right. Else, the motherboard -and- PSU are both highly suspect and should not be trusted.
System boots, but without video and monitor does not turn on, optionally with POST beeps? Re-seat video card, else replace. Monitors generally show symptoms long before they bite the dust, so if it's a toast CRT they've likely known about it for a very long time wouldn't have called you to help them in the first place.
POST beeps, or everything spins up but nothing else happens. Funky RAM. Re-seat, and replace. Same symptoms with a flamed CPU, but that normally doesn't happen unless the fan is not spinning or has obviously bad bearings.
No sound? Re-seat, and then try software fixes. If still broke, replace.
Customer fucked up a BIOS flash? Remove BIOS with careful application of aforementioned knife (this is where a stout blade is important), install in a live system, re-run the appropriate flash utility, replace everything where it belongs, and you're golden.
New hard drive? Grab jumpers between knife point and appropriate finger of same hand - no finger nails required.
Computer works fine, but eventually becomes flakey? Suspect software. If not software, then heat. Find things that are hot and just look and see if there's anything physically wrong with them - like, say, the audio cable from a CD-ROM drive being crammed under the sound card into the 16-bit portion of an ISA slot. Or a component which has a large brown circle around it on the PCB - obviously something which is, or has been, Way Too Hot. Whatever part it's attached to gets replaced.
I'm not going to disassemble, for instance, a CD-ROM drive on-site. If anything, I'll diagnose it as toast, and have them buy a new one. These parts are worth too little to troubleshoot and fix when paid hourly.
The point is this: Don't bother carrying more than you need. I've got a small bag of screws and various other case hardware in the glovebox of my car, and it generally stays there.
Supposedly, certain Compaq machines require the use of a Torx driver to get into them, but I've never seen one. I only work on computers as a favor to people that I know, at least in passing - and these people don't buy Compaq. If I ever find one, however, I've got a wonderful set of 16 security Torx bits that I found in the junk bin at a hardware store for $1.50. It stays at home where it belongs, alongside the dremel.
Kid-proof tablet..
When you remove these components where are you going to put them? If you want to keep them safe, you will want the above.
/. thread about static - I'm shocked (but not surprised) that no one has mentioned this.
If in doubt read the preceding
Alex
Most of the posts about needing a #2 phillips are dead-on, though. I keep one in my desk at work for those times when I need to tear apart a junked computer (my work throws out a lot of stuff) and get the goodies they leave behind (dead PSU - keep the fan, most likely good - if not, the fan is toast and the PSU is good - rarely are both toast, unless the dead fan led to a dead psu). That is typically the only tool I need - anything else I either use my multi-tool (aka Leatherman) or rig something to work.
Reason is the Path to God - Anon
Pill boxes with lids, to keep screws in.
Leather work gloves. Some cheapie cases have incredibly sharp (ie not deburred) edges. Opened my thumb one day when trying to grab a case lid.
Anti static wrist strap.
I keep two plastic storage bins, one labelled "outside", the other "inside".
The "inside" box contains all the tidbits that go inside the computer. Screws of all kinds in bags, spare slot brackets, power splitters, fans, floppy drives, etc...
The "outside" box has all the stuff you need outside the case. Null modem cable, RS-232 LED tester, gender changers, PS/2 to COM converters, USB to PS/2, PS/2 to DIN5 keyboard, CAT5 crossover cable, USB extension cable, printer cable, joystick cable, power cords (good ones, not the kind that falls out of the socket), power cord extension, etc...
If you can't fix it with a butter knife, it ain't broken.
For years, Ive used a 5 dollar repair kit I saw at a local computer store. It came with a screwdriver with interchangable heads, a claw for picking up dropped screws, a chip puller, and a pair of needle nose plyers. I added a static ground strap and its worked great for years. You might want to get a good set of utilities and keep a CD/Floppy case with these. And your all set. Ive tried the more expensive kits with all the bells and whistles, such as dust vaccums, solder, and all sorts of odd screw heads, and the truth is all I ever used out of them was the philips head screw drivers, the jewlers screwdrivers (which was more forced since I wasnt using anything else out of the kit) and the claw. So just keep a small kit, which I see similar ones at Walmart and other stores these days, and a decent set of utilities. As far as these go, I usually keep a copy of the Ultimate Boot Disk or something with AEFdisk for quick partition and formats, WIPE.COM, a boot disk for each major OS, the CD's for each OS, a virus scanner (I prefer Norton myself), a floppy based memory tester like DocMem for quick assessments of faulty RAM, a simple hardware troubleshooter, and a copy of every ISP cd I can get my hands on, especially AOL (I have copies of every AOL from 3 up). Theres another CD with other various utilities such as common drivers that I come across, PKZIP and WINZIP, and a few other things. It all fits in 1 CD case, some guys I know keep bigger collections of utilities. Get to know more of the utilities built into Windows and you should need less utilities... Hope this helps..
1 roll of electrical tape. If you might be doing any splicing this is a must.
Also convenient when adding a case fan to cheapie comps where you have to be creative where you hook up the fan leads.
My toolkit contains this stuff:
An Ideal Zip-Kit tool bag
A Palladin Tools crimper with RJ-45 die (don't go cheap on a crimper, otherwise you'll be uttering bad words). You might want an RJ-11 die for phone cords, but that's up to you.
A tool to strip the outer jacket of cables
Punchdown tool (for RJ-45 jacks & patch panels)
Screwdrivers: #2 Phillips (you'll probably never use a #1), 3/16" Flat, assorted Torx.
3/16" nutdriver (for those hex standoffs on DB connectors)
Spare parts: RJ-45 connectors, screws (there's 2 sizes in computers, generally), expansion slot blanking plates.
Band-aids. Computers often have sharp edges. A towel to cry in when everything you try doesn't work (j/k).
Pliers: needle-nose, side cutters. Scissors.
Can of compressed air. Tube of heat sink compound. Permanant markers, red & black (Sharpies work well). Roll of electrical tape.
Flashlight. A small LED light on your keychain also works well.
A multi-function tool (like a Leatherman) in your pocket for when your tool bag isn't handy. Mine's lost, if you find it let me know.
A cable tester is nice to have.
CD case for all your utilities discs. A Windows 98 boot floppy. A Linux rescue disk set if you are adventurous.
Give me my freedom, and I'll take care of my own security, thank you.
Nylon cable ties. These are your friends.
Give me my freedom, and I'll take care of my own security, thank you.
... a small paintbrush. I am using this to dust off part. It's cheaper (and more environnement-friendly) than canned air and does the job just as good (with a tiny bit more effort).
:wq
I would include a DISC repair polish. Occasionally
the installation CD that comes with the mother
board was not kept in a health state, and it
is a pain in the ass to find a replacement CD.