Apple Technicians Toolkit
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Inside an Apple Technicians Toolkit

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Guest Post by Marco Rodi: Marco Rodi owns an IT Engineering university degree. He has his own computer repair business (OrdiRodi) that mainly does Apple Support.
There are a few articles here on Technibble about what is in a PC technicians toolkit. However, when you are an Apple Tech your bag is not quite the same. Whenever a client calls me for an emergency, these are the tools I always carry in my Apple technician toolkit, no matter what the problem is.

Lion/Snow Leopard Boot USB

Usually, when your client’s computer won’t boot into the OS the CD drive won’t work. Either a CD will be stuck inside and you can’t eject it, or you can’t insert a new CD as the system won’t recognize it. This is why I always bring a Bootable USB drive with either Snow Leopard of Lion on it. When you insert it in your client’s computer, you can hold the “Option” key (ALT key if you are using a non-Apple keyboard) while you boot the Mac and select your USB drive. To create this USB Key, you need your original Lion installation file or your Snow Leopard CD and use the Disk Utility application on your Mac. (http://www.cultofmac.com/105527/how-to-make-a-bootable-install-disk-of-mac-os-x-lion/)

Snow Leopard CD

I always bring the Snow Leopard CD. Sometimes you won’t need a USB drive as CD Drive will work just fine. If you install this version on your client’s Mac, you do not need a serial number.

Dust Blower

No matter what I do on my client’s computers, I always use the Dust Blower at the end of the job. It adds a professional touch to it and usually the client has never removed the dust. Here in Montreal, I always buy the DustOff Original Duster. You can buy a 10 pack of those for just $12.99.

Knopixx CD

Incredible tool that lets you boot in a complete Unix environment directly on the CD. You can access the hard drive and backup files. This is really helpful if the OS does not boot and you want to backup your client’s files. You simply need to insert this CD and an external drive to backup everything. (http://www.knoppix.net/)

Universal Drive Adapter

This will let you repair your client hard drive directly from your computer. You remove the hard drive from your client’s computer, plug it into this device, and access it via usb from your machine. This tool is good to repair disk permissions, backup files and to completely clear a hard drive. It works perfectly on both Mac and Pc. You can buy this one here: http://www.ifixit.com/Apple-Parts/Universal-Drive-Adapter/IF107-108

ProTech Base Tool

When you try to open your client’s Apple Computer and either change the RAM, remove the hard drive or change the motherboard, you will always have to deal with an unusual screw. Apple does it on purpose so nobody can open/fix their machine except them. You really need to bring all the tools necessary to remove all the pieces for your needs. I use this set of tool created by ifixit: http://www.ifixit.com/Tools/Pro-Tech-Base-Toolkit/IF145-072
It has everything you need to repair iMacs, Macbooks, MacPros, iPhone, iPod Touch etc.

RAM Memory

Sometimes, when you try to boot the computer and you hear one or two beeps, the RAM failed. I always bring extra RAM to test this issue and to sell it to my clients if this is the problem.

External USB Hard drive

I bring my pocket 1TB external hard drive for backup. (model no. WDBACZ0010BBK-NESN). Usually your client won’t have another drive to back up his files. I like this HP drive because it is Mac/PC compatible and it supports USB 3.

USB Key

I bring my 4gb USB key that includes all the free software Mac offers. I always install all of them on my client’s computer. I know this is personal but up until now, my clients love it! This usb key includes:

Suction Cups

The iMac is the most difficult machine in the world to change its hard drive. Why? Because you have to remove the huge front glass. The only way of doing it is with suction cups. I only bring those if my clients have a problem with an iMac. http://www.ifixit.com/Tools/Heavy-duty-Suction-Cups-Pair/IF145-023

Magnifying glass

I usually use this on Macbook’s problems. When you have to change the trackpad, keyboard, motherboard etc. http://www.ifixit.com/Tools/Helping-Hands/IF145-082

Kensington Contour Pro 17″ Nylon Laptop Case

I can easily fit all of those things in this bag. I also always bring my 15” Macbook pro in it. http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/kensington-contour-pro-17-nylon-laptop-case/10040886.aspx?path=28ee4468307abdf19cb8fdcfbaa5cd56en02


These are my main tools that usually cover everything I need. Whats in your Mac technician bag?

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  • gunslinger says:
    11/28/2011 at 15:04

    Very nice. I have all of that but the flash drive with OS X on it. I never really thought about it but I’ll be making one tonight.

  • coolnezz says:
    11/28/2011 at 17:10

    How can you boot through USB flash drive with PowerPC MACs?
    I’ve tried it before and it doesn’t work.

