Students of mine often ask me “What tools are in your PC toolkit?”
Well, there are lots of tools that I have gathered over time. This article discusses the ones I use the most often. The pictures below show some of these, and the list that follows talks about each one and gives links to where you can acquire them.
Actually, the tools that I use most often are my hands, eyes, and ears (if you can call them tools). If you train yourself to use your eyes, ears and hands effectively, you will be a much better troubleshooter.
That being said, here’s a list of “actual” tools I keep in my toolkit:
1. Anti-static strap: I always use this. Some people will discount the importance of an antistatic strap, but I can’t recommend it enough. By connecting it to an unpainted portion of the chassis of the computer, you eliminate a good deal of the static electricity that can damage components. Also, most of these wrist straps come with a 1 megaohm resistor which can prevent injury in the case of a surge or a short. It’s only a few bucks and takes but a couple seconds to put on before you start handling computer components.
After the trusty anti-static wrist strap, the tools aren’t listed in any particular order. But if it’s on the list, it’s in my kit.
2. Anti-static mat: This is laying underneath the rest of the tools in the figure. I usually put this under the computer and connect it to the computer chassis. Some people choose to stand on the mat to eliminate static electricity from being generated when moving their feet.
3. Anti-static bags: Keep a few of these in your kit. You’ll acquire these whenever you buy a new component. Put adapter cards, RAM, and CPUs inside the antistatic bag while they are not being used. You can buy them, but you’d be surprised how fast you gather them for free… especially after a few PC builds!
4. Multimeter: I generally use this to test AC outlets, individual wires inside the computer, and batteries such as CR2032 lithium batteries and 9 volts, which I use a ton of. But beyond AC and DC testing, most multimeters can do a variety of other tests. You’ve gotta have one in your kit. I linked to a model by Extech. Good item for $20. The picture above shows my Craftsman which I have had for many years, and suspect will outlast me.
5. Klein or Craftsman Phillips head screwdriver: Whatever you get, make sure it’s a quality screwdriver. Spend a few bucks on a decent Phillips as you will be using it a lot. The picture shows a stubby screwdriver but I keep a few more varying Phillips in the kit at all times. Some people like to use battery operated, rechargeable screwdrivers. I tend to stay away from anything AC powered or battery operated when working on a PC, and recommend against their use, especially when working inside the computer.
6. Torx screwdrivers: These are found in those systems that prefer Torx screws to Phillips. I always keep a #10 and #8 in the kit, but might grab a few smaller ones (T5, T6, and T7) if I plan to work on laptops or other small devices.
When it comes to screwdrivers, you might opt to go with a screwdriver set including a single handle and a set of slotted bits. I don’t like those too much because the bits always seem to “walk”, or end up in the vortex of lost parts. But hey, it could be a cheaper option to get rolling at first.
7. Needle-nose pliers are a must. Imagine the variety of places this item can get into. Just be careful not to make contact with any electronic circuits.
8. Cutter: A good sharp cutter is real important. You might be working on a PC that has wires bundled together with something that has to be cut. Or perhaps a cable you bought has one of those unconscionable clasps that only a cutter can open. In many cases a knife or utility blade is not a wise choice as it might damage the component or cable, and the cutter becomes super-handy.
9. 3-Prong Parts Grabber: Excellent tool for grabbing screws and other small items. Just be careful when grabbing items that have landed on a circuit board. If that happens consider plastic tweezers or something else non-metallic.
10. Voltage Detector: This tool comes in handy when you need to find out if an AC wire is live, an outlet is grounded properly, or if any other plugged in electronic device (such as a lighting fixture) is grounded. I use an older Greenlee tool, but just about any will do when it comes to detecting voltage in a safe manner.
11. PSU tester: The power supply unit (PSU) tester is necessary to test for a power supply that you think might have failed, or is failing intermittently. These will usually have 24-pin power connection to test the main power cable in a PC, but many also come with SATA or other power testing ports. For example, the one shown in the photo is a Thermaltake A2358 which has a 24-pin main power connection, as well as SATA, Molex, and Berg power connections.
12. Widget: This scraping tool comes in handy for a variety of purposes. Removing unwanted stickers, cleaning off gunk (I use it with isopropyl alcohol), and so on. The blade is also the thinnest tool I have and can get in very small places if need be. It’s weird how much I use this tool, and I wouldn’t be caught without one.
13. Pillbox: This has eight compartments marked Sunday through Saturday plus an “X” day. I use this to store screws, washers, jumpers, and other small items. You can also use a small tube for this, and both of these items often come with all-in-one PC toolkits.
14. Adapters: I carry a variety of adapters including USB to PS/2 (for those older computers that seem to come out of the woodwork once in a while). I also recommend carrying a DVI to VGA video adapter. Only carry what you need though, or what you use the most often as adapters can fill an entire toolkit by themselves!
