Static electricity just killed a board I was fixing

I was replacing a CPU cooler and didn't wear my anti-static band. Now the motherboard won't post, and I'm out of luck. What steps do you take to prevent this kind of thing?

3 comments

3 Comments

sethh121mo ago

I read that touching the metal case before you start working helps. It grounds you and stops static from building up.

michael_carter211mo ago

Helped my nephew build his first PC last year and made him tap the case every few minutes. Never got that little zap once, so @sethh12 is onto something there.

grace11128d ago

Yeah, touching the case is a solid start. I read a whole guide that said to plug in the power supply but keep it switched OFF, then touch that. It keeps you grounded to the house wiring the whole time. I also work on a bare wood table, not carpet, and avoid wearing socks. That extra step with the PSU has saved me more than once.