My personal recommendations to add to this list are: thermal paste, isopropyl alcohol, microfiber rags, zip ties/velcro cable ties, a utility knife for opening boxes, nylon pry tools/spudger (favorite brand is Menda), a paint brush for cleaning dust (sometimes canned air just doesn't do it), an inexpensive auto ranging multimeter, a magnetic screw holder of some type, a driverless USB wifi adapter, and male USB type C to female type A adapter for working on newer laptops. I carry much more than that because I've branched out into many different areas in the tech field, but I definitely recommend carrying these items in addition to what you mentioned for A+ level tasks
Hi Eli, great video as usual. There are a few other simple things I'd add to your A+ kit: spare RAM, spare CR2032 batteries, small brush (clean toothbrush okay) for cleaning clogged fans, and an inexpensive multimeter (or battery tester). The multimeter is particularly useful because you can measure voltage coming out of laptop chargers, power supplies, and batteries. Enjoyed the video, pretty much spot on.
Thank you for this video, Eli. I am starting a new job doing hands-on computer tech stuff again...after having not done it professionally for nearly 20 years. This video was very helpful as a reminder of old stuff and an education on newer things. Cheers and thanks!
I've seen several computers with SD card slots now days and used one recently to install Windows 10 to a laptop when I didn't have a large enough USB drive on hand (or a usb optical drive). The main benefit of an SD card over a typical flash drive is that there is a physical switch on it that will change it from read-write to read-only. Make sure that's set and you don't have to worry about any malware trying to write to it. Of course, older devices may not have it so you wouldn't want it to be your only option (or at least carry a usb card reader). Though I imagine you can buy flash drives with those as well and that not all SD cards do (though all the ones I have laying around seem to. Not sure if you've any opinions on this yourself Eli :) Certainly if you have any arguments against it then they'd likely be appreciated, well maybe not by youtube commentors (commentator? seems wrong... too professional) Oh and thanks for the info, particularly about the wireless tethering, hadn't thought about that (not that I'm a technician but I like being computer/digital literate)
USB3 on that laptop is very handy, plus as mentioned by Eli too, ensure you have a clean image. I also typically chuck in a SSD as those things are dirt-cheap, make most laptops of 2010+ year fast enough to start/use, plus it tends to reduce the number of moving parts. HDDs of that age tend to break, old laptops don't always take a 'larger' drive.
May I also suggest a box of dunken donuts....Remember it's not what you know but rather who likes you in that office. Kids, you gotta learn that troubleshooting people will be 98% of all your job stress.
I carry a backpack that has some iFixIt tool sets, electricians scissors, a few bits (like security torx bits, Allen wrenches, etc), some cutters, crimpers, punch tool, RJ-45 ends, tone/tester, a small DVD case and USB drive with software, nice knife, and a few other odds and ends.
I know someone will make a joke about USB DVD Drive since you can create bootable USB drives, but the things is... gremlins. They happen every freaking time! Your USB Windows installation refuses to boot, or your WinPE is causing some error, or some other loader (Isolinux, WinPE, GRUB...) is not booting on this particular BIOS... Same these issues can happen with USB DVD, but its very good to have both of them present since when one thing fail other might work! I am still carrying USB DVD and a small case of CDs/DVDs just for this.
I like you Eli! So many things I can agree with you and some stuff i have to shake my head. Some of us that are still crawling under desks I can tell you that my phone is always with me and acts as flash light - one less tool to carry. And also can be used to take snap shots of network port behind desks that are hard to see. Phones can be used to take pictures of your completed work (wiring / hardware setups).No more writing down serial/part numbers - snap snap with phone.
I'd also add a Hirens boot usb(great for resetting local passwords on win XP/7/8/8.1/10) and a small paintbrush to assist in brushing out dust bunnies from fans/heatsinks(especiall handy in you run out of canned air(not a fan of it anyway)). A power flex(uk flex's have built in fuse so handy to test if it's just a blown fuse/dodgy cable) and vga/dvi/dp cable is also a good shout incase it's a simple monitor cable issue.
I Cant tell how many time I got a call from the end user that the computer is not turning on , and what do you know , turns out that the computer works just fine , but the monitor is dead.
... people always ask about the renewal, and I hate to tell them that if they're in an A+ level job long enough to worry about renewal they have bigger issues with their career...
Thank you for very interesting video. Label maker is awesome! Instead of flash drives I recommend to look at such device like zalman zm-ve350. I use it several years and it is very handy.
