My toolkit, and your toolkit.

do all them windows disks have all the valid licence keys on them ? because i made a post about where to get disks like that as computer shops have them to do reinstallations.
 
Out of interest what do people use those screwdriver sets with like 100 different pieces for? I can't remember using much other than two philips screwdrivers (a big one and a small one) in all the time I've been fixing computers.
 
RKDus said:
Out of interest what do people use those screwdriver sets with like 100 different pieces for? I can't remember using much other than two philips screwdrivers (a big one and a small one) in all the time I've been fixing computers.
Click to expand...

A lot of older machines have special screws as well as laptops. Hex screwdrivers are required for a lot of laptops. And then there is apple. You need them and some other ones for apple machines.
 
I'm surprised to see no one is carrying a multimeter or PSU tester. For $10-20 you save time and diagnose a dead/unstable PSU a lot easier.
 
Most of my tools have been stated already. I also carry a cat5 cross over cable and a USB flex light with a little altoids charger I built. Its great for working in cases and not having to hold a flashlight.
 
I think the list is very comprehensive so far, and I know that each of us has our own likes / dislikes & personal favourites.

Here are some of the things in my tool kit , Sorry if they have been mentioned before:
  • A USB 2.0 DVD/RW Dual Layer, Dual Format.
  • A Magnifying Glass - Very Useful for reading info from MOBO's.
  • A DVI - VGA Adaptor.
  • A USB - PS2 adaptor.
  • DIN (Old Keyboard) - PS2.
  • A Tube of Thermal Paste.
  • A phone socket to (RJ11, I Think) Modem Cable adaptor.
  • A USB Male - Male cable joiner.
  • A few other USB Adaptors.
  • A Bluetooth - USB inc Driver CD.
  • An ADSL Microfilter x2.
  • A USB - Wireless Adaptor.
  • An External USB - FDD.
  • A FDD Cleaning Disk and solution.
  • A CD ROM Lens Cleaning Kit & Solution.
  • A PCI Exhaust Fan.
  • A PCI POST Card Reader.
  • A Laptop Post Card Reader.
  • A Headset - Mic - to test sound cards.
  • A Small Tub of Screws - Various.
  • 80mm Case Fan.
  • Cable ties.
  • ** A BIG MUST HAVE** An anti Static Wrist Band.
  • A couple of Sticks of RAM - Various.
  • A Can of Compressed Air.
  • A 2.5" IDE Laptop HDD - USB 2.0 Enclosure.
  • A 3.5" IDE HDD - USB 2.0 Enclosure.
  • A 3.5" SATA HDD - USB 2.0 Enclosure (Takes both 3.5" & 2.5")
  • A 4 Gang Surge Protector.
  • F Set of Screw Divers, Flat, Philip's, Torx & Hex.
  • Needle Nose Pliers.
  • Network Cable Crimp Tool.
  • A Screw Grabber.
  • A Paper Clip - Ejects CD trays.
  • A Torch. Inc Spare Battery.
  • A Pen & Notepad.
  • A Dictaphone, Tapes & Batteries.
  • Anti-Static Cleaning Solution - (1 Part Fabric Softener, 10 Parts Water).
  • A tub of baby wipes, ideal for cleaning the outside of cases.
  • A small A4 Size Keyboard.
  • A PS2 Mouse.
  • A 10 Meter (30Feet) Extension Cable reel.
  • A USB 2.0 500 GB External HDD, contains ISO's of all my software.
  • My Laptop. - Nothing Fancy, 4 USB 2.0, A firewire, Built in Wireless, Bluetooth, Infra red, Webcam & Mic. DVD R/W Dual Layer Dual Format, A Portable USB Modem - Allows me to get a driver from a clients home who has no Internet connection.
  • A Power Cables, (Kettle Type, Figure 8 Type & Clover Leaf Type)
  • A Replacement Laptop Power Pack, Multi Voltage, and includes a DELL Connector.
  • A Wireless Modem Router.
  • A few Cat5e Patch Cables.
  • A few Crossover Cables.
  • A few USB A-B Cables.
  • My Mobile Phone.
  • In car Charger for My Mobile Phone.
  • In Car Charger for my laptop.
  • Software - I have the same software that has been post already, or at least I do now. lol....
  • An A-Z Map of my area of Operation.
 
I must say I have gotten a lot of good ideas from you guys as to what to have in my toolkit. I have been in business a whopping 3 weeks now and I can tell my list is nowhere where it should. My goal to accumulate the items over time and in the meantime I will build my freeware software section.
 
Does anybody bring a printer to print out invoices/receipts/reports for their customers when you're working on a computer at their house? I was thinking of picking up a small printer, but wondering how everyone else does it.
 
I was using a printer had a small one and a inverter in the car, was using quick books on my laptop. Find it easyer just to hand write them tho.
 
Acronis Version

Can anyone tell me the Acronis version they take out on their calls? I saw the posts about this software and it's got my interest. Are you using the $50.00 version on multiple PC's or are you using the licensed tech copy for a few $100? If you using the $50 I thought once you load this it would only work on the computer you installed it on. Is that right?
 
I've just looked at Nathan's bit of kit - - I don't think I own that much kit in my World, let alone take it with me :-)

Maybe we need another thread of what we take with us but have not used in months!!!

All my kit consists of is a 2.5 hard drive enlosure with every Microsoft Software since Win 2000 (don't work on anything older now) and also all the handy little apps that we all use.

Also I take a 2Gig pen drive with apps on, a HDD - usb converter, a boot disc, led pencil torch, a laptop and a couple of screwdrivers. Oh and a mini usb mouse...

I used to go out all loaded up with every possible tool but never used them enough.
 
I have to agree, I try to keep my kit to a minimum. Here is a list of what I'll have with me on any given call.

-Small flashlight
-multitool
-3 or 4 different screw drivers
-A good knife
-assorted jumpers and cables
-A 6' lenth of CAT-5
-A laptop
-Notpad and 2 pens
-Optical USB laptop mouse
-4-5 floopy disks
-2-3 CD-RWs
-2-3 DVDs
-Portable 80gig HDD
-SATA/IDE to USB adapter
-two sandisk USB drives ( one is a 512 the other a one gig ) both loaded with hundreds of portable programs.
-ERD Commander disk
-Acronis boot CD
-Hiren's boot CD
-Active boot CD
-CD with some base programs on it such as .NET , SP2, WMP 11, IE7, Adobe flash, Java ect.
-disk with all recent updates.


I figure if I need more than this to fix the problem the computer needs to come back to the shop with me.
 
My Kit permanantly live in my Vehicle.

in the early days i travelled light, but i find that when you need something you haven't got you, it makes you look like an arse!

So I come prepared now.

This allows me to provide better customer service and cuts down on my travel expences.

I tend to go from one job to the next without coming back to my base, hence carrying alot is an asset (in my case at least):)
 
Central Repository for Software Kit

Hi,

First post to technibble, really enjoyed reading this thread. I just wanted to know whether anyone has a online central Repository for there kit to share with others. Like an FTP source or something where all the software or kits are? Would be good if there was something like this. That 1st post to this thread listing all the kit was quite impressive I have to say, and would be cool to build your kit to such a standard that it would prepare you for almost any IT siutation you get thrown into. :)

I have customised the The Computer Repair Utility Kit so that it has most of the stuff I would need in it. Going to get it posted to my website soon so that anyone can grab it. It of course is compiled of all freeware apps and utils.

Cheers for now. :cool:
 
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