Inventory of tools worth carrying for computer support

Floppy disks

CDs

Computer hardware

Hand tools

Electronic tools

Paperwork

Miscellaneous tools

Wants

Introduction

This inventory is tools worth having on you if you travel around doing computer support. You'd want a more extensive kit in your workshop

Floppy disks

Partition Magic
Nothing else is as easily usable for dynamically changing the size of existing partitions.

F-Prot anti-virus automatic disinfect boot disk set

Memtest86
Tests physical memory.

miscellaneous utilities - Spinrite; Ranish Partition Manager; Partition Resizer; FIPS; FreeDOS FDISK

The Windows Environment and Application Konfigurator

Roaming Computing System Organisational Administrative Disk
One for each organisation. Includes organisation-specific WINNT.SIF for unattended Windows installations; ICONS-TO-EXCLUDE.TXT for The Windows Environment and Application Konfigurator; Samba server scripts.

FloppyFW
Firewall and NAT router software.

tomsrtbt
Haven't learned how to use it yet but expect when I do it will be invaluable.

Windows 2000 installation set
Not often used but useful when a computer won't boot from its CD-ROM drive

hard disk diagnostics

Seagate Seatools Disk Diagnostic

Seagate UATA100

Maxtor Powermax

Maxtor Maxblast

IBM Disk Manager

Seagate DiscWizard Starter Edition

Fujitsu ATA Diagnostic; Fujitsu UDMA mode switches

Fujitsu Disk Go!

These were once useful but not something we barely ever need now: 'Windows95 CD-ROM Setup Boot Disk', 'Windows98 CD-ROM Setup Boot Disk', 'Windows95 Startup Disk (i.e. FAT16)' and 'Windows98 Startup Disk (i.e. FAT32)'

CDs

Windows Toolbox

Device Drivers Toolbox

Windows 2000 installation disc

Windows XP installation disc

Microsoft updates compilation
Even if you don't advise it, you still come across the software everywhere and it can be useful to have the means of fixing it. We carry multiple versions of Internet Explorer; updates and Service Packs for many versions of Office; Windows Scripting Host; JET Service Packs

collection of Windows CAB files for all versions of Windows 95, 98 and Millenium
There were 7 different versions of Windows 95 and 2 of Windows 98, if you change anything in those operating systems it may require access to its installation CAB files and if you give it ones from any different version than its exact version it may break Windows.

Ultimate Boot CD
Various tools on one bootable CD, replaces most of the floppy disks we carry.

FreeDOS distribution
bootable disc providing command-line with ATA and SCSI CD-ROM drivers.

Memtest86
Tests physical memory. If you can boot from the CD drive its quicker than the floppy disk drive.

Windows 2000 Professional Resource Kit
Bought by clients for working on their systems.

F-Prot anti-virus (full version)
Licenced to the various organisations we work for.

Debian GNU/Linux
The current stable distribution.

KNOPPIX

Computer hardware

ATA 66 hard disk ribbon cable

two short lengths of twisted pair (10BASE-T, CAT5) network cable with a gender changer

short length of BNC network cable

Jumper blocks in different sizes

expansion slot blanking plates

analog audio cable to go between CD-ROM and sound card

9 to 26 way serial converter

AT to PS/2 keyboard converter

9 pin serial to PS/2 mouse converter

plastic sliders for fitting drives into some cases

RAM modules of various types

various screws for cases and devices

internal power splitter

null modem adaptor

CR2032 batteries
For motherboards and other devices.

US male to UK female telephone connector converter

US male to US male telephone cable

Hand tools

crosshead/Phillips #2 screwdriver
With magnetised end for picking screws out the bottom of poorly designed computer cases. Have to be careful to keep that magnetised end away from CRC monitors and floppy disks though.

flat head screwdriver

Open-ended spanner/screwdriver-like tool for turning motherboard posts

tiny adjustable spanner

toothbrush

akasa TIM-clean
for cleaning heat transfer compound from CPUs

lint free cloth
For cleaning CDs, CRC monitors, CPUs etcetera.

pen

bent paper clip
For sticking into the hole on the front of CD and DVD drives to get the disc to eject when the doors broken. Its also a fairly versatile tool for unexpected uses.

Electronic tools

multimeter

Paperwork

Price lists and reseller contact details
For PC hardware, printers, printer cartridges

diagrams of networks we administer

table of IBM Extended Character Codes
This ones from Computer Shopper back in the late 80's.

PC hardware technical specification form
see http://thegoldenear.org/toolbox/windows/docs-index.html

Systems software technical specification form
see http://thegoldenear.org/toolbox/windows/docs-index.html

Miscellaneous tools

WD-40
A tiny can of.

isopropylalcohol
For cleaning CRC monitor glass, round and round in ever increasintg circles with the lint free cloth.

general purpose oil
For oiling inkjet printers, the manufacturers don't tell you so but there's a bar that needs oiling quite often. And there are always doors in places you go that squeek.

masking tape
A multi-purpose tool; for writing names of devices and instructions on and pasting to them.

Wants

a machine that prints text onto sticky backed plastic
A more formal looking version of the masking tape.