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Tools, CDs, Parts

T

TechBoyJK

Lifer
On the side, I'm starting to get alot of requests for tech support from friends, family, business associates, etc.

I'm curious if anybody carries a baq of goodies around with them and what they have..

AKA.. boot cd's, screw drivers, cables, etc...
 
When I'm doing tech support, I always find it handy to keep around:
  • One or two Linux Live CDs (A recent Ubuntu and an old Knoppix 4.0)
  • Various reinstallation media for the various flavors of Windows (although rarely used)
  • A normal screwdriver or two (for cases)
  • A nice pocket flashlight.

If you're really intent on fixing things:
  • A laptop with ethernet cables (if their internet is still working and they have a router) or with phone cords (dialup is a good friend)
  • An extra dialup modem. I can't even remember how many times I'd had to replace these, for some reason.

That's about all I can think of.
 
Originally posted by: TechBoyJK
On the side, I'm starting to get alot of requests for tech support from friends, family, business associates, etc.

I'm curious if anybody carries a baq of goodies around with them and what they have..

AKA.. boot cd's, screw drivers, cables, etc...
Click to expand...

there's a boot cd out there (can't remember the name) that has a bunch of tools on it, probably find it by googling. i always carried a small flashlight, a screw driver that had a few reversible tips on it, a set of the precision (small) screw drivers, a hex driver (for motherboard standoffs), a copy of a few versions of windows (not for pirating, but for reinstalling mostly with the persons own cd keys).

as far as parts go (cables and whatnot) i always had a few ide cables, little stuff like that. i also had a laptop hard drive adapter in my tool box.

that's mostly it, unless i needed a PSU or something, but that was mostly on a case to case basis.
 
I pack around a 1GB Sandisk with Windows 2000 & XP SPs, updates and various little utilities.
Bend nose pliers, a couple of different screwdrivers, a small Rayovac flashlight (plastic case model). The plastic housing makes it much easier to hold in my teeth so my hands are free.

I also carry some 91% Isopropyl, roll of toilet paper, a can of 3-In-One oil, a roll of foil duct tape. A few spare fans of different sizes (40mm, 80's & 92's).
A spare ATX PS and some thermal compound.
Spare screws and some small zip-ties.
 
cool.. thanks guys.. im making a list.

I think the boot cd that was referred to is "the ultimate boot cd" which I have a copy of. It has various memory tests, cpu tests, hdd tests, etc..
 
Actually, Hiren's CD v.9.4 has lots more than the Ultimate Boot CD (but some items on it are illegal installations of commercial stuff - not easy to find a place to DL it) and there is an UBCD for DOS and an UBCD for Win that boots a compact version of Win XP so you can use windows tools - but you have to have to have a WinXP master disk to build it or you can order it from a guy that has already done it. the link is on the UBCD4win.com web site - he'll make you copies of either or both the DOS and Win UBCDs. You just have to send him blank CDs and a prepaid/preaddressed return envelope to mail it back in. When I was still modeming, I ordered from him all the time - too big to mess with across a 56k modem...
a Knoppix live CD is great to have in the kit too as mentioned above.

Last Saturday Sears had a one day tool sale - you could have stocked up... But it will come again. They frequently have one meter or another on sale at half price or so - watch your sale circulars in the paper.

.bh.
 
I have a tool box just for modding & PC work. Software tools are kept as images on my file server, and I'll load them on DVD, CD, thumb drive or external hard drive as necessary. I also have another small tool box of nothing but screws, connectors and the like.
 
Newegg is an expensive place to snag a network cable tester.
Ebay is the place for this item. :thumbsup::laugh:
 
I don't do this stuff, but I would also mention the system restore CD. It has firefox and GParted, a partition manager which I like.
 
1. PC tool kit5
2. Win98 floppy boot disk
3. Bart PE or UBCD4Win CD
4. Knoppix live CD
5. Various Windows OS CDs
6. PS/2 keyboard and Mouse
7. Spare IDE HD
8. Basic multimeter
9. USB thumb drive
 
In addition to what everyone else has mentioned sometimes I find it is useful to have some spare parts on hand in case I need to isolate the problem. Whether it be a bad psu, gpu, ext.
 
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