Hello all!

[jinetics]

Hey Everybody!
My names Kevin & I'm a self employed computer tech working in the LA area. I made a career switch from a Fine foods distributor due to the economic downturn. I'm hoping to learn a lot from you guys & I hope to contribute to the community as well. Thank you for hearing me out & I'll see you around!

 

[DVDR_Dog]

Welcome Kevin. I am a degreed Marine Biologist before I made the move to IT so I feel ya.
The one thing I can tell you as you are just starting out is get yourself a good set of screw bits, all types including security bits. I know you are just starting out but the higher quality the better. Those tools will become an extension of yourself as you start opening stuff up. While you are at it, get a good set of prying tools, some guitar picks and either a heat gun or one of those fancy heat trays (I have always made do with a heat gun, can't justify the costs of those purpose built heaters).
Just don't skimp on the tools. Many times that's the difference between an amateur job and a professional one. Get a bottle of goo gone while you are at it to remove tape and those sticky bits.
Oh yeah and to close, take a little time to finish the repair. Clean off all those dirty stickers and adhesive tape from the case, finish it off with a little window cleaner and a paper towel. While it does nothing for the computer's performance, it greatly enhances the perceived value and quality of the job you completed. Makes paying the bill a little easier for them too.

 

[jinetics]

Welcome Kevin. I am a degreed Marine Biologist before I made the move to IT so I feel ya.
The one thing I can tell you as you are just starting out is get yourself a good set of screw bits, all types including security bits. I know you are just starting out but the higher quality the better. Those tools will become an extension of yourself as you start opening stuff up. While you are at it, get a good set of prying tools, some guitar picks and either a heat gun or one of those fancy heat trays (I have always made do with a heat gun, can't justify the costs of those purpose built heaters).
Just don't skimp on the tools. Many times that's the difference between an amateur job and a professional one. Get a bottle of goo gone while you are at it to remove tape and those sticky bits.

Hi DVDR_Dog,

Thank you for the great advice! I actually bought myself a set of all in one electronic screwdrivers & pry set from Amazon; along with a solder/heat gun station for all the electronic fixes I would work with. They definitely do come in handy so you're absolutely right about that. My father in law works on copiers for a living so he's got a stash of Goo Gone I guess I can try out. Thank you for that advice as well. You know an interesting tool I use a lot of? 3d pens. Doesn't need to be an expensive one, but just needs to be able to dispense that plastic seal for certain internal components. (ie. inside laptop keyboards) Thanks again for the great advice!

 

[Hotrod369]