PC Repair Technician

By Ben Dennis
 Objectives
 How a PC Tech deals with customers
 Tools needed by the PC tech
 How PC a Tech works inside a computer
case
 How The PC Tech approaches and solves
a problem or problems

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 Introduction
 Repair Skills:

 Using common-sense guidelines to isolate

and solve problems
 Working inside the computer case
 Determining if a problem occurs before or
after a boot
 Troubleshooting and solving failed boot
problems
 Troubleshooting Intermittent problems
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 Customer Interaction
 Set and agree on repair costs and fees before
doing any repair work.
 Ask detailed questions about the computer, the
problems it has and what happened when it
stopped working
 Ask if manuals, CDs, DVDs and other computer
information can be obtained for the repairs from
the customer
 Give the customer an estimate, that must be
agreed on, before repairs begin

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 PC Support Technician Tools
 Help Repair a computer
 Help diagnose and repair computer problems
 Criteria for choosing tools:
 Level of PC support expected to provide
 Amount of money that can be spend
 Some essential tools:
 Ground bracelet, ground mat, antistatic bags
 Assortment of hand tools and test equipment
 Recovery CD, DVD, or USB Drive for target OS and
other required software
 Store tools in toolbox for PC troubleshooting
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PC technician tools

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 Recovery CDs
 Used to boot a system
 Also used to repair and reinstall Windows
 Primary recovery CD sources
 PC manufacturer (preferred)
 Operating system distributor, such as Microsoft
 Some hard drives have a hidden recovery partitions
 A hidden partition can be used to reinstall Windows
 A utility for creating recovery CDs may be provided
 Access hidden utilities by pressing a Fn key at startup

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The Repair Tech must Deal with Dust
 Dust accumulates in layers over components
 Two major problems due to dust blankets
 PC components directly overheat
 Cooling fans jam, also resulting in overheating
 Maintenance task: remove the layer of dust
 Two tools used to remove dust:
 Antistatic vacuum
 Compressed air

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 How Repair Techs work inside Computers
 Objective: dismantle a computer, put it back together
 Some safety precautions techs follow:
 Make notes that help backtrack
 Keep screws and other hardware orderly
 Do not stack boards on top of each other
 Do not touch the chips on circuit boards
 Do not use a graphite pencil to change DIP settings
 Turn off the power, unplug and ground the computer
 Do not remove covers of monitors or power supplies
 Keep components away from hair and clothing

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 How Repair Techs deal with Static
Electricity
 Build-up of charge due to absence of conductors
 Electrostatic discharge (ESD)
 Due to dissimilar electrical surfaces making contact
 Only 10 volts of ESD can damage PC components
 Walking across carpet generates up to 12,000 volts
 Two types of damage: catastrophic and upset failure
 Tools and methods for grounding
 Ground bracelet, ground mats, static shielding bags,
antistatic gloves

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A ground bracelet, which protects computer components from
ESD, can clip to the side of the computer case and eliminate ESD

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 How Repair Techs Troubleshoot a PC Problem
 They make no assumptions and check simple things first
 They don’t overlook the obvious and they isolate the
problem; eliminating the unnecessary items
 They approach problems systematically and make
backups before making any changes
 They use troubleshooting tools, equipment and
procedures (both hardware and software)
 They use Post diagnostic cards, Diagnostic software,
and General-Purpose Utility Software (Antivirus security
testing, recovery, tune-up and benchmarking software)
 They use outside help when necessary (computer
OEMs, other techs, and the internet)

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 Steps Techs use to Solving a PC
Problem
Four-step problem solving process:
 Step 1: Interview the Customer
 Step 2: Back up data
 Step 3: Solve the problem
 Step 4: Verify the fix and document the
solution

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 Investigating the Computer Problem
 What OS is installed?
 What physical components are installed, CPU, memory
type, drives, expansion cards, peripherals, and networks
 What is the nature of the problem-occurred before or
after boot? Failed to Boot? Any error Messages?
 Does the computer hang?
 Can the problem be duplicated?

ISOLATING THE PROBLEM:

 Eliminate simple things first
 Eliminate the unnecessary
 Trade good for suspected bad
 Trade suspected bad for good

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 Preparing a Computer for Shipping

 Adverse factors to consider:

 Rough handling
 Exposure to water, heat, and cold
 Misplacement or theft of computer
 Some shipping guidelines to follow:
 Backup the hard drive onto a backup medium
 Remove inserted disks, tape cartridges, or CDs
 Coil and secure all external cords
 Separately wrap hardware components
 Purchase insurance on the shipment

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 References
 Tools from Tecratools.com
 Visuals from TechRepublic.com

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