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Networking

23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

By Jessica Learish March 23, 2017, 2:24 PM PDT

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23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Mini screwdriver set

Global Industrial

Mini screwdriver set

Twenty-first century computer screws are extremely tiny. This mini screwdriver set will give you access to the guts of most modern computers.

Global Industrial, $7.40

Global Industrial
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Multitool

Newegg

Multitool

Scissors, screwdrivers, pliers and more are all within reach with this super-useful gadget.

Newegg, $81

Newegg
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Mini flashlight

BH Photo Video

Mini flashlight

The inside of a tower computer is a dark (and occasionally dusty) place.

BH Photo Video, $10.97

BH Photo Video
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Headlamp

Newegg

Headlamp

Don’t be left in the dark whenever you need both hands to make a repair.

Newegg, $3.79

Newegg
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Telescoping inspection mirror

Amazon

Telescoping inspection mirror

This mirror allows you to a peek around cables and corners without disassembling the entire machine.

Amazon, $7.97

Amazon
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Parts claw

Amazon.com

Parts claw

When your fingers are too big or clumsy to fit into the tiny spaces inside of a computer, a parts claw can be very helpful.

Amazon, $7.99

Amazon.com
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Hemostats

Widget Supply

Hemostats

These clamps aren’t just for human arteries. You can also use them to fix electronics.

Widget Supply, $8.97

Widget Supply
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Digital multimeter

Newegg

Digital multimeter

Measure amps, volts and ohms to make sure everything is receiving the power it needs.

Newegg, $13.99

Newegg
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Power strip

Newegg

Power strip

You might as well make sure the computer is actually receiving power before taking the whole thing apart.

Newegg, $8.99

Newegg
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Anti-Static wrist strap

Newegg

Anti-Static wrist strap

This simple tool is extremely important. It will prevent static electricity from discharging from your body onto sensitive electronic equipment.

Newegg, $10.64

Newegg
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Set of common adapters

Newegg

Set of common adapters

Make sure you have a set of common adapters such as a USB to serial adapter used for configuring networking equipment or a USB to USB-C adapter.

Newegg, $11.08

Newegg
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Spare keyboard

Newegg

Spare keyboard

If the computer you’re fixing has a nonfunctional keyboard, having a spare will save you a lot of time.

Newegg, $7.56

Newegg
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Extra RAM

Newegg

Extra RAM

RAM goes bad. You should always have some spares up your sleeve (or in your bag, if you prefer).

Newegg, $128.88

Newegg
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

External hard drive

Newegg

External hard drive

Use an external hard drive to create a mirror disk image or as a boot drive for a machine with a broken hard drive.

Newegg, $15.99

Newegg
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Loads of spare cables

Jessica Learish

Loads of spare cables

So much of the time, problems with computers are caused by broken, shorted and otherwise fried cables. Have spares of USB, data cables, HDMI and anything else you have lying around.

Jessica Learish
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Cable tester

Newegg

Cable tester

You can also test cables to make sure there are no lingering problems with your client’s ports with this cable tester.

Newegg, $15.99

Newegg
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Portable labeler

Newegg

Portable labeler

Once everything is cabled, make sure it’s labeled.

Newegg, $57.99

Newegg
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Cable ties

Newegg

Cable ties

Cable ties make a client’s workspace tidy and prevent important cables from being knocked loose.

Newegg, $20.40

Newegg
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Encrypted USB stick

Newegg

Encrypted USB stick

You’ll want to load the USB drive with recovery tools, disk images and…

Newegg, $49.99

Newegg
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Applicable software

Screenshot

Applicable software

Sometimes you need to start a client fresh and re-install their OS or application of choice. Make sure you have a copy on your USB drive.

Screenshot
do-pen-and-paper.jpg
do-pen-and-paper.jpg
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Paper and something to write with

Shutterstock / Kwangmoozaa

Paper and something to write with

Because no computer saves data more reliably than good old fashioned paper.

Shutterstock / Kwangmoozaa
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

A bag to carry it all in

Newegg

A bag to carry it all in

Pack your whole surgical kit into a portable pouch so you can access your tools easily.

Newegg, $79.38

Newegg
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

There are things that are a waste of your money

Newegg

There are things that are a waste of your money

And a CD drive is one of them. Between the external hard drive and your encrypted USB stick, you can transfer data to a client’s machine more efficiently than you could with a CD drive.

Newegg
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Crimper

Amazon.com

Crimper

If you have spare network cables, you don’t need a crimper, unless you’re wiring a building.

Amazon.com
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Motherboard jumpers

Newegg

Motherboard jumpers

Jumpers are a bit obsolete at this point. If you need to replace them, you’ll probably just be RMA’ing the whole board.

Newegg
23 things IT techs need in their toolkits (and 4 things they don’t)

Punchdown tool

Newegg

Punchdown tool

Unless you’re doing super-specialized telecommunications IT work, you’re not going to need a punchdown tool, not to mention they can be a little bit pricey.

Newegg
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