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Check List

PC Tools Checklist

Some of these tools are on the unconventional side, but they are valuable nonetheless. If you think plastic zip bags are only useful to hold sandwiches and leftovers, think again - they'll help you organize your screws and bolts as well as provide a surprising function you'll discover when you read our list!

1. Philips Screwdriver (non-metallic) - This is your most important tool of all! Almost every part in your system is held together by a screw, most of which conform to the Philips head screwdriver. Make sure your screwdriver does not have a magnetic tip, because a magnetized object introduced into your computer's pristine environment can damage some circuits or drives.
2. Hex Driver - This is a bit of a rarity in the average Joe or Josephine's toolbox, but it's a handy implement nonetheless. In case you haven't seen a hex driver before, it has a head that resembles a socket wrench. Hex screws you might find in your computer usually come in 3/16" and 1/4" sizes, the most common of which is the 3/16ths.
3. Tweezers - Yes, tweezers! Ever drop something inside your computer, like a tiny screw and wish you had thought of having a pair of tweezers nearby to retrieve the little devil? Make that wish come true by always having some tweezers on hand. These versatile tools are especially handy when you're working in tight places, especially when working with motherboards and drives.
4. Grounding Strap - Static electricity can be a system killer. The short high voltage zap or discharge that results from this shocking energy can fry electrical components. A simple anti-static wristband can prevent lots of damage, but another great preventative tool is the grounding strap. This is generally a Velcro strap with a metal contact fixed to a wire that you clip to an external metal part to help discharge any static charge that may build up on the body. Grounding straps can be found in either disposable or the more useful reusable style.
5. Isopropyl Alcohol (99-percent solution) - An essential cleaner for your computer, isopropyl alcohol can be found in drug and grocery stores and dollar shops. It's among the best-known substances for cleansing thermal compounds without leaving a potentially harmful residue. You can use isopropyl alcohol to clean the CPU and heat sink before you attach them. This high quality rubbing alcohol is also provides a good way to clean contacts that are beginning to corrode.
6. Zip ties - Another of our unconventional, but extremely useful tools, are the ubiquitous zip ties. Many computers are clogged with a snarl of wires. A little plastic zip tie can help you organize your unsightly wire clumps and make them easy to manage. This accomplishes two purposes - it makes it easier for you to work inside your computer and can improve airflow inside.
7. Lint free cloth - Don't start your project without one! Lint and dust can wreak havoc inside your computer. Line and dust build-up within your case can drop down onto fans and air slots, impeding their function and causing system-harming heat increases. Dust and lint in just the wrong place can also cause short-circuiting. A lint-free cloth allows you to wipe down the case and components to prevent dust and lint buildup.
8. Plastic Zip Bags - Yes, yet another use for these jack-of-all-bags! Use plastic zip bags to store your loose parts and hold spare screws. Here's a creative and effective use of these handy bags - before you spread a thermal compound by hand, put your hand inside a bag to remove your natural body oils. Body oils from your hands can contaminate thermal compounds.

This is the final check list before you turn on your PC.

• Power supply set to proper input voltage.
• No loose tools or screws (shake the case gently).
• Memory modules fully seated and latched.
• Front-Panel switch and indicator cables connected properly.
• Front-Panel I/O cable connected properly.
• Hard Drive data cable connected to drive and motherboard.
• Hard Drive power cable connected.
• Optical Drive data cable connected to drive and motherboard.
• Optical Drive power cable connected.
• Optical Drive audio cable(s) connected (if applicable).
• Front-Panel voltage/fan controller connected (if applicable).
• Floppy drive data and power cable connected (if applicable).
• All drives secured to drive bay or chassis.
• Expansion cards fully seated and secured to the chassis.
• Video adapter fan connected (if applicable).
• Main ATX power cable and ATX12V power cable connected.
• Front and rear case fans installed and connected (if applicable).
• All cables dressed and tucked.

Make sure you plug the power cord into the wall outlet before you plug the power cord into the power supply.

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