New Technician tools

[oespinoz]

Hi,
I am planing to start going out to look for business. my question is. What tools, hardware, software or hand tools, carry bags, etc, etc do you recomend or do you carry when going onsite. I need to have an idea of waht to carry with me and not be cough with my pants down.

Please be very specific with your answer.

Thank you guys.

 

[dhrandy]

http://www.technibble.com/my-onsite-technician-gear/

 

[dhrandy]

Now for what I carry.

-320GB external hard drive
-Small screw driver set
-USB to 3.5/2.5 PATA/SATA cable
-USB DVD burner
-SATA Cables
-VGA Cable
-Ethernet Cable
-Wireless Router
-Wireless Access Point
-Laptop
-Flashlight
-Digital Multimeter
-Power Strip
-DVDs
-CDs
-DVD movies - for testing
-USB drive with tools
-OS disk
-UBCD4Win/BartPE
-VistaPE
-Ubuntu boot cd
-IDE Cables
-Desktop power cable
-PS2 to USB adapters
-An open hard drive - for explaining what can go wrong
-thunbdrive

I think that's all.

 

[oespinoz]

Now for what I carry.

-320GB external hard drive
-Small screw driver set
-USB to 3.5/2.5 PATA/SATA cable
-USB DVD burner
-SATA Cables
-VGA Cable
-Ethernet Cable
-Wireless Router
-Wireless Access Point
-Laptop
-Flashlight
-Digital Multimeter
-Power Strip
-DVDs
-CDs
-DVD movies - for testing
-USB drive with tools
-OS disk
-BartPE
-VistaPE
-Ubuntu boot cd
-IDE Cables
-Desktop power cable
-PS2 to USB adapters
-An open hard drive - for explaining what can go wrong

I think that's all.

You really answer my question with all that information...... I see you are ready to rock & roll.
Another question. In what situation do you use -BartPE or
-VistaPE . I really don't have experience with it. Where do I get them from?

thanks for your quick reply.

 

[abe]

taken from http://www.techimo.com/forum/general-tech-discussion/194680-ultimate-pc-technician-s-toolkit.html


As a PC Tech, I find I need 47 billion different tools for my job. For the folks who care, here is a list I have compiled of the tools that would make up my dream kit. Anyone else have suggestions? Things I missed? Something really cool from your kit? Lets hear some shoutbacks, and come up with THE definitive list. Don't be afraid to be wacky or out-of-this-world.

Ultimate PC Technician’s Toolkit

NOTES:
•This does not include replacement parts because I do not count those as tools, and parts specifications change too frequently for me to personally warrant carrying “inventory”.
•Yeah, I know I could buy the hand tools a-la-cart, but I’m too lazy.

Carry Cases, etc.
•32 Disc Case for discs
•Quick Release for pen drive on keychain
•Carry Case(s) for everything. (A combo case that holds everything, including the laptop is sweet!)
◦http://www.justtoolkits.com/casessoft.html
◦http://www.plattcases.com/
◦http://www.mbelectronics.com/view.aspx?id=388
◦http://www.lanshack.com/acblanasp/st...arts-C104.aspx

Accessories
•(1) Compressed Air
•Data Cables: (2) 80/IDE Cables | (2) SATA Cables | (1) Floppy Cable
•Power Cables: (1) Standard Power Cable | (1) Molex Y-Splitter | (1) Molex-SATA Converter
•Small Bag RJ-45 ends and Phone Ends
•(4) ea. RJ-45 and RJ-11 Keystones
•(4) Wall Plates | (4) Wall Mount Boxes w/Keystone
•(3) 10’ Pre-Made network cables
•Anti-Static Bags
•Heatsink Compound - http://www.arcticsilver.com/ceramique.htm
•(1) Superglue
•(1) Partitioned screw case w/ coarse/fine screws, MB headers, plastic nubs, etc.
•(1) DVI-VGA Adapter
•(1) ATX12V Power Supply Tester - http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=77203
•Plastic Pry Tools - http://www.apscell.com/prytoolb.html
•(1) Sharpie Marker
•(1) Brother PT-65 Label Maker
•(1)300w In-Car Power Inverter
•Zip Ties

