Some repairers service both computer and office equipment. They make cable and wiring connections when installing equipment, and work closely with electricians, who install the wiring. Even with preventive maintenance, computers and other machines do break down.
Repairers run diagnostic programs to locate malfunctions.
Although some of the most modern and sophisticated computers have a self-diagnosing capacity that identifies problems, computer repairers must know enough about systems software to determine if the malfunction is in the hardware or in the software. Employment Computer and office machine repairers held about 134,000 jobs in 1994. Approximately 75,000 worked mainly on computer equipment, and the other 59,000 repaired mainly office machines. Three of every 5 were employed by wholesalers of computers and other office equipment, including the wholesaling divisions of equipment manufacturers, and by firms that provide maintenance services for a fee. Others worked for retail establishments and some with organizations that serviced their own equipment.