Several ways to keep from frying the innards...

ESD straps/wristbands... A little over the top, but still effective. A small alligator clamp to part of the frame, semi-conductve cable to a wristband with a small metal cleat that touches your wrist when you wear it...

Don't drag your feet across the carpet like when you want to static-electrocute your buddy...

Power the machine down first, then make sure to touch the frame. Touch it again and again throughout the process of whatever it is you're doing...

Any parts you decide to store can be kept in an ESD-proof bag, and in the original box (or another one the same size)...

There are also anti-static mats you can lay down to use as a work surface, but the touch-touch-touch method is my personal favorite... Cheap, easy, and faster than dressing up/down to work on your machine...

I used one of those anti static wrist bands for a while. Then I got bored of it, and have been fiddling inside my machine for 2 years without anything dying of static shock. I think they're a waste of time really.

I even accidentally ran a screw driver head over the back of my graphics card once whilst the machine was running, made quiet a few sparks but the thing still works (honestly)

I wouldn't worry about it too much, although its definitely a good idea to store motherboards and the like in anti-static bags.

Touching something grounded is all I've ever done.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the advice....Zoya

If you have a metal Watch you can just attach a pair of alligator clips and use that as your ground. Worked for me.

yea turning your pc off before you mess around in there is a good idea I shocked myself a couple times and shorted out my mobo on accident. make sure your hands are clean when you go in there too cause I had some metal fragments under my nails when I shorted out my mobo. I'm stupid.

I always looked at working on PCs not only without a wrist strap, but while they're still running as sort of a geek badge of courage, much like riding a bike with no hands, or playing ding-dong ditch.

Quote: Originally Posted by Fu3lman

Nice one, +rep.

Quote: Originally Posted by Wordbiker I always looked at working on PCs not only without a wrist strap, but while they're still running as sort of a geek badge of courage, much like riding a bike with no hands, or playing ding-dong ditch.

Werd. My thoughts exactly

Quote: Originally Posted by Dex I used one of those anti static wrist bands for a while. Then I got bored of it, and have been fiddling inside my machine for 2 years without anything dying of static shock. I think they're a waste of time really. I even accidentally ran a screw driver head over the back of my graphics card once whilst the machine was running, made quiet a few sparks but the thing still works (honestly) I wouldn't worry about it too much, although its definitely a good idea to store motherboards and the like in anti-static bags.

I'm goin slightly off-topic here a mo

On the same lines as Dex, I have always had problems when installing heatsinks!
Luckely so far I've not killed any mobo's but some times I find I slip when applying pressure to
the sinks retention clips ( if thats what they're called!? ) thus ensuing in a slight scratch ( sometimes not visible ) by the screwdriver.

Are there any tools out there or methods that can help me with this??

Quote: Originally Posted by Wordbiker I always looked at working on PCs not only without a wrist strap, but while they're still running as sort of a geek badge of courage, much like riding a bike with no hands, or playing ding-dong ditch.

Haha yeh I've been shocked a few times, boyee, what a rush!!

A trick I picked up along the way is to take a surge protector, turn it off and tape the switch so no one knocks into it while you are working, turn off the switch on the PSU, and plug it into the surge protector. The grounding through the PSU and surge protector still works so you just tap the metal part of your case before you get to work, and all is good.

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I've left motherboards and cpu's lying on the carpet. I've accidentally launched a screw driver into a motherboard, shutting off the pc. It still ran fine.

I think you'll be ok without any sort of grounding device.

When i first learned to work on computers a long time ago they said to always keep your self grounded so my tecnique was to work on my computer on the floor and keep a bare foot touching the metal case. I don't do that anymore however I've only fried out a fan and that was just screwing around with a 9v battary. Computers are far more tolerent now adays then they used to be to little whopses(?).

Quote: Originally Posted by Wordbiker I always looked at working on PCs not only without a wrist strap, but while they're still running as sort of a geek badge of courage, much like riding a bike with no hands, or playing ding-dong ditch.

does it make me a mega geek if i mastered all of those things?