1.6 Laboratory Safety and Tools
1.6.4 Tools of the trade

Most computer repair and maintenance tools used in the computer workplace are small hand tools. They are included as part of PC toolkits that can be purchased at computer stores. Also, if a technician is working on laptops, then a small torx screwdriver is necessary. It does not come in all PC toolkits.

Organizational Aids
The following are workspace organizational aids:

  • A parts organizer to keep track of small parts such as screws and connectors.
  • Adhesive or masking tape to make labels that identify parts.
  • A small notebook to keep track of assembly and/or troubleshooting steps.
  • A place for quick references and detailed troubleshooting guides.
  • A clipboard for paperwork.

Diagnostic software for system repair and maintenance
Sometimes computer systems that need repair are completely inoperable. Such systems may require troubleshooting and diagnosis with instruments. However, most systems brought into the workspace for repairs are at least partially operable. When computer systems are partially operable, diagnostic software is used to conduct general system testing. Testing software is usually available on floppy disk. The three types of disk software that should be kept in the workspace include an operating system boot disk, a virus scanning and repair disk, and a diagnostic software disk.

The following are some of the commonly used software tools in PC computing:

  • Partition Magic – Advanced drive partitioning software
  • CheckIt – Fault isolation software 
  • Spinrite – Hard drive scanning tool
  • AmiDiag – Hardware fault isolation software
  • DiskSuite – Hard drive defrag software
  • SecureCRT – Feature filled terminal software
  • VNC – Remote access software 
  • Norton Antivirus – One of the industry leading virus protection software

Information on each of these software tools can be readily downloaded from the respective manufacturer sites. It is always useful to find out what a particular software tool can do before purchasing it, to ensure it meets the requirements of the job.