15. SATA/IDE to USB adapter: This powered device allows you to hook up an SATA or IDE drive to your computer’s USB port and transfer data. Super useful when dealing with customers’ data, for a plethora of reasons. The one displayed in the picture is by Vantec and it has served me very well, though Cables to Go makes a nice one as well. Be sure to read the instructions when using these, most of them require a specific order when connecting devices and turning everything on.
16. 44-pin to 40-pin IDE adapter: This device allows you to move data between a laptop’s 2.5″ 44-pin IDE drive and a typical 3.5″ 40-pin IDE drive. Good for dealing with older laptops that don’t use SATA. This device is normally used inside the computer, but if you wish to do it externally you can combine this adapter with the one in number 15. Some SATA/IDE to USB adapters actually have 44-pin connectors, or add-on adapters as well.
17. USB flash drive: You gotta have one of these on your keychain. I prefer SanDisk Cruzer flash drives but to each his own. Whatever works for you. The one pictured is the typical form factor known as the Cruzer. But you might want to go for the smaller form factor Cruzer Fit which works great when working in tight spaces.
So that’s it for the displayed items. I collected all these piecemeal, but you might decide to opt for an all-in-one PC toolkit. While they will often have cheaper tools that might not last as long, it can be a cheaper solution to get you started.
Here’s one example of a 10-piece kit: Belkin 10-piece
And a 36-piece, a bit more expensive: Belkin 36-piece
Now, there are several other items not pictured that I use and recommend:
– POST Tester: The power-on self-test adapter card tester is a must have. These come in PCIe x1, PCI, and ISA bus architectures. I keep an older JDR Microdevices PCI model on hand, though its more difficult to find those now. Regardless of what POST tester you buy you will have to download the manual of codes for it. Remember that the POST card tester is inserted to an expansion slot inside the computer and cannot troubleshoot power supplies, but it will help to troubleshoot the mobo, CPU, RAM, video card, and so on.
– Mini-mouse: Have you ever worked on someone’s laptop that had a difficult to use, or damaged touchpad? Ever work on a PC that had the most insane mouse settings? Solution: Bring your own mouse. I use a Toshiba retractable mini-mouse, and it works the same way on any computer. Makes for a more efficient troubleshooting session.
– Paper clip: This is used to dislodge optical media from CD and DVD drives. Insert it in the small hole near the eject button or volume knob.
– Networking patch cable: Build your own or buy an inexpensive one from cyberguys.com, cablestogo.com, or cnaweb.com (among many other websites). You should be able to get a 6 foot Cat 5e cable for about $3. Always have one or two on hand. Don’t rely on buying one from the store because you might have to take out a loan to get it.
– IEC cables: The power cable that leads from the computer to the wall outlet. Also works with monitors and other devices. Keep one or two of these on hand just in case.
– SATA cable: Always have an extra one of these as a backup. As with patch cables, buy all your other cables cheap from one of the websites mentioned above.
– Tape: Electrical tape, Duct Tape: Technicians need tape, ’nuff said.
– Compressed air: A can of compressed air can really help to remove lodged in dust bunnies from a computer. Best to do that outside though. It is also useful when cleaning out the keys on a keyboard or an older ball-mouse.
– Cleaner: I carry a small bottle of 50/50 Isopropyl alcohol/water solution. This is what I use to clean displays. Use it carefully and sparingly. Apply the solution to a dry, lint-free cloth, not to the display directly. And make sure the bottle is closed tight. Keep the bottle in a ziplock bag just to be sure. Sometimes I’ll use this on the bottom of inkjet cartridges and ball mice if necessary. You could use it on other devices, but might take the finish off of them. Instead consider a mild detergent for keyboards, mice, and the outside of the computer case.
– Computer Case keys: Many computer cases use the same “alarm-type” keys. If you’ve built a computer in the past, you probably got one of these with the case. Keep a few different ones in your kit for emergencies! Sometimes the computer tech needs to be a locksmith.
This is in no way a finite list. I have a garage full of computer stuff. But as far as what I normally carry in my kit, this is the bulk of it. You’ll notice that I don’t list a knife. While I am no stranger to them, and use them in my own lab, I don’t carry one in the kit because I often service secure organizations that might ask to check it. So I leave the pocket knife and utility knife at my computer lab.
I always say, to each his own. Aside from the antistatic strap, PSU tester, and POST card tester, your kit might differ from mine, and that’s okay. As long as you can get the job done quickly and efficiently without damaging components, you will be in good shape. Building a good PC toolkit takes time, and plus, you can’t carry every tool with you. Key tip: sometimes you will have to improvise. For example, if you need a hammer and don’t have one, use a pipe. If you need plastic tweezers and you can’t find them, use the 3-prong parts grabber or needle-nose pliers. If working near circuit boards you could always wrap the tips of the pliers with electrical tape. Be creative when troubleshooting – it’s a requirement.
And that wraps up this article. Hope it helps some of you out there. You’ll see some of these tools in use within the A+ Exam Cram 6th Edition written for the Sept. 2012 A+ exams.
