- Computer repair tools are broken into two main categories of hardware and software. Tools for repairing hardware include multi-meters, cable cutters, screwdrivers, three-pronged parts grabbers, thermal cooling paste and canned air. Software repair tools consist of memory checking programs, password recovery programs, hard drive diagnostics, virus scanners and disk defragmenters.
- Multi-meters can be used to test Ethernet and power cables to ensure that they are working properly and do not need to be replaced. Canned air should be used to remove dust and other debris that build up inside your computer case and can prevent devices such as the cooling fan from functioning at peak efficiency. Cooling paste can be added to your processor and random access memory modules to prevent your system from overheating. Software such as anti-virus and anti-spyware programs scan your hard drive for malicious software that slows down your machine or even destroys your hard drive and then removes them.
- Both hardware and software computer tools have many features that give you the ability to diagnose and then repair problems that keep your machine from working the way that it should. Tools, such as screwdrivers and parts grabbers, are made in much smaller sizes to work properly with the smaller types of screws and other components used in computers. Diagnostic software can scan your hard drive, random access memory and processor, to check if they are malfunctioning and need to be replaced.
- Wear an anti-static wrist strap, which is usually included with most PC repair tool kits, and ground yourself by touching a metal object connected to the floor whenever you open up your computer's case to add or remove hardware as the built up static can damage the components. Use preventative measures ahead of time, such as installing a firewall and plugging your computer into a high voltage surge protector, to prevent having to repair your computer in the future.
- Unplug all of the cables and power cords from your computer before opening the case and touching any of the internal components or you could be seriously injured or even killed by the flow of electricity. Make sure to save any important files to an external source such as jump drive or make a backup point of your hard drive before installing any new software to diagnose issues in case your files become corrupted or you accidentally download malicious software in disguise.
