Hello everyone!
I’ve been thinking for some time about learning to fix computers, kind of started the trip already, since I learned to install operative systems, formatting partitions, learning the components of a computer, the types of wires, and so on. Still I’ve been doing this with some computers I’ve found on the street and my own, and still probably need a lot of practice and things to learn.
So I wanted to ask you two questions. Do you know of some good resource to learn to repair PCs? What kind of tools would I need if I want to earn some money from this and do it semi-professionally?
Thanks!
CareyHolzman makes arguably some of the best PC repair videos. ifixit.com has repair guides for many phones, tablets, laptops, and other gadgets. You can also search for PC build guides from reputable tech journalists like Linus Tech Tips, simply knowing how a PC is assembled and what each part does goes a long way.
As for tools, a philips head screwdriver is by far the most important for dekstop PCs. You might also want some other screwdrivers like flat heads or torx, or get a milti-bit screwdriver kit. An antistatic wrist strap connected to a safe and proper grounding point provides protection for your components but is not absolutely necessary (I don’t have one and I’ve worked on PCs). You might also want some isopropyl alcohol for cleaning thermal paste (the higher concentration the better for this purpose), and an air duster would be good too (I recommend against duster cans from a sustainability perspective, they contain greenhouse gases. There are alternatives that use fans to blow plain old air). That should get you through the majority of desktop PCs.
If you want to expand to laptops, phones, or other gadgets, you’ll probably need some prying picks or spudgers, maybe a heated pad for softening adhesive, and even more screwdriver heads, including various sizes, as well as common security and anti-tamper bits. A magnifying glass might help too, as mobile devices have small components. Check out the tools that iFixit sells, especially the pro-tech took kit if/when you expand from PCs into general purpose gadget repair.
Add an anti-static wrist strap on to your shopping list (a lot of electronic repair kits include them anyway but just in case).
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If you mean other than community college, you might get lucky and beg an actual professional for an apprenticeship.
If you have experience as well as video/photo proof of your previous repairs, you might get someone to take you in. You trade your time for hands on experience which is plenty valuable.
Some employers don’t actually care about your education history, some are strict and just give you the circle jerk.
I just broke a lot of stuff, but there are a ton of resources. You can probably find an old comptia a+ book somewhere which will guide you through the basics. I have one lying around. Most computers are the same under the hood. Just a tip from past mistakes… always have the proper tools. Also, make sure safety is your top priority. This means don’t do anything stupid like mess around with lithium-ion batteries and take troubleshooting and replacing stuff like the PSU seriously since you can do serious damage to the components and the voltage can also cause harm to you if you aren’t careful.
