Tricks of the trade

[Jetster]

This thread is for tricks you use to test, diagnosis, OC or anything related. Pictures not required.

This is my favorite heat sink for bench testing a board or CPU. Just set in on the CPU, its solid copper and heavy. No TIM or screws required. Boot to post like I stated just for testing but it will keep it cool with no fans. I have used it many times over the years

What tricks do you use?

 

[ALMOSTunseen]

If theres one think I have to say, its to invest in a good Toolkit! I cannot amount to the numerous times I have been saved by a long pair of tweezers, and a multimetre. Like the saying goes, a bad workman always blames his tools! So don't have that excuse, if you've got the correct tools for the trade, it should be smooth sailing
Tools I'd recommend-
Long Tweezers
Multimetre
MAGNETIC screw drivers
Spare screws, bolts, nuts
Spare Thermal Paste
A 24 pin PSU jumper plug
Spare SATA cables

 

[W1zzard]

This is my favorite heat sink for bench testing a board or CPU

i'm using an old thermaltake blue orb, basically the same approach as you have, but i connect the fan

 

[a111087]

When I test motherboards, I use screw driver to power on and reset the system. Shut poke the screw driver at the "front panel" pins.

 

[ALMOSTunseen]

When I test motherboards, I use screw driver to power on and reset the system. Shut poke the screw driver at the "front panel" pins.

, how does that even work......

 

[a111087]

, how does that even work......

well, the screw driver is metal and conducts electricity. So, when you touch the right pins, the motherboard will see that as if you pressed the power button.

 

[ALMOSTunseen]

well, the screw driver is metal and conducts electricity. So, when you touch the right pins, the motherboard will see that as if you pressed the power button.

Ah woops, forgot it worked like that

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

usb drive and a second fully working pc are the best tools i have for pc fixing and i have a usb microSdcard adapter with a fair few old sdcards(FROM OLD PHONES) all individually bootable but with diff uses, ie flashing card, Os rescue card , os reinstall card(win7) and a general pc diag card ,this saves time makeing them out of a fresh mem dongle each repair.

dremmels handy
and big fret saw

oh a set of fine 6" files well handy
other then that one good magnetic tip posidrive,long nose pliers multimeter

sorry for shoutin

 

[Jetster]

Someone mentioned putting a hard drive in a freezer after it fails. Has anyone confirmed this?
According to this video its not a good idea
Dispelling the myth of Freezer Based Hard Drive Da...

 

[ALMOSTunseen]

Someone mentioned putting a hard drive in a freezer after it fails. Has anyone confirmed this?
According to this video its not a good idea
Dispelling the myth of Freezer Based Hard Drive Da...

Well, i'll get an old OEM hdd, chuck him down a couple flights of stairs, and see if we have our data, or a HDD Icepop.

 

[punisher186]

If theres one think I have to say, its to invest in a good Toolkit! I cannot amount to the numerous times I have been saved by a long pair of tweezers, and a multimetre. Like the saying goes, a bad workman always blames his tools! So don't have that excuse, if you've got the correct tools for the trade, it should be smooth sailing
Tools I'd recommend-
Long Tweezers
Multimetre
MAGNETIC screw drivers
Spare screws, bolts, nuts
Spare Thermal Paste
A 24 pin PSU jumper plug
Spare SATA cables

Agreed! Bonus points if you have everything within arms reach so you don't have to search for anything.

Related video: http://dsc.discovery.com/show-news/adam-savages-toolboxes-plural.html

 

[ALMOSTunseen]

Agreed! Bonus points if you have everything within arms reach so you don't have to search for anything.

Related video: http://dsc.discovery.com/show-news/adam-savages-toolboxes-plural.html

Hmm, I may not need that many boxes

 

[cadaveca]

Someone mentioned putting a hard drive in a freezer after it fails. Has anyone confirmed this?
According to this video its not a good idea
Dispelling the myth of Freezer Based Hard Drive Da...

Yes, tried it.

Mine: Use plain white toothpaste to "buff" out scratches on discs.

CASE SPEAKER FOR POST CODE BEEPS!!!!

This thread is for tricks you use to test, diagnosis, OC or anything related. Pictures not required.

This is my favorite heat sink for bench testing a board or CPU. Just set in on the CPU, its solid copper and heavy. No TIM or screws required. Boot to post like I stated just for testing but it will keep it cool with no fans. I have used it many times over the years

http://img.techpowerup.org/120927/Capture010.jpg

What tricks do you use?

i'm using an old thermaltake blue orb, basically the same approach as you have, but i connect the fan

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/BlueOrb2/images/comparison.jpg

Ha!


I have the Fatal1ty version of that Zalman!

 

[sneekypeet]

CASE SPEAKER FOR POST CODE BEEPS!!!!

That right there would save users a ton of time, but is almost something that nobody offers these days. It also makes no sense to me that the motherboard makers don't include them, it is the chassis makers that do

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

Even moreso if you ever need to work on other's systems and deal with data not your own but every one of "us" should have a USB to SATA/IDE/PATA adapter.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YJBL78/?tag=tec06d-20

 

[Jetster]

Not really a trick but a suggestion. A problem I'm seeing more and more these days with multiple drives

When you do a clean install only have the one drive connected to you system.

Not only do you not risk deleting your data on a second drive but if Windows 7 sees a boot sector on another drive. It will write the to the boot sector to that second drive. So when you unplug the second drive. No boot