Thinking of Upgrading and Fixing PC's part time on my own.

[Sforsyth]

What would you pro's recomend having handy all the time just in case I need to repair, upgrade or trouble shoot a PC. Software and Hardware and tools ?

Thanks !

 

[ElTorrente]

how about:

Screwdriver
Anti-static bracelet (overkill, really - but I wouldn't want to zap someone else's mobo)
^ actually just buy a computer tool-kit for 10-20 bucks
DOS Boot disk(s)
DOS Boot CD
Laptop with ethernet and dial-up modem so you can download drivers from anywhere
external harddrive maybe

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: ElTorrente
how about:

Screwdriver
Anti-static bracelet (overkill, really - but I wouldn't want to zap someone else's mobo)
^ actually just buy a computer tool-kit for 10-20 bucks
DOS Boot disk(s)
DOS Boot CD
Laptop with ethernet and dial-up modem so you can download drivers from anywhere
external harddrive maybe

& time

 

[Sforsyth]

Originally posted by: ElTorrente
how about:

Screwdriver
Anti-static bracelet (overkill, really - but I wouldn't want to zap someone else's mobo)
^ actually just buy a computer tool-kit for 10-20 bucks
DOS Boot disk(s)
DOS Boot CD
Laptop with ethernet and dial-up modem so you can download drivers from anywhere
external harddrive maybe

sounds good ! I was thinking of most of this also.

Anything else ?

 

[Sforsyth]

is there a program that can get all the drivers from a PC and say put them on a CDR or Laptop and the refomat the PC so I could just use the same drivers that where on it to reinstall them ?

 

[imported_Tick]

Just copy the drivers folder.

 

[daftpunkit]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16899888202

Belkin tool kit, even though I don't like Belkin, their tool kit can't be that bad, or get something similar too it.

As for your question on program for a driver snatcher, not sure, but I prefer my little 256mb flash drive/pen drive (whatever you guys call it) to store all my backup drivers and security patches, etc. while I use my 1GB flash drive for temp media transporting.

 

[Some1ne]

Add a CD with Ad-Aware and Norton Antivirus (or other antivirus program) on it as well as generic drivers for common parts. I've seen so many PC's where people were complaining about performance/other problems and the root cause was that there were about 200 adware/spyware programs and a handful of viruses on the PC. Also consider things like benchmarking, monitoring, and test suites for diagnosing hardware problems, a paperclip for jumping PSU's, and maybe a multimeter.

EDIT: A pair of needle-nose pliers will compliment your screwdriver well, and help if you need to change jumpers around.

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

Knoppix and a extra cd burner for backing up files, or a laptop with a burner and a IDE to Usb plug in for harddrive.

 

[daftpunkit]

Ad-Aware sold out,they don't get all the spyware like they use to.
Microsoft's Spyware killer on finding lots and lots of spyware, its a cold hearted killer, yet controversial... I don't like their method of validation since I was the kid at school giving all his buddies XP Pro Corporate edition...

 

[Sforsyth]

I do software and minor hardware like ram and Hard drives and CDR and DVD-writer installs now for friends, all good sugestions keep them comming !

 

[ElTorrente]

YES - excellent idea about having spyware/virus programs on hand. There are lots of little utilities and programs that would be really useful to have on a CD when going to a job.

Maybe even make it a routine to try and download mobo drivers or even bios for the motherboard type you may be dealing with.

Microsoft Antispyware for XP beta is just EXCELLENT!! Seriously, I was skeptical - now I'm sold on it. You can use it to get rid of startup programs in your registry, it monitors ports and blocks scripts like it was a firewall. That could be a good thing to put on people's xp install. It uses minimal resources, too - much less than other similar programs. LOL I sound like I work for Microsoft

 

[leigh6]

Glue stick
Magnifying glass
tweezers
small flashlight

 

[Sforsyth]

Originally posted by: leigh6
Glue stick
Magnifying glass
tweezers
small flashlight

Tweezers anf flashlight sound good what the Glue stick for ? Just in case IO break something in the inside ?

 

[imported_Kensai]

Make them bring their compuer to your place. Or go to their place and pickup the computer to bring back.

 

[MrMiyagi]

Originally posted by: Kensai
Make them bring their compuer to your place. Or go to their place and pickup the computer to bring back.

I agree with that. But might be better for business if you go to their house.

Also...maybe a power supply tester to add to the kit

Oh, and get a cheap AGP vid card that you can pop in. There were a few times I new the vid card was bad on peoples computers and wished I'd had one to throw in and see what happened.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Originally posted by: MrMiyagi

Originally posted by: Kensai
Make them bring their compuer to your place. Or go to their place and pickup the computer to bring back.

I agree with that. But might be better for business if you go to their house.

Also...maybe a power supply tester to add to the kit

A Multimeter works too.
Extra AT, ATX and SSI PSUs.
Extra CPUs for S462, S478, S775, S7.
Extra EDO, PC100/PC133, DDR, Rambus, CRIMMs, DDR2
Heatsinks? Thermal compound.


Bring a working optical drive, notebook hard drive.

 

[Sforsyth]

Tanks guys, sounds great I'm going to have 2 extra Vid cards here also.

 

[Atheus]

Vaccum cleaner, _magnetic_ screwdrivers, test PSU (wire modded) or bench PSU, enough disk space (preferably RAID) to back up a large HDD while formatting it (you will do this a lot), several antivirus progams, data recovery software, spare components like DDR RAM, apg and pci vid cards.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Originally posted by: Sforsyth
Tanks guys, sounds great I'm going to have 2 extra Vid cards here also.

I forgot about that..
Keep a PCI card, PCI-E card and AGP card with you.

 

[krevo]

i keep a key drive (4gb alienware) loaded with PC Check, All antispy, anti mal, and antivirus programs on the fly. Also lots of HD utilities. also i have a USB/FW/Sata enclosure that has IDE/SATA on the inside.

Big phillips head, and one smaller one for laptops. That pretty much covers most onsite work. Also keep wifi cards, eth cards, modems, some SD and DDR, and spare hd's in my case. 1 bench CPU for all major sockets (s7, s370, slots, sA, 478, and 939)



Pretty much covers everythign for onsite.

 

[shoRunner]

definately get a flash drive and install the popular spyware removal and virus removal programs to it. makes things alot quicker when all you have to do is plug it in and run the programs off it. also get a program to use for getting back deleted data, comes in quite handy (i use getdataback with pretty good success)

 

[leigh6]

Glue stick is to put the heat sink on the processor.............................

For the hard to get to screws on some motherboards. Those corner screws where the power supply is. Often cant get your hand in to put the screws in place. I try to stay away from magnetic screwdrivers.

AND makes inserting the other screws REAL easy.