Essential tools for the technicians kit

Baz_

Hey all,

I was just wondering what you all thought were essential tools for any self respecting computer technician to keep in his/her toolbox. I mean tools and also software programs that help a lot.

The old reliable phillips head screwdriver is a necessity, then there is some antivirus and firewall stuff, as well as update cds, if you have any, and if you dont get some.

Feel free to add to the list and if you want to use different categories please do so, such as Networking: RJ45 crimping tool, packet sniffer etc...

<edit>
I think I'll make a list:

Tools:

General Hardware Work:
Phillips head Screw driver (Must Have)
USB Dongle (Very Handy)
Pliers (Very Handy)
Tweezers or Needle nosed Pliers (Very Handy)
Flashlight(Handy)
Multitool (Handy)
Super Glue (Maybe)
Multi Meter (Dont know)
Anti Static Wrist strap (you wha?)

For Networking:
RJ45 Crimping tool (Must Have)
Cable Tester (Very Handy)



Spare parts:

A selection of screws (Must Have)
Spare jumpers (Handy)
Spare risers (Maybe)



Software:

General Software Utilities:
McAfee's Stinger "http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/&quot; (Must Have)
Antivirus program (Must Have)
Firewall Software (Very Handy)
PuTTY "http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/&quot; (Handy)
Knoppix or some other live CD (Nice to Have)
Motherboard Monitor "http://mbm.livewiredev.com/&quot; (Dont know, dont have)
Portable Firefox "http://johnhaller.com/jh/mozilla/portable_firefox/&quot; (Dont know)
Spybot Search & Destroy "http://www.safer-networking.org/&quot; (Dont know)
DOS Boot disk images "bootdisk.com" + rawrite "http://uranus.it.swin.edu.au/~jn/linux/rawwrite.htm&quot; (Dont know)

Network Software Utilities:
Packet Sniffer (Dont know)



Information:

Details for the various ISPs (Must have)



I will add to this list as more replies (hopefully) are added, and if anyone has an issue with any of the grades I have given the different tools let me know, and if you have a suggestion for a grade for the empty grades lay it on me.

Grades are: Must Have, Very Handy, Handy, Nice to Have and Maybe.

Also if anyone wants to add any ISP information that they have, it will be added. Or if suggesting any other type of information to be added, provide a link to a good source of that information.

oh and wtf is ambersil?
</edit>

P.S. a special thanks to Inspector Gadget

Inspector Gadget

Stuff that I can't work without (apart from the philips screwdriver):

1) A copy of the "Ultimate Boot CD" (http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/) - lots and lots of useful toys - too many to list here - that save me from carrying an armada of floppy discs around. Useful for the HDD and memory diagnostic tools if nothing else
2) A flashlight - PCs tend to be dark inside
3) Spare jumpers, risers and screws - 'cause things, well, get lost, when you take PCs apart... or is that just me?
4) A pair of pliers or good tweezers - because I sometimes can't grip jumpers with my fingernails, and for when screws (while on their way to getting lost ) fall into places where they could short stuff out (which is usually bad...)
5) A copy of Knoppix or some other live CD (just in case)

Beyond that, just some stuff I carry around on a home-grown "utilities" CD I prepared two years ago (ooer... must update) and the stuff on my USB memory yoke (which I do keep updated) - for example:

* McAfee's Stinger (http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/)
* Motherboard Monitor (sadly no longer in development - http://mbm.livewiredev.com/)
* Portable Firefox (http://johnhaller.com/jh/mozilla/portable_firefox/)
* PuTTY (http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/)
* Spybot Search & Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/) with as many updates as I have, and finally
* DOS Boot disk images (bootdisk.com) + rawrite (http://uranus.it.swin.edu.au/~jn/linux/rawwrite.htm) in case of emergencies...

Other things to keep handy are details for the various ISPs - dialup numbers, DNS & mail server IPs, that sort of thing, for when someone's system is trashed.

Tip: It's useful to buy a USB yokey with a write protect switch (and to USE IT) for when you're plugging it into a potentially hostile computer....

I'd imagine the ultimate luxury doing this sort of thing is a laptop, preferably with some sort of adaptor (they do exist, cant think of any models offhand) so that you could mount additional 2-1/2" and 3-1/2" drives...

Hope this helps,
Gadget

Capt'n Midnight

SuperGlue and Ambersil

tk123

Tools wise you can't beat a mulit tool - it's a pliers, screwdrivers etc all in one, rj45/11 crimper oh and the trusty cable tester too!

Inspector Gadget

I have to say I disagree. Multitools are okay if you're stuck (personally, I carry a Leatherman Squirt P4 on my keyring for just such occasions), but they tend to be bloody awkward in confined spaces, uncomfortable to use for any period of time, and useless if you happen to need any more than one of the things it offers at the same time

Things with folding hinges are usually bad when you're trying to pry/lever something too - they have a nasty habit of closing like they're designed to do - it's the kind of thing that could lead to crushed fingers, cuts, etc...

Just my 2c...
Gadget

tk123

No you're right - they're only really good for when you're in a jam or don't have time to go and get tools but I think thats what makes them a little bit essential - you can have it on your keyring or in your pocket taking up a small amount of space in case you get in a jam!!

Baz_

edited my first post to start a list, if anyone has any other suggestions please post here and I'll try my best to keep it up to date.

