PC Maintenance Tools

PC maintenance tools enable you to more accurately diagnose problems and make jobs
easier and faster. The basic tools that should be in every troubleshooter's toolbox are as
follows:
 Simple hand tools for basic disassembly and reassembly procedures, including
a flat blade and Phillips screwdrivers (both medium and small sizes),
tweezers, an IC extraction tool, and a parts grabber or hemostat.
 Diagnostics software and hardware for testing components in a system.
 A multimeter that provides accurate measurements of voltage and resistance, as
well as a continuity checker for testing cables and switches.
 Chemicals, such as contact cleaners; component freeze sprays; and
compressed air for cleaning the system.
 Foam swabs, or lint-free cotton swabs if foam isn't available.
 Small nylon wire ties for "dressing" or organizing wires.
Some environments also might have the resources to purchase the following devices,
although they're not required for most work:
 Memory-testing machines, used to evaluate the operation of single inline
memory modules (SIMMs), dual inline memory modules (DIMMs), Rambus
inline memory modules (RIMMs), or double data rate (DDR) DIMMs
 Serial and parallel loopback (or wrap) plugs to test serial and parallel ports
 A network cable scanner (if you work with networked PCs)
 A serial breakout box (if you use systems that operate over serial cables, such as
Unix dumb terminals)
 A POST card (if you work with computers running DOS or other non-Windows
operating system, you might prefer to get a POST card that can also display IRQs
and DMAs in use)

Hand Tools

Nut drivers are used to remove the hexagonal-headed screws that secure the system-unit
covers, adapter boards, disk drives, and power supplies in most systems. The nut drivers
work much better than conventional screwdrivers.
Manufacturers have substituted Phillips-head screws for the more standard hexagonal-
head screws, standard screwdrivers can be used for those systems. If slotted screws are
used, they should be removed and replaced with Torx (preferred), hex, or Phillips-head
screws that capture the driver tool and prevent it from slipping off the head of the screw.
It is especially important never to allow slotted screws to be used on or near a
motherboard because a flat-bladed screwdriver can very easily slip and damage the
board.

Chip-extraction and insertion tools are rarely needed these days because memory chips
are mounted on SIMMs, RIMMs, or DIMMs and processors use zero insertion force
(ZIF) sockets or other user-friendly connectors. The ZIF socket has a lever that, when
raised, releases the grip on the pins of the processor, enabling you to easily lift it out with
your fingers.
A chip extractor can be used to install or remove memory chips (or other smaller chips)
without bending any pins on the chip. Usually, you pry out larger chips, such as
microprocessors or ROMs, with the small screwdriver.

The tweezers and parts grabber can be used to hold any small screws or jumper blocks
that are difficult to hold in your hand. The parts grabber is especially useful when you
drop a small part into the interior of a system; usually, you can remove the part without
completely disassembling the system.
Finally, the Torx driver is a star-shaped driver that matches the special screws found in
most systems. Torx screws are vastly superior to other types of screws for computers
because they offer greater grip and the tool is much less likely to slip. The most common
cause of new motherboard failures is the use of slotted screwdrivers that slip off the
screw head, scratching (and damaging) the motherboard.
Tamperproof Torx drivers can remove Torx screws with the tamper-resistant pin in the
center of the screw. A tamperproof Torx driver has a hole drilled in it to allow clearance
for the pin. Torx drivers come in a number of sizes, the most common being the T-10 and
T-15.
Although this basic set is useful, you should supplement it with some other basic tools,
such as
 Electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection kit. This includes a wrist strap and
mat (such as those from Radio Shack or Jensen Tools) and prevents static
damage to the components on which you are working. These kits consist of a
wrist strap with a ground wire and a specially conductive mat with its own ground
wire.
 Needle-nose pliers and hemostats (curved and straight). These are great for
gripping small items and jumpers, straightening bent pins, and so on.
 Electric screwdriver. Combined with hex, Phillips, standard, and Torx bit sets,
this tool really speeds up repetitive disassembly/assembly.
 Flashlight. You should preferably use a high-tech LED unit such as those from
Lightwave, which enable you to see inside dark systems and are easy on batteries.
 Wire cutter or stripper. This is useful for making or repairing cables or wiring.
 Vise or clamp. This is used to install connectors on cables, crimp cables to the
shape you want, and hold parts during delicate operations. In addition to the vise,
Radio Shack sells a nifty "extra hands" device that has two movable arms with
 alligator clips on the end. This type of device is very useful for making cables or
for other delicate operations during which an extra set of hands to hold something
might be useful.
 Metal file. This is used to smooth rough metal edges on cases and chassis and to
trim the faceplates on disk drives for a perfect fit.
 Markers, pens, and notepads. Use these for taking notes, marking cables, and so
on.
 Windows 98 Startup Floppy. This has DOS 7.0 and real-mode CD-ROM/DVD
drivers, which can be used to boot test the system and possibly load other
software.
 Windows 2000/XP original (bootable) CD. This can be used to boot test the
system from a CD-ROM/DVD drive, attempt system recovery, OS installation, or
to run other software.
 Diagnostics software. This commercial, shareware, or freeware software can be
used for PC hardware verification and testing.
 Power on self test (POST) card such as the Post Probe from .This is used for
displaying POST diagnostics codes on systems with fatal errors.
 Nylon cable-ties. These are used to help in routing and securing cables; neatly
routed cables help to improve airflow in the system.
 Digital pocket multimeter (such as those from Radio Shack). This is used for
checking power supply voltages, connectors, and cables for continuity.
 Cleaning swabs, canned air (dust blower), and contact cleaner chemicals.
These are used for cleaning, lubricating, and enhancing contacts on circuit boards
and cable connections.
 Spare CR-2032 lithium coin cell batteries. These are used as the CMOS RAM
batteries in most systems, so it is a good idea to have a replacement or two on
hand.

