building a nice tool kit for pc repair

[QueBert]

I drive around and fix peoples computers, I am sort of ummm... ghetto right now. I have a tool box and a few tools, but I don't have a whole lot of components to really help me do any testing beyond software issues. Now probably 80% of people who call me are having virus/spyware problems, which require at the most, time. But I'd love to put together the ulitmate setup to be able to troubleshoot/test everything.

Here is what I have on my list, going to order stuff online on Monday, so anyone feel free to bring up anything I should add. Any online store or B&M suggestion is great.

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AT & ATX PSU

PSU tester

mini keyboard

ps2 mouse

External 2.5 HD - good for small size + no power supply needed

3.5 external HD - for big backup jobs

external DVD

IDE HD + IDE cable

floppy + floppy cable


stick of EDO + sdram + ddr + ddr2 - I'm surprised but a lot of systems I work on are oooold and still have EDO.

heatsinks - old Socket 7 one, Socket A, and one that works on most current and 754 type boards.

PCI video card, AGP - both REALLY basic.

Cat5 patch cable

PCI Network card
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I'm looking for a USB network adapter, can be a PITA to open some of these cases to put a network card in to test things out. Besides that I can't think of anything that'll be useful to make things faster and easier for me.

thanks

 

[Zepper]

Digital MultiMeter - bgmicro.com has a decent meter for in the mid-$40s. Has temp, freq, as well as the standard ranges. An outlet tester - one of the under-$5. (have been on sale for less than $2. here on occasion) ones with three LEDs is a minimum or something like the KillAWatt unit that Newegg sells now on the high end. Check that the gounds go to true earth as that is the only way to bleed off static from rotating drives, etc.

And if you just like tools for tools' sake, check out the Skewdriver kit at http://www.spectools.com on the specials/clearance page - $75. worth of their tools for around $20. + sh. They shipped mine very quickly. QVC is selling the same kit for about $30.+sh.

.bh.

 

[QueBert]

Skewdriver has some awesome stuff man great link, the 90 degree offset driver looks like it would be a life saver. I've never seen anything like that before I'm ordering one Monday, thanks for the link

 

[Zepper]

Yeah, I had one of their smaller kits (like the WPK2603) a long time ago and somehow it "got away from me". I'm glad to have this new kit. A quarter inch ratchet handle makes a good offset screwdriver too but you just have to find a way to hold the bit into the 1/4" socket or get a specific bit-adapter socket. But you do need to have a bit of room to swing the ratchet handle. That need for swing space is what the Skew driver eliminates.

.bh.

 

[QueBert]

my newegg wish list

iof anyone is bored and wants to look at it and give me suggestions for things I need to add, or stuff I should replace with something better, cool.

also strongly thinking about ordering a Bosch Pocket Driver, kind of extreme for a screwdriver when I won't be drilling much, if at all. But it looks like a daam cool tool. Anyone here own one and care to comment? Might be perfect for yanking MB's out and cases apart.

 

[bruceb]

You should consider getting either a BART PE CD or
an Ultimate Boot CD .. both free .. they can help if
you can not get the computer to Boot Up or if you
can not fix a virus or other issue in Windows Mode
As to spare parts, I would just bring a Power Pack Tester,
Outlet Tester and Digital Mutlmeter .. if parts are needed,
you either go to local store for them or order them in,
Less expensive and no risk of damaging your own parts.

 

[potato28]

Definetly have a laptop, and a PS/2 keyboard.

 

[Zepper]

Yup, wanna have a standard PS/2 mouse and kbd on hand for testing and a PS/2 to USB adapter. I don't know that a laptop is a necessity but surely nice to have. One of those PATA/SATA/notebook drive to USB 2.0 cables is nice too.

.bh.

 

[QueBert]

notebook would be great one of those ultra portable, or at least one with a smaller screen.

I think a PSU would be good, I notice a good # of people I do work for don't always believe when I say "[this] is the problem" hooking up a PSU to a system that won't boot and showing them it works would cause less headache for me.

and if I had the components on me, such as memory or a psu, I could sell it to them on the spot without leaving and coming back. Most people tend to just want it fixed.

external HD would be good for back ups, usb network adapter would be great to test network issues to find out if it's the systems NIC or not.

I have an Ultimate Boot CD, one of the best all in one utils for servicing a computer for sure.

 

[BladeVenom]

I think thermal paste, extra fans, and a Live CD are a must. An ATX control kit might also come in handy.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
I think thermal paste, extra fans, and a Live CD are a must. An ATX control kit might also come in handy.

that ATX controller kit looks very cool, for 13 bucks I don't see a reason to not have one. I have a Ubuntu Live CD if that's what you're talking about.

I always keep a couple 80 & 120 fans on me, a lot of systems I work on are in a cramped case with poor cooling.

a tube of AS5 would also be a good idea.

 

[Zepper]

Ceramique is easier to use and so close in performance it makes no never mind... Sometimes you can get it for free and that never hurts.

.bh.