Oh, while I'm here

[kingandy]

Yesterday I tried to install my new motherboard.

Why do they tell you not to touch any part of the board, and then give you these little tiny screws that have to go right into the board next to sensitive components that your fat fingers can't help but brush against? And then you drop the screws and have to fumble around in the dark, whacking yet more sensitive components with the screwdriver in your other hand?

This is exactly why I knew I'd be better off buying a pre-built machine.

Comments

[ed-fortune.livejournal.com]

Clean workbench.

Tools.

Torch.

Angled mirror.

Patience.

Of the things you need to build a PC, this last one is the most important.

[arwel.livejournal.com]

Needle nosed pliers would probably be useful, for when your fingers are just too fat. As spare pair of hands comes in useful, at least it did for me and my cpu cooler's retarded mounting system. And take anti static precautions, I've fried stuff before.

Despite the fact that building a computer is an utterly loathsome task, you do get much more for your money.

[spodula.livejournal.com]

Yes, i recently fried a MiniITX board by not handling it properly.

I *really* have no excuse, as I have the full anti-static work surface, gloves and getup for mucking around with CMOS stuff.

I was just too lazy to use it.

It was really, really annoying.

[richc.livejournal.com]

A small screwdriver with a magnetic head is also really handy....

[kingandy]

I am concerned by the idea of waving a magnet around inside my computer, though I suppose the screws themselves are mostly insulated...

[spodula.livejournal.com]

As far as i am aware, the only thing that may be affected by magnetism is the Hard drive, and thats usually got a cast iron case, so i cant see the small amount of magnetism on a Screwdriver affecting it.

It was always much more of a hassle for servicing TVs and older radios as you could affect the tuned circuits if you manage to magnetise the ferrite cores, and you can royally f*k the CRT by magnetising the grid.

[richc.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't use one inside a hard disk I was planning on reusing, but otherwise it's fine....

[masati.livejournal.com]

Don't forget the blood sacrifice. Unless you've skinned a knuckle or otherwise dripped your blood into it, it probably won't work.

[areteus.livejournal.com]

A techie who used to work at Cancer studies told me that what you need to do is keep touching the side of the casing (the metal bit, not any plastic on it) in order to earth yourself and discharge any static. Do this every now and again, usually just before you want to touch the board, and you shouldn't fry the board.

[arwel.livejournal.com]

Plug your PC into the mains if you do this, so the charge gets grounded.

[kingandy]

Yeah, I've been doing that :D

I plan to unplug the power supply when I start actually connecting the two, to prevent surges, but until then it sounds like a good plan.

[stsquad.livejournal.com]

This is what earth straps are for :-)