Tools of the trade

[ncatanza05]

I'm currently working towards my A+certification and a BA in computer science. I want to start maintaining and fixing people computers for a side job and wanted to know what are some necessary tools/software you guys use when fixing/maintained PC's.

 

[iisjman07]

I'd advise reading all of this as it's a very good start:

http://www.technibble.com/computer-repair-utility-kit-v1/

Also take a look through the 'Repair Tool Of The Week' section of the forum

 

[J-Bob]

I'd advise reading all of this as it's a very good start:

http://www.technibble.com/computer-repair-utility-kit-v1/

Also take a look through the 'Repair Tool Of The Week' section of the forum

I agree. Plus, go through the Technibble articles on the 'homepage' from start to present-day.
(there's plenty of High-grade reading material on this website)

 

[SThompson86]

Ha! Ha! this is will be your six shooter!

Nonetheless, good posts above.

I also recommend Scott Mueller's book http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0KXSMWBM4ENBFA2WNDV2

 

[kagman]

I recommend working i computer retail for a few years... for me it was compusa , or i call it crapUSA... lol...

 

[ideal-pc]

Ha! Ha! this is will be your six shooter!

Nonetheless, good posts above.

I also recommend Scott Mueller's book

Uh, still can't post links so had to remove the link above for this post

Absolutely I can second that about the book!!

I carry all the necessary tools (screwdrivers Etc) as well as some common software CD's to help troubleshoot stuff. I also carry commonly replaced items like wireless network adapters, a spare mouse, & some cables. Get a box for the boot of your car (trunk if your American ) A simple laptop/netbook computer is also great for troubleshooting network troubles. I use a Thinkpad X24, it's old, but does the job & cost me nothing!!

One piece of diagnostic software I can recommend is Microscope by Micro2000 in the right hands it can be very valuable & generate full reports on faulty systems so your customers can see exactly what your talking about

 

[Methical]

One piece of diagnostic software I can recommend is Microscope by Micro2000 in the right hands it can be very valuable & generate full reports on faulty systems so your customers can see exactly what your talking about

Would you mind starting a thread on this software; and giving a 'review' for the other techs out there =)

It does seem a bit on the expensive side for me for there software. Even there PC POST card is expensive !

 

[Chilli]

TechNibble no longer provides the USB Computer Repair Utility, but I use a program I've loved for a long time. Liberkey .com

It's developed by the French, but has an English version.
It's the ultimate USB Pocket Army Knife for Computer Tools.
Liiberkey philosophy is:
*It must be free
*Must run on a USB stick directly
*Liberkey will auto update all your applications on the USB key

The tools cover every topic you can think of. And you can customize what you want on it and even add your own tools manually.
I run GIMP, Open Office off it on computers that are not mine when I need to.
It has tons of securty related tools, cleaners, sys info, benchmarks, ftp, browsers, the list goes on and on.

It really is amazing and got me out of a bind many a time when I needed a tool I didn't think I had and I said "let me check my liberkey USB" and there was a program on there I didn't know I had that fixed the issue.

I have over 300 portable programs on it.

 

[SThompson86]

I am downloading Liberkey a looks neat.. haven't tried it yet though.

The developer looks good, I would like to build my own.

 

[Chilli]

I highly recommend it - I'm using it right now - adding some of my own new tools to the Application. It'll fit on a 4gb stick, but 8GB would be better for the long run.

I got the Ultimate version, then added more applications to it from their catalog - it links with your USB and tells you what you already have installed on it, so you can add things you don't have from it easily in the catalog. Then add your own tools.

 

[SThompson86]

I highly recommend it - I'm using it right now - adding some of my own new tools to the Application. It'll fit on a 4gb stick, but 8GB would be better for the long run.

.

It does have a bunch of stuff I would never use, like the paint stuff and astronomy stuff lol

 

[Chilli]

It does have a bunch of stuff I would never use, like the paint stuff and astronomy stuff lol

Sure there are a few things like that you may not use, but I just like to have all the tools. You can never have too many tools I think. I have actually used the Astronomy stuff once. I was bored waiting for a big install and ran it and had fun playing around with it.

I love the point of having GIMP on it, there have been times when a fiend or client needed an image changed for some reason, pulled out GIMP and ta da.

 

[Xander]

I've been running GeekMenu for a while but I'm checking out Liberkey. While I also have Ketarin on my USBtoolkit, I like the idea of the menu looking out for its programs.

 

[SThompson86]

Tech Tools has got to be my fav USBdrive tool kit.

 

[Davena]

Ha! Ha! this is will be your six shooter!

Nonetheless, good posts above.

I also recommend Scott Mueller's book http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0KXSMWBM4ENBFA2WNDV2

Didn't realize there was a new one. Just ordered it. Thank for the heads up.

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

I also recommend Scott Mueller's book http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0KXSMWBM4ENBFA2WNDV2

wow I remember reading that from cover to cover back in 1991!

 

[Eddie]

I agree. Plus, go through the Technibble articles on the 'homepage' from start to present-day.

This what I first did when I found the site. Read through all of the articles & it kind of shows you how great a place this is with all the resources & advice on offer.