Test Equipment
In some cases, you must use specialized devices to test a system board or component.
This test equipment is not expensive or difficult to use, but it can add much to your
troubleshooting abilities.

Electrical Testing Equipment

A voltmeter is required to gear for proper system testing.
A multimeter can serve many purposes, including checking for voltage signals at various
points in a system, testing the output of the power supply, and checking for continuity in
a circuit or cable.
An outlet tester is an invaluable accessory that can check the electrical outlet for proper
wiring. This capability is useful if you believe the problem lies outside the computer
system.
Loopback Connectors (Wrap Plugs)
For diagnosing serial- and parallel-port problems, you need loopback connectors (also
called wrap plugs), which are used to circulate, or wrap, signals. The plugs enable the
serial or parallel port to send data to itself for diagnostic purposes.
A breakout box. A breakout box is a DB25 connector device that enables you to make
custom temporary cables or even to monitor signals on a cable. For most PC
troubleshooting uses, a "mini" breakout box works well and is inexpensive.

Meters
A handheld Digital Multi-Meter (DMM). The meter can be an analog device (using an
actual meter) or a digital-readout device. The DMM has a pair of wires called test leads
or probes. The test leads make the connections so that you can take readings. Depending
on the meter's setting, the probes measure electrical resistance, direct-current (DC)
voltage, or alternating-current (AC) voltage.

Logic Probes and Logic Pulsers

A logic probe can be useful for diagnosing problems in digital circuits. A logic probe is
designed to display these signal conditions easily.
Logic probes are especially useful for troubleshooting a dead system. By using the probe,
you can determine whether the basic clock circuitry is operating and whether other
signals necessary for system operation are present. In some cases, a probe can help you
cross-check the signals at each pin on an integrated circuit chip. You can compare the
signals present at each pin with the signals a known-good chip of the same type would
show—a comparison that is helpful in isolating a failed component. Logic probes also
can be useful for troubleshooting some disk drive problems by enabling you to test the
signals present on the interface cable or drive-logic board.
A companion tool to the probe is the logic pulser. A pulser is designed to test circuit
reaction by delivering a logical high (+5V) pulse into a circuit, usually lasting from 1 1/2
to 10 millionths of a second. Compare the reaction with that of a known-functional
circuit. This type of device normally is used much less frequently than a logic probe, but
in some cases it can be helpful for testing a circuit.

Outlet Testers
These simple, inexpensive devices, sold in hardware stores, test electrical outlets. You
simply plug in the device, and three LEDs light up in various combinations, indicating
whether the outlet is wired correctly.

Memory Testers
The tester is a small device designed to evaluate SIMMs, DIMMs, RIMMs, and other
types of memory modules, including individual chips such as those used as cache
memory. These machines are the only truly accurate way to test memory.
Without one of these testers, you are reduced to testing memory by running a diagnostic
program on the PC and testing the memory as it is installed. This can be very problematic
because the memory diagnostic program can do only two things to the memory: write and
read. A SIMM/DIMM/RIMM tester can do many things a memory diagnostic running in
a PC can't do, such as
 Identify the type of memory
 Identify the memory speed
 Identify whether the memory has parity or is using bogus parity emulation
 Vary the refresh timing and access speed timing
 Locate single bit failures
 Detect power- and noise-related failures
 Detect solder opens and shorts
 Isolate timing-related failures
 Detect data retention errors

Special Tools for the Enthusiast

All the tools described so far are commonly used by most technicians. However, a few
additional tools do exist that a true PC enthusiast might want to have.

Electric Screwdriver
An electric screwdriver can be used to set how tight it will make the screws before
slipping; such a clutch makes it even faster to use. .

Tamperproof Torx Bits

Tamperproof Torx driver sets are available from any good electronics tool supplier.

Temperature Probe
With this type of probe, you can run the wired sensor inside the case (if it is metal, make
sure it does not directly touch the motherboard or other exposed circuits where it might
cause a short) with the wires slipped through a crack in the case or out one of the drive
bays.
Normally, the maximum limit for internal temperature should be 110°F (43°C) or less.
Probing the temperature with a device such as this enables you to determine whether
additional cooling is necessary (that is, adding more cooling fans to the case) and enables
you to check to see whether the added fans are helping.

Infrared Thermometer
Another useful temperature tool is a noncontact infrared (IR) thermometer, which is a
special type of sensor that can measure the temperature of an object without physically
touching it.
IR thermometers are designed to measure IR radiation from a device; they can't be used
to measure air temperature. The sensors are specifically designed so that the air between
the sensor and target does not affect the temperature measurement.

Large Claw-Type Parts Grabber

These grabbers are very similar to the small claw-type grabber included with most PC
toolkits, except they are much larger—normally two feet or so in length. They can be
useful if you drop a screw down inside a tower case, or even on the floor under or behind
a desk or cabinet. Although magnetic parts grabbers are also available, the claw-type is
always recommended because using a powerful magnet near a computer can cause
problems with any disk storage media you have about, or even the hard disk or CRT-type
display.