[ale] Linux technophile emergency tool kit

[Michael B. Trausch]

On 05/28/2013 02:13 PM, Dennis Ruzeski wrote:
> I keep a small toolkit (Don't forget the static wristband), an
> external hard drive, and my preferred distro for this kind of work is
> Backtrack. If you haven't checked it out you should.

In 30 years, I've always simply followed the rules for grounding myself
frequently during repair.  I've never need to use mats or wristbands,
and I have yet (knock on wood) to /accidentally/ destroy a component due
to ESD.  I've shorted things together and done a fair number of other
relatively stupid things early-on in my practice.  I remember the first
14.4 modem I got, I was so excited that I forgot to screw down the
card... it touched the 9600 bps modem I had and when I turned on the
computer, I had a fantastic light show.  :)

But ESD?  I've only succeeded in using it to destroy things when I
intended to (e.g., as part of experimentation).  As long as you ground
first, and ground frequently, it's really not possible to screw things
up.  Unless, of course, you shift/shuffle/slide your feet around, or are
working in an extremely dry environment, but then why wouldn't you
simply have a workbench that is itself grounded, so that you're always
touching a grounded surface?

    --- Mike

-- 
Naunet Corporation Logo 	Michael B. Trausch

President, *Naunet Corporation*
? (678) 287-0693 x130 or (888) 494-5810 x130

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