I personally find having an SSD in even a piece of crap laptop makes a pretty big difference on site. If I have to crack open the laptop I can't be waiting for it to boot
been a subscriber for a long time. I run a small tech solutions company and till this day all i carry with me is my laptop, hand tools( a set of screw drivers= small set of precision tools) a toner, all in 1 cable crimping tool , punch down tool, a console cable and adapter,1 ssd(250gb with all my os and troubleshooting tools), 2 USB, a micro USB keyboard. most of witch i bought 5 years ago that came in a networking toolkit for 50 bucks. the most expensive tool I carry with me is my fluke network toner......funny story most of the time i go on site I end up using only a screw driver... and i feel bad because i feel like i give young tech's the evil laugh when they haven't even gone through their CCENT and they buy 500$ or more in tools...well good luck using your shinny tools when you dont know jack..hahaha
Even when people buy the book and try to learn.. they dont realize its only half the battle. I found out the hard way, that you still need the experience to be desirable to the market. Practical exp. So I began trying to learn little bits at a time (on the side) and take what Id learn in school or through studying... and then try to pickup the items or put myself in scenarios in which I could gain that exp and help develop my knowledge base. But I realized a lot of that from years of dumping time and effort into just studying. Then I met the real world the hard way. I wish I had your video advice back then.. I think I wouldve come to that conclusion a lot sooner. You made me start realizing there are important nuances that are not taught in school. Great advice/video too (sorry for rambling) :D -- thank you
I also wanted to mention, people who dont like the canned air can get one of those can-less systems too.. It is a bit expensive but if they really dont like that choice.. theres another option
I can tell you right now, those certificates don't mean shit in the real world. Anyone can read a book and take a test and get a piece of paper. Real world experience and common sense is the real answer. The computer shop in town where I live don't have any A+ certified techs, and they don't need to be contrary to popular belief of many, having an A+ certification doesn't get you a job, having real world experience and actually being able to troubleshoot and repair stuff is the proper answer. Tools, pick them up as you find what you need, not everyone needs the same tools, or not the same tools work for everyone or fit everyone. I found that buying a bunch of tools at the beginning is just overkill. PC repair can be done with regular tools off the shelf, especially if you get the screwdriver set that has all sorts of different bits with it, screwdrivers are the big thing, can't do much to change anything out on many computers unless you have a screwdriver and a few different bits LOL. Magnetic drivers are an absolute must LOL, so many places where unless you have the hands of like a 2 year old you can't even get in there to hold the screw to put it in LOL.
This might sound crazy, but I suggest bringing a flash drive with taskkill on it. I don't know how many times I have worked on a computer that someone uses and they never close anything and I am digging through apps and tabs to find the virus. Also, a Bible helps, since God help me, some people I would like to slam their computer on their head. Another thing to bring along is electrical tape, it has saved me so much trouble. And if you are like me and have a side business fixing gaming consoles, invest a little bit of money into security screwdrivers. Sometimes it helps just having different types of screwdrivers and extras on hand because if you have a hard to reach screw but your screwdriver is stripped, you can kiss that job completed goodbye.
My personal recommendations to add to this list are: thermal paste, isopropyl alcohol, microfiber rags, zip ties/velcro cable ties, a utility knife for opening boxes, nylon pry tools/spudger (favorite brand is Menda), a paint brush for cleaning dust (sometimes canned air just doesn't do it), an inexpensive auto ranging multimeter, a magnetic screw holder of some type, a driverless USB wifi adapter, and male USB type C to female type A adapter for working on newer laptops. I carry much more than that because I've branched out into many different areas in the tech field, but I definitely recommend carrying these items in addition to what you mentioned for A+ level tasks
Your way of teaching & explaining is enjoyable & clear ..thank you
I really appreciate your tech videos. I'm terrible at engagement, but am trying to get better. Thank you.
i dont need a labeler because my English teacher said my handwriting is so good that it could be mistaken for Chinese.
jaime munoz :-D :-D :-D made my day :-D :-D :-D
🤣
Hi Eli, great video as usual. There are a few other simple things I'd add to your A+ kit: spare RAM, spare CR2032 batteries, small brush (clean toothbrush okay) for cleaning clogged fans, and an inexpensive multimeter (or battery tester). The multimeter is particularly useful because you can measure voltage coming out of laptop chargers, power supplies, and batteries. Enjoyed the video, pretty much spot on.
Thank you for this video, Eli. I am starting a new job doing hands-on computer tech stuff again...after having not done it professionally for nearly 20 years. This video was very helpful as a reminder of old stuff and an education on newer things. Cheers and thanks!
I've seen several computers with SD card slots now days and used one recently to install Windows 10 to a laptop when I didn't have a large enough USB drive on hand (or a usb optical drive). The main benefit of an SD card over a typical flash drive is that there is a physical switch on it that will change it from read-write to read-only. Make sure that's set and you don't have to worry about any malware trying to write to it. Of course, older devices may not have it so you wouldn't want it to be your only option (or at least carry a usb card reader). Though I imagine you can buy flash drives with those as well and that not all SD cards do (though all the ones I have laying around seem to.