BloodBath

Definitely a multi-meter to test voltages.


BloodBath

Optikus

And you must all remember to put your PC's safety first by using an Earthing wrist band or similar earthing device.

Ciaran500

What could you use superglue on? I've never used or needed to us any form of glue for a pc.

Optikus

Ciaran500 wrote:

What could you use superglue on? I've never used or needed to us any form of glue for a pc.

Yes please elaborate on this, the only thing i can think why you would ever use superglue would maybe something to do with case modding but for building a system there is absolutly no need for it thats comes to my mind.

tk123

Optikus wrote:

Yes please elaborate on this, the only thing i can think why you would ever use superglue would maybe something to do with case modding but for building a system there is absolutly no need for it thats comes to my mind.

it's so you can glue surplus ram etc to the side of pc for those demading users to prove you've done something

EDIT - Oh and Baz a cable tester is a doofer that you can use to test if cables are wired correctly or if ports are live/wired correctly. It has link lights that light up for each pair of wires to show if they are ok or not - very very handy

Optikus

tk123 wrote:

it's so you can glue surplus ram etc to the side of pc for those demading users to prove you've done something

okay???? :eek:

Baz_

Optikus wrote:

okay???? :eek:

I think you'll find tk123 was joking, and whats wrong with superglue being used for case modding, although it is a thread about tools for technicians, why not just go with the flow? While superglue isnt super useful, it can be used when working on computers, so it stays, although I still dont know what ambersil is?

niallb

Superglue is handy for holding on drive bay covers.
If the original is missing, the one you have handy
will NOT have the same tabs or clips on it!
It's also brittle enough that you can remove it cleanly
when you need to put something else in the bay.

NiallB

Civilian_Target

Your list is missing backup tools - which are absolutely vital. A good-sized USB hard disk or portable CD writer is also a must have for desperation backups....

tonky

This thread's back up...
Main toolbox:
As listed above plus:
Pencil or similar with a little wad of blu-tack on the end.
for recovering that f***ing screw that fell down behind the motherboard.
1" or 1.5" paint brush to clear dust & s**t so you can see that burnt out fuselink/resistor/voltage reg etc. Also for cleaning fan blades/heatsinks.
Small rag to wipe the paint brush occasionally.
Spare PCI graphics card (basic).

Network Box:
RJ45 & RJ11 crimpers.
Bag of RJ plugs.
Few lengths of Cat5
Mod-Tap cable tester.
USB-10/100 adapter.
Couple of Cat5 patch cords.
Crossover cable.
Spare 10/100 pci network card.

C Fodder

Battery screwdriver with magnetic bit holder and bit assortment including TorX(must have)
Radio pliers or needle nose pliers (must have)
precision screwdrivers flat and philips (handy)
Small side cutters (must have)
Electrical tie wraps - small ( handy )
A Floppy disc ( handy )
Blank CD and slow CDWR (handy)
long phone cable (handy)

Spares
Mouse
CDRW drive (used to be CDROM)
Floppy drive not so vital now
Network card
Modem
Keyboard

and all the rest mentioned plus an estate car or van to carry all the gear extra spares, non vital tools, empty coke cans, empty sandwich boxes, fag packets and dead crap that keeps building up despite you dumping it every week !!!

Baz_

well holy ****, and I thought this thread had died, guess I'll have to get my list updated, sometime tomorrow would be my guess

Capt'n Midnight

Capt'n Midnight wrote:

SuperGlue and Ambersil

Ambersil will clean old plastic to look like it was new, while they can't see what you do under the bonnet, they might just recognise that the PC is now clean. - put small parts in the cap and foam and shake. Great for cleaning gunk off printers (essential for printers - very handy otherwise)

Knoppix or other bootable CD, tons of utils (essential)
USB network card, preferrably one that works with built in driver for XP and if you are really lucky 2K (Handy - and smaller than a PCI card)
RJ45 coupler and short crossover cable (small so no excuse for not having)
serial laplink cable ( essential if you use telnet a lot - otherwise not)

Those phase testers with a battery inside, they can detect a live cable from about 1 cm away, very handy and safer than your normal phase tester , also does continuity tests (snazzy essential)

switch cleaner - cleans switches - used to be essential when the on/off switch carried the full mains load , not so essential in the days of soft power.
If you hear a faint buzzing when you turn on something or you have to look after stuff with <CLUNK> switches then essential otherwise handy

compressed air - complete waste of time , just moves the dirt around sometimes in to inaccessible places, invest in a straw or use freeze spray

Freeze Spray - the only problem with this stuff is that it is too much fun. handy to detect intermittant problems on motherboards and monitors. Not as much use as before since you can't fix the motherboard problems , but at least you can ID where the bad soldering was and pronounce it BER (beyond economic repair).
Extremely handy for intermittant monitor faults but monitors are LETHAL and anyone who knows anything about fixing monitors already has a can or two.

Mac daddy

A copy of Knoppix on dvd - goes everywere with me

Boro

Hirens Boot CD (just the list of whats on it)

Very handy.

I find carrying around a usb stick with spybot, adaware, avg, zonealarm and all the latest updates for them works a treat.

The multitool is great for when you dont particularly want to carry around a toolbox.

I find those three things (bootcd, usb stick, multitool) cover maybe 90% of the situations i come across. After that, a laptop and a crossover cable can be very useful also.