    • NETWizz says:
      11/28/2011 at 21:17

      If not, you could do a firewire boot by holding F… not that I have seen a fireWire memory stick…

      • Tom says:
        12/01/2011 at 00:40

        There are no firewire memory sticks. He’ll have to use a firewire external HD. Luckily though, PPC Macs are pretty much fully phased out now

        • Jon S says:
          12/10/2011 at 03:39

          The irony of this is most PPCs are at this point what need to be serviced and what aren’t covered under Apple’s standard warranty or their AppleCare 3-year plans.

  • NETWizz says:
    11/28/2011 at 18:36

    Other than the suction cups, everything is the same with a PC.

  • kaigei says:
    11/28/2011 at 23:11

    One tool that I find that important in my toolbox is may cell phone camera.

    1. Use it to document before and after cleanings. Customer’s love seeing how dirty their system was before you cleaned it. Useful when showing them the cause of a system that is over heating.

    2. Create your own service info on unfamiliar equipment. Take pictures as you disassemble so you know how to reassemble it.

    3. Take picture of errors on the screen, keeps you from having to write down the error message and hoping you wrote it down right. Useful in tight areas were you don’t have a lot of room to setup your laptop or get paper out.

    4. Use the live video to call up another tech and show them a problem and get some help. Very useful when troubleshooting network issues and you need to show the other tech something bizarre that a network switch is doing. (So he doesn’t think your smoking something when you try and describe what’s going on).

    And many other uses to document and help troubleshoot problems.

    • Marco Rodi says:
      11/29/2011 at 09:58

      Hello Kaigei,

      Wow, I took that one for granted! I always use my iPhone on site but I forgot to add it in this list! Thanks! :-)

  • IAMPC says:
    11/29/2011 at 00:19

    Your forgot the heat gun and double sided tapes… ;)

  • Peter says:
    11/29/2011 at 07:00

    Hi,
    Good article.
    Surely you need a a serial no when installing snow leopard CD on a customers computer?

    peter

    • WiseGuys PC says:
      11/29/2011 at 08:23

      Peter,

      From what I understand none of Apples core products (OS) do not require a serial number. I have formatted and installed Apples OS’s multiple times and have never been asked for a serial or key.

      • Mark Verhyden says:
        11/30/2011 at 19:57

        That is correct for all of the client OS’s. But all of the server OS X versions prior to Lion Server require a product key.

  • You are neglecting PPC macs. says:
    11/29/2011 at 09:34

    You are forgetting about PPC’s. There is still a lot of PPC’s out there that people are happy with. So you have to approach them slightly different than an intel Mac.

    You cannot use a snow leopard disk to boot a mac ppc. These are intel builds. So you better carry a leopard or Tiger disk as well for the ppc. I have a separate bootable image that I use to boot a ppc or intel mac on separate external drives so I have 2. Then I have pre-built base images already created ready to install on any mac. Which I also use to back up data. You have to be careful when using these apple disks.

    Unless you have generic apple install disks, you cannot just take any restore disk and use it on another apple. They are machine specific.Apple has done this intentionally to reduce piracy. Which is why I build my own images. Then you dont have to worry if this cd disk is going to work or not.

    So Marco, of you are relying on only a snow snow leopard or Lion bootable disk or usb drive, then you obviously dont support ppc anymore. I am just want to remind you that there is still a lot of happy ppc users.

    Scott
    Hopkins District Repair
    Scotties Computer Repair Services

    • Marco Rodi says:
      11/29/2011 at 09:57

      Hello Scott,

      Excellent point! :)

      Unfortunately, my repair company ONLY deal with Intel processors. So we never had to repair a PowerPc Mac in our whole life. (I repaired alot of them when I was working at Apple Store but not anymore). It happened a few times where the client had a PPC but he wanted to switch to a brand new Mac computer! :)

      I personaly don’t like PPC. There are not compatible enough with all the new sotfwares and online technology available for most of us.

      I know that we may lose clients thinking that way, but we focus on our niche: Intel Processors.

      But thanks for bringing that up! :P

      Have a nice day Scott!

      Marco

  • PPC macs again says:
    11/29/2011 at 10:12

    Marco,
    This is exactly why I brought this up. PPCs are still widely used and they still have to be supported. I could tell you had limited experience with them, but I wanted to point out to others that are reading this post, that if you plan to do a lot of your own tech support on Macs that you better be prepared to work on both. I still work on more PPCs than intel, but for my district, I do primarly support the intels. The only reason that I could see that you dont like the PPC is because you dont have as much experience with them, but I have a lot of clients that still love their ppcs, and I still refurbish a lot of them for resale.

    Scott

  • Tony Pirog says:
    11/29/2011 at 10:49

    All you have to do is remove one screw to pop off the back and three screws to pull out the hard drive. Piece of cake. Unless this is a different iMac.