Not sure if you've any opinions on this yourself Eli :) Certainly if you have any arguments against it then they'd likely be appreciated, well maybe not by youtube commentors (commentator? seems wrong... too professional)
Oh and thanks for the info, particularly about the wireless tethering, hadn't thought about that (not that I'm a technician but I like being computer/digital literate)
I had that same tool bag when I was in the Navy! Wow, memories.
You're one of the very few people to recommend a label maker. I salute you. I can't count how times my Dymo saved my butt in the long run.
FYI don’t label cd with a ptouch. Throws the rotation of the disc of can cause damage.
Sharpe marker all the way.
USB3 on that laptop is very handy, plus as mentioned by Eli too, ensure you have a clean image. I also typically chuck in a SSD as those things are dirt-cheap, make most laptops of 2010+ year fast enough to start/use, plus it tends to reduce the number of moving parts. HDDs of that age tend to break, old laptops don't always take a 'larger' drive.
Used toughbooks are great laptops for service work; they also tend to have a lot of ports.
May I also suggest a box of dunken donuts....Remember it's not what you know but rather who likes you in that office. Kids, you gotta learn that troubleshooting people will be 98% of all your job stress.
Truer words have never been spoken
I carry a backpack that has some iFixIt tool sets, electricians scissors, a few bits (like security torx bits, Allen wrenches, etc), some cutters, crimpers, punch tool, RJ-45 ends, tone/tester, a small DVD case and USB drive with software, nice knife, and a few other odds and ends.
Oh yea, and a decent (like Fluke) multimeter.
For the laptop part, i reccomend a thinkpad, since they are very reliable and durable, and the used ones are very cheap
Great suggestion also another idea is an SSD it helps a lot.
Awesome tutorial! Thanks!
I know someone will make a joke about USB DVD Drive since you can create bootable USB drives, but the things is... gremlins. They happen every freaking time! Your USB Windows installation refuses to boot, or your WinPE is causing some error, or some other loader (Isolinux, WinPE, GRUB...) is not booting on this particular BIOS... Same these issues can happen with USB DVD, but its very good to have both of them present since when one thing fail other might work! I am still carrying USB DVD and a small case of CDs/DVDs just for this.
I've found out that the adapter for a Seagate GoFlex drive works wonders for connecting 2.5" drives to recover/move data to a new system.
Funny, I have all these things except the nice fixed head screwdrivers, and I have been foaming at the mouth to get some :-)
I like you Eli! So many things I can agree with you and some stuff i have to shake my head. Some of us that are still crawling under desks I can tell you that my phone is always with me and acts as flash light - one less tool to carry. And also can be used to take snap shots of network port behind desks that are hard to see. Phones can be used to take pictures of your completed work (wiring / hardware setups).No more writing down serial/part numbers - snap snap with phone.
Are you able to give links to all your items? specially the screw driver set
You can find a good A+ tools kit on Microcenter.com
Just search tool kit and MicroCenter gives you a few options
I'd also add a Hirens boot usb(great for resetting local passwords on win XP/7/8/8.1/10) and a small paintbrush to assist in brushing out dust bunnies from fans/heatsinks(especiall handy in you run out of canned air(not a fan of it anyway)).
A power flex(uk flex's have built in fuse so handy to test if it's just a blown fuse/dodgy cable) and vga/dvi/dp cable is also a good shout incase it's a simple monitor cable issue.
For the laptop .. pelican case lol they are pricey but for I mean .. cost of use is worth it
People say, you don't need optical drives in 2020. I say, it's the only 100% guarantied way to get read only storage
Where can i find a screwdrivers #1,#2 overall length 6 inchs ( thin shaft) with a magnetic tip with a good warranty
I Cant tell how many time I got a call from the end user that the computer is not turning on , and what do you know , turns out that the computer works just fine , but the monitor is dead.
Or the computer is unplugged.
Thanks for the info!
What and amazing channel, love your vids
I like stream light for flash lights
Thanks for all the info man I really appreciate it!
Plz, can I get the list of those tools
Where can i find long tools i.e. screwdrivers. And which magnifer headset with a light is the best?
you can find them online like amazon
Is there any way to test the NIC other than using known good parts, like loopback Ip 127.0.0.1? Thank you so much for your well explained tutorials.
I was grandfathered in 2010 for the A+ cert that didn't have a renewal date lol
... people always ask about the renewal, and I hate to tell them that if they're in an A+ level job long enough to worry about renewal they have bigger issues with their career...
