ElectroStatic Discharge or ESD

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Introduction
How to help prevent ESD
ESD related terms
Damaged hardware

Introduction

ESD, or ElectroStatic Discharge, is one of the few things an individual can do to damage or destroy his or her computer or hardware components. Much like the shock you receive when rubbing your feet on the carpet and touching something metal, ESD can occur when working in your computer and will cause components you touch to no longer work properly. ESD can occur without the user feeling a shock and will only occur while working on the inside of the computer or handling an expansion card.

How to help prevent ESD

The best method of preventing ESD is to use an ESD wrist strap and/or use a grounding mat or table. However, because most users do not have access to such items, we have included the below steps to help reduce the chances of ESD as much as possible.

Zero Potential - Most importantly, make sure you and the computer are at Zero Potential by continuously touching an un-painted metal surface of the chassis or the computer power supply case.
Standing - It is also very important that you are standing at all times when working on the computer. Setting on a chair can generated more electrostatic.
Cords - Make sure everything is removed from the back of the computer (power cord, mouse, keyboard, etc).
Clothes - Make sure not to wear any clothing that conducts a lot of Electrical Charge, such as a wool sweater.
Weather - Electrical storms can increase the ESD risk; unless absolutely necessary, try not to work on a computer during an electrical storm.
Accessories - To help reduce ESD and help prevent other problem, it is also a good idea to remove all jewelry.

ESD related terms

Below is a listing of ESD and related definitions found in our computer dictionary.

• Antistatic

• Antistatic bag

• Antistatic device

• Antistatic mat

• Antistatic spray

• Static

• Wrist strap

Damaged hardware

If after working inside your computer and/or adding additional hardware your computer no longer boots properly, please try the below recommendations.

1. If you have added a new component, remove it and try booting the computer. If the computer boots, it is likely an incompatibility between the computer and that hardware device. Try it again just to make sure.

2. If the computer still does not boot properly after removing the new hardware or you did not add any new hardware, make sure that all the cables are firmly connected to their devices. It is possible that a cable may have become loose. This also includes the cables going to the back of your computer; make sure your power, monitor, mouse, keyboard are connected.

3. Make sure each of the expansion cards in your computer are firmly seated into the slots and not partially seated. 

4. Unfortunately, if your computer still does not properly boot, it is very possible that you may have mistakenly damaged your computer or a component within the computer causing it not to work. If the computer is beeping abnormally, refer to our beep code page for recommendations and beep code listings.