Hand Tools
•(1) FT812 Toolkit (just Google FT812)
•(1) Torx Driver Set w/T9 - http://www.goldmine-elec-products.co...?number=G15628
•(1) Power Screwdriver with Magnetic Phillips and Slotted heads
•(1) Small Flashlight - http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=52
•(1) Ethernet Cable Tester - http://www.cablestogo.com/product.as...1409&sku=13138
•(1) Network/Phone Crimper - http://www.cablestogo.com/product.as...1403&sku=04622
•(1) Gerber Multi-Tool - http://www.gerbergear.com/product.php?model=7530
•(1) Solder Sucker - http://www.cablestogo.com/product.as...1413&sku=27444
•(1) Cheap Digital multi-meter to test DC Voltage and Continuity - http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

Hardware Tools
•(1) laptop with DVDRW/USB/802.11/Serial/Parallel/Ethernet
•(1) USB to IDE Adapter - http://www.cablesunlimited.com/produ...roupcode=I3523
•(1) 2.5” to 3.5” IDE Adapter- http://www.cablesunlimited.com/produ...roupcode=I0644
•(1) USB Ethernet Adapter
•(1) USB External Hard Drive, if you want.
•(1) USB MicroMouse

Software Tools
•Diagnostic Pen Drive
◦2GB or larger USB Pen Drive
◦http://www.dailycupoftech.com/usb-drive-systems/3/ - Incredible tools!

◦Malware Tools
■ComboFix
■HijackThis 2.0
■SpyBot 1.5
■RustockB Fix
■SmitFraud Fix
■SpyAxe Remover


◦Generic Tools
■All Windows Service Packs - 2K-SP4,XP-SP3,2K-3SP2,Vista-SP1,98-ServicePack
■BootVis (eh, why not?)
■WCPUID
■Norton Ghost for DOS and Windows
■Partition Magic
■NetStumbler - http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/


◦Software Packages
■WinRar 3.80
■Internet Explorer 6 and 7
■PrimoPDF and FoxitPDF Reader
■OpenOffice
■Cabs for 9x OSes


◦Diagnostic Tools
■Dial-A-Fix - http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix
■IEFix - http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFIX.htm
■Win Debug Tools
■Symbols: SRV*c:\websymbols*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols
■Windows Support Tools
■Windows Resource Kit Tools
■Msicuu2.exe
■Mail PassView - http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/mailpv.html
■A litany of small .REG and .BAT tools to fix specific issues
■Any Alternate Data Streams tool
■LSPFix - http://cexx.org/lspfix.htm
■WinsockFix (VB WinsockFix by Option^Explicit Software Solutions)
■XP TCP Repair Tool (http://www.xp-smoker.com/)
■Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder - http://www.magicaljellybean.com/
■RNAV 2003
◦Other Stuph
■Drivers, Windows Updates that take too long to download, anything you feel is indispensable
•CDs and other Disks
◦Diagnostic Boot CD
■Contains most essential of the Pen Drive items above (Cabs, Tools, Ghost)
■Is El-Torrito bootable to DOS
◦Windows Installation Disks
■Win2k Pro/Server Disks, Win2k3 Server Disks, WinXP Home/Pro OEM, Retail, Upgrade, Corp Disks, Vista All-In-One DVD
◦Ultimate Boot CD - http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
◦Ophcrack LiveCD - http://sourceforge.net/projects/ophcrack
◦Offline NT Password & Registry Editor - http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/
◦Bart PEBuilder CD - http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/
◦Ubuntu LiveCD - http://www.ubuntu.com/

http://www.inanis.net/be/post/Ultima...s-Toolkit.aspx

 

[atlanticjim]

taken from http://www.techimo.com/forum/general-tech-discussion/194680-ultimate-pc-technician-s-toolkit.html



Carry Cases, etc.
•32 Disc Case for discs
•Quick Release for pen drive on keychain
•Carry Case(s) for everything. (A combo case that holds everything, including the laptop is sweet!)

Since I have started lasso-ing my car keys to the leash on the thumbdrive, I haven't once had to drive back to a client to retrieve it.

 

[MrUnknown]

Great list, abe. Thank you!