Thank you for very interesting video. Label maker is awesome! Instead of flash drives I recommend to look at such device like zalman zm-ve350. I use it several years and it is very handy.
I am learning from you so much, Thanks a lot!
Thank you.
Like the vid thanks man but does anyone know what version of kobalt screwdriver those are.
Hi Eli
Can you please post an video for Exchange 2007/2010/2013: Roles - function of each role, Mail flow - outbound - architecture , Exchange 2016
They don’t have that cool pouch anymore :/ it’s just a plastic case
Priceless advice!!
Cheers 🤘
I personally find having an SSD in even a piece of crap laptop makes a pretty big difference on site. If I have to crack open the laptop I can't be waiting for it to boot
Shendip nice tip. Ill try it.
been a subscriber for a long time. I run a small tech solutions company and till this day all i carry with me is my laptop, hand tools( a set of screw drivers= small set of precision tools) a toner, all in 1 cable crimping tool , punch down tool, a console cable and adapter,1 ssd(250gb with all my os and troubleshooting tools), 2 USB, a micro USB keyboard. most of witch i bought 5 years ago that came in a networking toolkit for 50 bucks. the most expensive tool I carry with me is my fluke network toner......funny story most of the time i go on site I end up using only a screw driver... and i feel bad because i feel like i give young tech's the evil laugh when they haven't even gone through their CCENT and they buy 500$ or more in tools...well good luck using your shinny tools when you dont know jack..hahaha
Even when people buy the book and try to learn.. they dont realize its only half the battle. I found out the hard way, that you still need the experience to be desirable to the market. Practical exp. So I began trying to learn little bits at a time (on the side) and take what Id learn in school or through studying... and then try to pickup the items or put myself in scenarios in which I could gain that exp and help develop my knowledge base. But I realized a lot of that from years of dumping time and effort into just studying. Then I met the real world the hard way. I wish I had your video advice back then.. I think I wouldve come to that conclusion a lot sooner. You made me start realizing there are important nuances that are not taught in school.
Great advice/video too (sorry for rambling) :D -- thank you
I also wanted to mention, people who dont like the canned air can get one of those can-less systems too.. It is a bit expensive but if they really dont like that choice.. theres another option
nice tools, nicer pro, respect you bro
Please make Cloud video for training ☺
What is the name of this video?
I can tell you right now, those certificates don't mean shit in the real world. Anyone can read a book and take a test and get a piece of paper. Real world experience and common sense is the real answer. The computer shop in town where I live don't have any A+ certified techs, and they don't need to be contrary to popular belief of many, having an A+ certification doesn't get you a job, having real world experience and actually being able to troubleshoot and repair stuff is the proper answer.
Tools, pick them up as you find what you need, not everyone needs the same tools, or not the same tools work for everyone or fit everyone. I found that buying a bunch of tools at the beginning is just overkill. PC repair can be done with regular tools off the shelf, especially if you get the screwdriver set that has all sorts of different bits with it, screwdrivers are the big thing, can't do much to change anything out on many computers unless you have a screwdriver and a few different bits LOL. Magnetic drivers are an absolute must LOL, so many places where unless you have the hands of like a 2 year old you can't even get in there to hold the screw to put it in LOL.
Pacific Bell
This might sound crazy, but I suggest bringing a flash drive with taskkill on it. I don't know how many times I have worked on a computer that someone uses and they never close anything and I am digging through apps and tabs to find the virus. Also, a Bible helps, since God help me, some people I would like to slam their computer on their head. Another thing to bring along is electrical tape, it has saved me so much trouble. And if you are like me and have a side business fixing gaming consoles, invest a little bit of money into security screwdrivers. Sometimes it helps just having different types of screwdrivers and extras on hand because if you have a hard to reach screw but your screwdriver is stripped, you can kiss that job completed goodbye.
my math teacher kick me out because he thought i write hieroglyphic thou my answer is correct
yeah and u need POST card & PSU tester :)
12:34
A+ tools
Universal laptop power brick? Zip ties? Come on eli!
... "Universal laptop power brick"... yeah... I've seen enough of those FRY motherboards...
Eli the Computer Guy a standard (name brand (Belkin)) 19v adaptor should be fine.... But what do I know.
PS: my business is going on 10 years now 😄
Michal Maciej Dzienis As am I. My point is zip ties and a laptop power supply are critical for an A+ tech.
Eli, I was gonna say the exact same thing as you did.
Vincent Pampanin so can you help me install more ram on my acer swift 7 laptop?
You could just install a VM on your laptop... virus problem solved!
.... no... wrong answer...
Are you referring to malicious software that may attack vulnerabilities in the hardware...?
for the fluke butt set it's REALLY helpful to have the banjo adapter