During my years in IT, my time at TechRepublic, and even my personal life, I’ve built, disassembled, and cracked open more computers than I can remember. Whether you’re removing a stubborn screw from an insufferable Packard-Bell case or troubleshooting a PC that won’t boot, using the right tool will make the job go much faster and produce a more professional result. To ensure you always have a suitable tool or necessary spare part at your fingertips, here are some of the items that our members, writers, and editors think should be in every IT toolkit.
Hardware:
- Multibit screwdriver with nut drivers
- Needle nose pliers/cutters (straight and curved)
- Hemostats
- Crimping tool
- Parts claw/retriever
- Small flashlight
- Small mirror on a telescoping handle
- Anti-static wrist strap or band
- External hard drive
- Encrypted USB flash drive
- Multimeter
- Cable tester
- Phone and AC line testers
- Multi-plug power adapter
- Serial to USB adapter
- USB hub
- Pen and paper
- Portable labeler
Software:
- Original disc media for various versions of the software you support (Windows, Microsoft Office, etc.)
- Bootable environments with diagnostic and recovery tools (Windows Sysinternals, BartPE, UBCD4Win, EBCD, WinPE)
- Latest versions of ubiquitous programs (Acrobat Reader, VPN and communication software, various Web browsers, etc.)
- Password recovery tools (Magical Jelly Bean’s Keyfinder, ViewKeyXP, etc.)
- Computer information gathering tools (Belarc Advisor, SIW, etc.)
- Drivers for commonly supported hardware (NICs, video cards, printers, etc.)
- Antivirus and Spyware software
- Remote support utilities (CrossLoop, TightVNC, etc.)
Spare parts:
- Keyboards
- Mice
- Assorted case screws and motherboard jumpers
- NICs
- Hard drives
- RAM
- Power Supplies
- Drives (3.5″ floppy or CD/DVD ROM)
- Surge protectors
- Miscellaneous cables (including patch and crossover cables)
You can get more advice on building an IT toolkit that would make James Bond envious from the following TechRepublic resources:
- What do you carry in your toolkit?
- Software for every support pro’s toolkit
- Create your own ultimate support tech toolkit with help from our members
- Be prepared: A guide to the spare parts every tech should keep on hand
- 10+ tools you should have in your support tech repair kit
- Assemble the perfect system administrator’s toolkit
- The perfect system administrator’s toolkit: The Right Tools for the Job?
- What’s in your desktop support toolbox?
