Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Required Tools for PC Repair?

Posted by Cliff on from the what-do-you-use dept.

kennethrona asks: "I seem to be spending a lot of my time installing friends' WiFi access points, replacing power supplies, hard disks, blocking ports, installing software, etc. I can usually find any of the software I need on-line, but am thinking about putting together a "toolkit" for PC repair. What tools, both hardware and software, does the community think are essential for PC repair? Bonus points for free software (I always install a free firewall and spyware checker). Also, keep in mind that most folks are running Windows."

6 of 202 comments (clear)

  1. Knoppix by dJCL · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Keep a knoppix disk handy, helps to determine if it a software or hardware issue. If it fails in windows and works in knoppix, it is most likely software, but if it fails in knoppix too, it startes too look a lot like hardware. That is usually the most annoying thing to figure out in a lot of cases. Knoppix just has the advantage of not doing any damage to the tested system and will put it throu the paces quite well.

    Other options for inclusion are to taste.

    --
    On Arrakis: early worm gets the bird. Magister mundi sum!
  2. Tape by 2sleep2type · · Score: 5, Informative

    Some not to strong tape / bluetack to hold screws that you have taken out. After slowly losing more case screws than I care to think I now tape/stick them to the side of the case till I put it back together. Even if I've just open it for a couple of minutes...

  3. Needed tools to successfuly fix computer by Smartcowboy · · Score: 5, Funny

    1- Bible
    2- Holy water
    3- Garlic
    4- Sacrificial knife
    5- Lambs

  4. Defeating "security" TORX screwheads by plover · · Score: 5, Informative
    I've found I don't "need" a security TORX driver.

    A standard TORX driver plus a needlenose pliers (or other small-tipped, hard object) is all it takes. Use the needlenose or screwdriver to push the security pin off to one side or the other. They're just spot-welded in and break out really easily. Once the pin is gone, the standard TORX driver works just fine.

    At least TORX bits are analog and I'm not violating the DMCA by telling you guys this. Of course, there's probably something in the USA PATRIOT act that prevents me from telling you how to open a power supply case... sigh.

    --
    John
  5. Memory testing - memtest86 by Myself · · Score: 5, Informative

    For some reason, I always want to call it memchk86, but it's memtest86, and it's indispensable. Memtest86 boots from a floppy and begins running immediately. It's got several types of test, and runs in a loop so if you have an intermittent problem, you can just boot it and leave it for a while.

    The author has finally given in to popularity and set up a site for the program, MemTest86.com. I encourage anyone who's found bad ram with memtest to throw a few bucks his way. ("Professional" memory testers are nowhere near cheap!)

    There's also a bootable CD .ISO for machines without a floppy drive. Some of my favorite machines don't have CDROMs either (subnotebook with a network card and nothing else), so I'd love to see a version I can download and invoke with Loadlin, but hey, there's only so much I can ask.

  6. Tom's Hardware article by llzackll · · Score: 5, Informative

    How to Assemble the Ultimate Toolbox

    GOes into a lot of detail on the various tools needed for PC repair.