On Mon, 2008-01-28 at 14:48 +0000, Alan Cox wrote: > Before you run out and just get new RAM give the original memory a > wiggle Do that gently, too. I've come across a few sockets that don't survive being poked about. Having seen how little some pay towards anti-static precautions (users, shopkeepers and assistants, those servicing computers, etc.), I wonder how many PCs are knackered during, or even before, the initial build stage. I tend to suspect this sort of thing far more than power surges being the main reason for failures. To those not in the know - static shocks often don't kill the device there and then, they usually weaken it. It breaks down later on, long after you'd think to attribute the breakdown to how you handled the device (memory cards, peripheral cards, just about any components). Weeks, months, or years later. If you're buying something like RAM from a shop that just has it loose under the counter, they pick it up with their fingers like they're grabbing nothing more technical than pencils, walk across the carpet holding it, dump it in plastic bags, etc., then walk away. Buy it from somewhere else. They've probably just stuffed it up for you. Simple precautions for those who don't have anti-static gear: Leave your new toys in their antistatic shielding. Unplug the power from what you're going to perform electronic surgery on, don't just switch it off with the power button. Connect your PC to something else that's grounded (e.g. the video monitor, amplified speakers, something EXTERNAL). That'll keep it from building up a charge, and without any power in the device to cause damage to things (devices, or people). Lean against your grounded PC, or other device that it's connected to and grounded, so you don't built up a charge. Stay in touch with it. If you move away, ground yourself against it, again, before you start handling your toys again. Place your new toy, still wrapped, in contact with your PC for a few moments. That lets them both get the same charge, in a low risk manner. Carefully unwrap it, handle cards by the edges without putting your fingers on the components or tracks, as best as you can manage. Insert it into place, and try not to be too forceful. If you have to press hard to get something to go in, to the point that you're going to bend the motherboard, check you're not forcing something in a way that's not going to work, then try putting something non-conductive on the other side to brace it. It beats me why they don't put more feet underneath the board around where the slots are. Static's usually not a problem for the assembled computer. Though there's cases of people walking up to a running computer and zapping it to death, and mouse cables charging up as they're dragged about the desk, they're a bit of a rarity. -- (This computer runs FC7, my others run FC4, FC5 & FC6, in case that's important to the thread.) Don't send private replies to my address, the mailbox is ignored. I read messages from the public lists.
