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Recommendations for Computer Repair Kits?

Posted by Cliff on from the a-must-for-do-it-yerselfers dept.

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?"

3 of 93 comments (clear)

  1. Been there, done that, here's what you need: by itwerx · · Score: 5, Informative

    - 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!

  2. What utility software? by itwerx · · Score: 4, Informative

    I hear you ask...

    '98 boot disk (and bootable CD)
    Spinrite
    MemCheck
    CheckIt/QAPlus
    pcAnywher e
    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)

  3. First and last choice. by NoMoreNicksLeft · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sledgehammer. You don't always need it, but when you do, nothing else can substitute for it.