[TIP] ★ Items to Add to Your PC Tech Toolkit ★

[Appletax]

★ Please let us know what you recommend yourself

• Software
• Portable solid state drive. So many excellent choices. I like the Samsung T5 (fast) or SanDisk Extreme Pro (ultra fast).
• Computer Business Kit
  • Tons of awesome documents
• Brother HL-L2395DW
  • Awesome economical monochrome all-in-one printer
  • LD Supplies - refurbished toner and drums.
• Bucket Boss Gatemouth 16 Tool Bag
  • Tool bag I use to hold the tools I most frequently use. Lots of space and very well-built. Pictures of mine can be found here.
• Kanguru Flash Drives
  • Write protection switch useful for malware removals (won't let malware write to the drive)
• DataVac Electric Duster ED-500
  • Use this all the time to clean out computers and dust. Very powerful.
• Case Logic 24 CD Case
  • Great for storing repair & OS CDs
• Duracell Universal Laptop Charger
  • Not perfect. Some things will not work with it, particularly Dell laptops
• Sabrent USB 3.0 to SATA Connector
  • Allows you to easily slave a hard drive for data transfer, data recovery, virus removal, etc.
• KVM Switch
  • Lets you work on multiple computers at the same time using one monitor
• Anti-Static Wristband
  • Protect hardware from ESD
• Anti-Static Grounding Pad
  • Useful for doing anything with a motherboard
• Memorex Optical Drive Laser Lens Cleaner
• 3 Volt Cell Batteries (CMOS Type)
  • For replacing CMOS batteries
• Electrostatic Cleaning Brush
  • To wipe away stuff, like dust
• Power Supply
  • Good to have a known-good PSU on hand for diagnostics
• Samsill Regal Leather Business Card Wallet
• Computer Repair with Diagnostic Flowcharts
• 99% Isopropyl Alcohol
  • For cleaning hardware and removing CPU thermal paste. Can also use 91%.
  • An alternative CPU thermal paste remover is Arctic Silver Arcticlean Thermal Material Remover & Surface Purifier
• Nitrile Gloves
  • For reducing static discharge and keeping finger oils off things
• CoolMax PSU Tester
  • So much easier to use than a multimeter
• Toolkit
  • Great to have one with magnetized screwdriver tips to hold onto screws
  • Modware PC & Network 31-Piece Toolkit
    • This is the toolkit I bought years ago. It comes with magnetic screwdrivers
• Paper Clips
  • For holding customer's paperwork together and ejecting discs from optical drives
• Converters: DVI to VGA, VGA to DVI, USB to PS2, PS2 to USB
• Square Credit Card Reader
  • Accept credit card payments
• Zip ties
  • For cable management
• Spare cables - Ethernet, printer USB, SATA, IDE, etc.
• Spare parts (RAM, optical drive(s), hard drive(s), GPUs, NICs, etc.)
  • Very helpful to have a small plastic container filled with varying RAM sticks for troubleshooting and for when a customer needs more RAM or new RAM (don't have to wait for it to ship to you if you already have it on-hand)
• External Optical Drive
  • For using discs on computers that lack an optical drive (e.g. netbooks)
• Laptop
  • Useful when the client's computer can't get online or is slow, etc. and you need to troubleshoot using the web (could also use a tablet/phone for that purpose)

Network Tools

• Loopback Plug
  • To perform a loopback test
• TP-LINK Wireless USB Adapter
  • For troubleshooting wireless issues and for when you can't connect a computer directly to an Ethernet port on your router
  • Windows 10 Compatibility for TP-LINK Products
• TP-LINK TL-WR841N Wireless Router
  • For troubleshooting wireless issues (good to have a known good Wi-Fi router
  • This one is super cheap and reliable
• Custom Ethernet Cables - so much cheaper than buying premade cables
  • TrendNet Ethernet Crimp Tool
    • For cutting Ethernet cables and crimping RJ-45 heads
  • RJ-11 and RJ-45 Modular Plug Tester
    • For testing new Ethernet cables
  • Ethernet Cable
  • RJ-45 Connectors

Tools I Don't Have but May be of Interest to You

• Solder Gun
  • Needed to replace laptop DC jacks that are soldered to the motherboard
• Portable Printer
  • To print client's documents on the go

External Toolkits

• Build a Solid Computer Repair Toolkit with These Tools
• What you need in your PC support toolkit

Technibbler's Toolkits

• What Tools and Stock Should a Mobile Technician Carry in Their Toolkit?
• My toolkit, and your toolkit
• IT bag/briefcase/toolkit?
• What do you use for your toolkit?
• New Business, New Space!
• Bryce's Threads
  • Computer Parts Questions Answered
  • My Onsite Technician Gear
  • Make Your Job Easier With a Tech Station For Your Test PC
  • Power Supply Tester
  • Computer Technicians Quick Reference Guide
  • UBCD – 100 PC Hardware Diagnosis Tools in One

 

[NETWizz]

Multi-meter for checking things under load (i.e .Voltage)

Ethernet cable tester to ensure proper wiring.

