DIY Computer Repair

This guide will help you get a good understanding of what you need to perform Do It Yourself computer repair. Whether you're going to be working in the field or in your home, this tools and tips will help make sure you have everything you need to get the job done right the first time. PC repair can get costly if you do not have the tools you need for the job. Keeping time and costs down will help you develope a professional relationship with your customers.

Computer Tools

Having the right tools for the job is essential. A great computer repair kit should be portable and contain the basic tools as well as those for cutting, stripping and crimping network cabling. You will lose tools in the field, so make sure you have a good set for the home or office and a basic set for offsite computer jobs.

A basic toolkit should consist of the following:

A set of precision screwdrivers
A ratchet screwdriver with exchangable tips
A set of nutdrivers
A soldering iron and desoldering pump.
Wire strippers
Long nose pliers
Wire cutters
Electrical tape
Telescoping tweezers
Razor knife
Spare parts holder
Antistatic wristband
Flashlight


Advanced toolkit should consist of the following:

Everything from the basic toolkit
Multimeter
LAN and cable tester
Punch down tool for network cables
Line tracer / tone probe
Hard case with foam liner
portable vacuum

Power Supply Tester

A power supply tester will help give you immediate results on whether a power supply is good or bad. This can quickly help indicate if the problem is with the PSU or the motherboard. While these tiny testers do not eliminate the need for a multimeter, they are easy to use and inexpensive.

How to Use a Power Supply Tester

A power supply tester will have a switch on one end and socket on the opposite end. The socket will accept the 20-pin male end of the power supply connector that would normally be plugged into the motherboard.

power supply testerAfter you make this connection, plug the power cable into the wall and into the back of the power supply as you normally would.

Next, switch on the tester. If the power supply is good, the LED light built into the tester should glow green and the PSU fan should kick on.

If this doesn't happen, the power supply is probably bad. You can double-check these results by using a multimeter.

PCI Diagnostic Card

A PCI Diagnostic card gives you the ability to troubleshoot a motherboard at the board level. This card goes beyond the ability of a simple BIOS beep code. It allows users to troubleshoot a motherboard that will not POST or a PC that is malfunctioning but will not produce a beep code.

How to Use a PCI Diagnostic Card

These cards are just like any PCI card and they will plug into any open PCI expansion slot on the motherboard. The card will have an LED display mounted either on the side or the top.

pci diagnostic cardUnplug the computer, touch a metal area of the case and then unplug the power cable. This will ground you. You can also use an antistatic wristband. Insert the card and screw it down so it doesn't move.

Depending on the type of card you have, the display might be difficult to read, so be sure to position the card in a slot where the display can be easily seen.



When you boot up the machine with this card installed, it will produce a code or a series of codes on the LED screen. You will then refer to the documentation provided with the card, or consult the manufacturer of the board for their error codes. The codes should pinpoint the problem with the board.

While PCI cards are a great addition to your DIY computer repair kit, they are often used when common sense and logical deduction fail.


Do It Yourself Computer Maintenance

Computer maintenance is key for the long term survival of a PC. There are two main types of computer maintenance. The first, which is probably the most important, is the backing up, virus scanning, registry cleaning and defragging of a hard drive. The second is the physical maintenance of a computer.

Tips on Keeping a Computer Clean

compressed airCompressed Air
The most commonly used tool for keeping a PC clean is compressed air. If used regularly, it will help keep fans and air passages free of hair and dust that can cause your PC to overheat and fail. Shake well and point the nozzel at an angle toward the area you are cleaning. Make sure the debris blows out and away from the PC.



DIY computer cleaningCotton Swabs
Cotton swabs are great for cleaning hard to reach areas of a a keyboard,monitor or case. If possible, look for the long-handled swabs and only uses alcohol free liquids to clean sensitive areas of your computer. You can often find these cleaners at a computer or electronics store.



DIY PC maintenanceComputer Vacuum
While you may be tempted to use a vacuum inside of your computer, it is not recommended. You can use tiny portable vacuums around and near the computer to get rid of heavy dust, hair and other debris that are slowly making their way toward the intakes of your computer case. You can also a vacuum to cleanup after blowing the computer out with compressed air.

You can buy cleaning packs at your local PC shop that also include LCD monitor wipes and soft cloth for cleaning mice, keyboards and other hard surfaces of your computer.