 

[reesk92]

my kit consists of

westerndigital mybook 500gb hard drive

multiple flash drives in 1,2,4,5and 8 gb sizes (the 5gb is a microdrive)

multiple blank media including cdr dvdr and dvdrw and cd rw
(i only use rw media that has the film wrappers on so i know that up untill they disks were used they were clean) theese are used for backups

screwdrivers (philps slotted security bits used in some oem cases and small ones for laptops)

cd wallet contains

hard drive contains
multiple installers and revo uninstaller
the multiav program
the second version of the computer reapir utiltity kit (pmme and ill sort you oput with a link to get it from a mirror)
the ubcd 4 win and ubcd standard
all of the update disks from the offline update program
loads of avs
a text file containign removal instructions for some of the most coomom sb viruses i often remove (if i know its there why scan especially since the usb viruses are easy to contain)
and lots more

 

[dhrandy]

http://www.ubcd4win.com - UBCD4Win information

I meant to say UBCD4Win that uses BartPE. It has a host of tools, but the one you'll probably use the most is the registry recovery.

Video Podcast: Recovering Windows from Common Errors that Prevent it From Booting

 

[reesk92]

my kit consists of

western digital my book 500gb hard drive

multiple flash drives in 1,2,4,5and 8 gb sizes (the 5gb is a micro drive)

multiple blank media including cdr DVD r and DVD rw and cd rw
(i only use rw media that has the film wrappers on so i know that up until they disks were used they were clean) these are used for backups

screwdrivers (Philips slotted security bits used in some OEM cases and small ones for laptops)

CD wallet contains

hard drive contains
multiple installers and revo uninstaller
the multiav program
the second version of the computer repair utility kit (pm me and ill sort you out with a link to get it from a mirror)
the ubcd 4 win and ubcd standard
all of the update disks from the off-line update program
loads of avs
a text file containing removal instructions for some of the most coomom sb viruses i often remove (if i know its there why scan especially since the usb viruses are easy to contain)
and lots more

 

[oespinoz]

Great Abe.
I want to thank you all for the massive quantity of information. This is just wonderfull.
Thank you guys.

 

[ks48]

Can anyone post more on what they use to carry their stuff? I'm just looking for a basic small cloth bag with a pouch or two on the side. The one in the picture posted earlier(the IKEA one in the "My Onsite Technician Gear") looks fine. Where could I buy that? Right now I'm using an old laptop bag but its too big and just doesn't work how I want it to.

Links would be appreciated

thanks

 

[tartis]

Can anyone post more on what they use to carry their stuff? I'm just looking for a basic small cloth bag with a pouch or two on the side. The one in the picture posted earlier(the IKEA one in the "My Onsite Technician Gear") looks fine. Where could I buy that? Right now I'm using an old laptop bag but its too big and just doesn't work how I want it to.

Links would be appreciated

thanks

I use an AWP bag from Lowes for my tools. They have several sizes, and the bigger the better.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=264103-1492-1B-103-12-2&lpage=none

 

[angry_geek]

http://www.galls.com/style.html?assort=general_catalog&style=BG239&cat=2652

 

[bagellad]

I also bring a label maker to print out network passwords etc. when I setup a router. Customers love it for some reason.

 

[frostbyte5014]

Since I have started lasso-ing my car keys to the leash on the thumbdrive, I haven't once had to drive back to a client to retrieve it.

I have a funny but expensive story to share about loosing my flash drive. I got ready to leave the house one morning and I couldn't find my keys. I tore the house up looking for hours and still couldn't find them. The only spare key I had for my Honda Accord was just a door lock key. At the end of the day I had to call a locksmith to come out and make me a new key and program it to work with my car. It was a lot cheaper than towing it to the dealership and letting them do it. About an hour and a half later I was needing my flash drive and couldn't find it either. I realized my flash drive was on my key ring, now I was really upset. I sat thinking about where I last used the flash drive and it finally hit me that I used it the night before on my computer. Sure enough there plugged into the back of my computer was my flash drive with keys hanging.

 

[Canadian Tech]

I also bring a label maker to print out network passwords etc. when I setup a router. Customers love it for some reason.

Great idea, never thought of doing that.

 

[reesk92]

hmm i just tend to pencil the password onto the bottom, does anyone thin that is disrespectful ,ive inly done it twice for family members.