  • Sal13 says:
    11/29/2011 at 12:33

    Great tips! I use a a firewire/usb enclosure, (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817347028), with a hard drive partitioned, with Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard and Lion. If you format it Master Boot Record, you will still be able to boot a PPC Mac from Firewire with the Tiger partition. And definitely need to have Carbon Copy Cloner to copy data and clone installations. Its the best imaging and back up tool for Macs, http://www.bombich.com/

    -Sal

  • Altrenda says:
    11/29/2011 at 14:30

    Any thoughts on TechTools or Disk Warrior? Tech tools does a decent job of hardware testing.

  • Sal13 says:
    11/29/2011 at 19:28

    Disk Warrior is excellent. It has helped to recover data on many systems I’ve worked on. When the dreaded “circle with slash” shows at boot. Disk Warrior often can see the disk and create a temporary preview of the drive. You can copy the files directly. Or you can clone or image the preview drive to another disk. Then replace the bad drive with the clone and just boot as normal. Install it to your external boot drive.
    -Sal

  • Tony says:
    11/30/2011 at 05:35

    Also depending on the machine, the later model machines require special screwdrivers to remove the battery. Some require the Tri-Lobe screwdrivers. Some require a 5 point torx plus T6 driver.

    http://www.micro-tools.com/store/item_detail.aspx?ItemCode=T6-5

    The later model macbook air models also require a special screwdriver to remove the bottom panel as well.

    http://www.powerbookmedic.com/MacBook-Air-5-Point-Pentalobe-Screwdriver-p-20471.html

  • paul says:
    11/30/2011 at 15:30

    http://www.amazon.com/30-Electronics-Screwdriver-Set-JLY-6036/dp/B005MUS6YK

    ^^ for 4 dollars, it has every torx/y bit you’ll need for a mac.

    Also, gps windshield mount suction cups work for pulling imac screens, if you have one laying around.

    • Tony says:
      12/02/2011 at 14:25

      The one to remove the battery and macbook air is not a standard torx.

      • Paul Olson says:
        12/02/2011 at 17:33

        whatever it is, that set has it.. I’ve done screens, mobos, hard drives, keyboards, trackpads, magsafe, you name it on pro, air, powerbook, etc. If you want to pay 60 bucks for “mac approved tools” be my guest ;)

        • Tony says:
          12/08/2011 at 10:14

          The set looks like it contains all the standard Torx drivers. But as I mentioned before, some of the newer machines require specific tools that are not in that set to take them apart.

  • Computer Repair & Sales says:
    11/30/2011 at 19:39

    Very helpful article as we are looking to venture into the Mac side of things at http://www.1010computers.com

  • Chuck Romano says:
    11/30/2011 at 23:08

    Glad to see more info about Macs and Mac repair! The suction cups made me laugh! But hey, got to do what you got to do.

    I really see Apple Mac taking over the computer market over the next few years. I’m seeing more and more average users ask about and purchase Macbooks. Plus, the popularity of iPads and iPhones contribute to this also. People like the Apple ecosystem. Besides the current compatibility hold that MS has, I just don’t see much innovation out of Redmond that’s exciting anyone. People are seeing that you can do quite a bit with a Mac, and life can be good without blue screens. The extra cost is justified.

    • Don Baughman says:
      12/07/2011 at 20:42

      I love this thread !!! I have to admit I get asked constantly if I repair Macs , I have done some Mac repairs 98% of my work is windows machines.
      I am definitely looking forward to getting that percentage more balanced out .

      I do not by any means wish to turn this much needed MAC tech talk into the Apple\is better than Windows talk ( that is a 25 year old tired argument)

      I do have to disagree slightly on no innovation coming out of Redmond though, I believe the O/S software and Office 2010; Kinect, Microsoft Robotics Studio; Windows 7 phone, Bing search engine, are some of the best stuff yet from those ” supposed non-creative boys” in Redmond.

      Win8 is innovative and will be something Apple O/S developers will have to chase and keep up with, its designed for cross device seamless kernel operations so far the testing is proving very stable
      phone- tablet- desktop- server …

      Lots of satisfaction with Windows 7 from my clients business and home users who are also Mac loyal users from the past . Win 7 is stable compared to early Windows O/S and very very easy to use for media file sound or graphics. Lets face it Macs do go belly up or this thread would not have been started right?

      Anyway I have seen a large trend of people wanting use ipads\mac books via thin client type VPN \Citrix situation on Windows networks its going to be really cool to support them all :)

      I have no problem pointing my clients to small MAC repair shops although I can’t help to say I want jump in and roll the sleeves up and take on more MAC work too.

      Cheers!
      Don B

  • Pablo says:
    12/10/2011 at 18:47

    Which one of Snow Leopard CD will work the $50 one or the $30 one will just do.

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