|
|
|
Access Your PC From The Road
Have you ever sat in front of your computer and wished you could show someone else what appeared on your screen? Maybe you were experiencing a problem, or couldn't figure out how to make something work, but you knew if someone else could see what...
Inexpensive Places to Register Domain Names
About a year ago if you wanted to register a domain name there was only one place to go: "Network Solutions". For $70.00 (for the first two years) you could register a name of your very own. Today that's no longer the case. Now that the Internic no...
Software Integration for SMEs
The Problem
Software integration aims to solve a problem that started when large companies automated processes that had previously been manual; such as finance or human resources. This in itself was a very successful idea, and sent costs...
System Downtime
Downtime can disrupt your business, customers, and damage your company's reputation. But how do you prevent or minimize downtime? Can a server monitoring service help? To answer these questions, first we need to understand the causes of downtime....
What Is Computer Programming Anyway?
Computer programming in plain language, is giving instructions to a computer to do something. Technically it is actually giving instructions to the microprocessor - the brain of a computer. If the instructions are only for the microprocessor,...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Static Discharge Causes Flaky Damage
Permission is granted for the below article to forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as long as no changes are made and the byline, copyright, and the resource box below is included. ---------------------------------------------------------- Static Discharge Causes Flaky Damage
By Stephen Bucaro
Some time ago I purchased a motherboard, CPU, and memory from a local computer store. The sales person did me the "favor" of plugging the CPU and memory into the motherboard. I held my breath as this was done with no care whatsoever taken to prevent damage from a possible electrostatic discharge.
A static discharge can damage or destroy integrated circuit electronics. The problem is that you may not see a visible spark. You may not know that a static discharge occurred. And, you are lucky if the static discharge totally destroyed the circuit.
Often a component is only damaged and appears to work. This type of damage can produce occasional or frequent errors. This is what technicians call "flaky" because the failure does not occur reliably enough to be able to track it down.
The technician can't determine if the errors are caused by software or hardware. All they can do is keep changing things and waiting to see if the problem goes away. This is very time
consuming and costly.
The proper way to handle computer circuits is to wear a grounded wrist strap. Any electrical charge that builds up on your body is then immediately conducted to ground. But experienced technicians have tricks for controlling static electricity.
One trick is to leave the circuit board laying on top of an antistatic bag or antistatic foam as much as possible. Another is to leave the computer plugged into the AC outlet with the computers power switch off. This places ground on the computers metal case. Then the technician works with one hand always on a metal part of the case. Any electrical charge that builds up on your body is then immediately conducted to ground the same as with a wrist strap.
The important thing is to take static discharge seriously. Don't stick yourself or someone else with a flaky computer because you were too lazy to take basic care to protect against static discharge. ---------------------------------------------------------- Resource Box: Copyright(C)2002 Bucaro TecHelp. To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on the Web visit http://bucarotechelp.com To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter Send a blank email to bucarotechelp-subscribe@topica.com ----------------------------------------------------------
About the Author
None
|
|
|
|
|
|