Outlet, receptacle tester to ensure proper wiring & GFCI tester (get one that does both, so you can use it for other non-IT tasks)

Ethernet Tone Tool such as the IntelliTone

Something like Link Runner from Fluke for mapping out DHCP/DNS problems and with TDR for distance measurement. Can also blink a switchport.

Fiber ferrule cleaner wipes and q-tip things for cleaning both male and female fiber

Laser Light to shine through fiber to figure out which pair

Small, Managed switch you can use for mirroring a network port by putting it in line.

Ethernet Crimp tool

110 Punch-Down tool


Assorted fiber patch cords and Ethernet patch cables, connectors, keystone jacks, etc.

 

[AliceKlaar]

3G / 4G modem
Assorted CAT 5 / 6 cables up to 20m
POE injector
CAT 5 / fibre adaptors
Assorted pre terminated fibre runs to 100m
Telephone extension lead 10m
Assorted phone jack doubler / tripler / ADSL filters
Nautilus DigAlert 361 Test Telephone / ADSL aware test phone
Slimline usb powered flatbed scanner
Paper clip for jump starting PSU GRN-BLK
Pen torch with non conductive casing... for those power on jobs
USB powered light... IKEA
Spare batteries for everything.
Assorted loyalty plastic cards from Subway, KFC etc useful for splitting laptop cases, carding doors etc.
Decent disposable gloves... all that Propan-2-ol (calling it Isopro is like, so 1980's) is tough on the skin and ruins nail varnish. Also avoids leaving fingerprints. On replacement screens, of course

 

[Larry Mashburn]

Multi-meter for checking things under load (i.e .Voltage)

Ethernet cable tester to ensure proper wiring.

Outlet, receptacle tester to ensure proper wiring & GFCI tester (get one that does both, so you can use it for other non-IT tasks)

Ethernet Tone Tool such as the IntelliTone

Something like Link Runner from Fluke for mapping out DHCP/DNS problems and with TDR for distance measurement. Can also blink a switchport.

Fiber ferrule cleaner wipes and q-tip things for cleaning both male and female fiber

Laser Light to shine through fiber to figure out which pair

Small, Managed switch you can use for mirroring a network port by putting it in line.

Ethernet Crimp tool

110 Punch-Down tool


Assorted fiber patch cords and Ethernet patch cables, connectors, keystone jacks, etc.

Found the networking guy.

 

[Appletax]

Found the networking guy.

That's what I was thinking, lol!

 

[AliceKlaar]

Found the networking guy.

Actually I found him first and FYI some of us gals can do networks too.

 

[Richard Chapman]

very useful list. there are a LOT of items I know I would not think of. Thanks

 

[Larry Mashburn]

Actually I found him first and FYI some of us gals can do networks too.

Will be more gender neutral in the future.

 

[Appletax]

Will be more gender neutral in the future.

Makes me think of South Park season 19 =P

 

[Larry Mashburn]

Makes me think of South Park season 19 =P

View attachment 5219

"no problematic language here bro."

 

[citizensmith]

Great list guys.

A dymo \ brother labeler for everything umarked and "Dont turn OFF"s
Coloured cable ties for marking power to different kit in rackmounts
Old school notebook for quick notes \ sketch layout diagrams
Magnifier for those really small serial numbers \passwords on home routers
Charged phone with useful Apps - Fing, WIFI analyser,Google
Hopemlug \ Powerline adaptors
50' mains extension
RCD adaptor
Car 12v-240v adaptor
Charged UPS in van
Telescopic ladder
Stacking toolbox with wheels
Folding sack trolley
Padded crates for customer laptops - why dont they ever have the bags
Spiral cable wrap for the neat freaks

 

[amktechsolutions]

Very useful, thanks for posting!

 

[IT Pro Home Solutions]

great list thanks

 

[onsitetechsri]

awesome list. thank you

 

[Rodney Mushero]

Great list! I might suggests a portable printer like the one listed below. It really helps. I just set a little money from each job aside. It's great to see a customers face when they ask for a receipt and suddenly a paper pops out of your bag!

https://www.amazon.com/Epson-WorkFo...=portable+printer&refinements=p_72:1248945011

 

[TACKBB]

Great info!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kaveesnan]

Love your work Appletax.(and username)

 

[mickybee]

really useful list thank you

 

[johnrobert]

I would almost never use any of those tools
it seems the only thing I need is a USB stick with all my repair stuff these days

 

[Altster]

I rarely use much more than a Linux boot disk (to check many different things), a guitar pick, and two small screw drivers. But mostly I rely on "Common Sense!"