Do I really need an anti-static glove or wrist band to change my DVD drive ?

tomsolomon

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

#17 tomsolomon Today, 6:57 PM

- the O/P is not going inside the PSU, just changing a DVD
- it was always my intention to avoid the complicating science but #16 kwikbreaks was bang on
- connected to earth or not, the risk is minuscule, the second you touch the case screws you are ESD ' equalised ' !
- by the time you get the side off you will be safe~as~owses, scientific / evidential risk low to zero
- practical hands on experience low to zero
- too many old wives tales / folklore creeping into the advice
- so take the advice of spud17 / Spank and others / 13a socket switched off but the kettle lead left plugged in to avoid the ' stand-by mode '
- or take my advice an just unplug the whole thing either way you are safe.

Must have a unique PC case if he can change the optical drive without opening the case.
Or maybe the OP has front loading hot swap bays or summin....:cool:

kwikbreaks

tomsolomon wrote: »

Must have a unique PC case if he can change the optical drive without opening the case.
Or maybe the OP has front loading hot swap bays or summin....:cool:

I appear to have missed something here. Where has anyone suggested that the case doesn't need to be opened? Or are you unaware that the PSU is a separately cased unit that mounts inside the main case and certainly doesn't need to be opened to change an optical drive.

Richie-from-the-Boro

sirmarcus wrote: »

Hi all,

Thanks for all of your responses, which have been really useful and informative. As a result, I will not bother with the anti-static glove or wrist-band and do as advised above.

You'll be fine my friend, make sure :

- the jumpers [ M/SL/CS ] are the same on the new one as the old one
- - assuming it's an IDE drive
- - if its a SATA it has no jumpers and is a Master in its own right

Richie-from-the-Boro

kwikbreaks wrote: »

I appear to have missed something here. Where has anyone suggested that the case doesn't need to be opened? Or are you unaware that the PSU is a separately cased unit that mounts inside the main case and certainly doesn't need to be opened to change an optical drive.

No one did suggest the ""case doesn't need to be opened"" kwikbreaks :beer: I assume tomsolomon made a mistake, it happens, we all make mistakes ! Or maybe tomsolomon is having a pop at me for rubbishing his exaggerated comments about "" ESD is a problem, and the results of a discharge can be very spectacular "" in relation to changing a DVD.

[Deleted User]

If you're spending a large amount of time in and out of computers then you'd be wise to invest in a proper ESD mat which you would attach your wristband. The potential damage from ESD is something that is complicated to identify and can manifest itself many months, or even years after the time it occured. The majority of components in a computer are still extremely sensitive to this kind of damage.

Changing a DVD drive shouldn't pose that much of a threat, but it isn't something you should approach recklessly.

Russel245

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

No one did suggest the ""case doesn't need to be opened"" kwikbreaks :beer: I assume tomsolomon made a mistake, it happens, we all make mistakes ! Or maybe tomsolomon is having a pop at me for rubbishing his exaggerated comments about "" ESD is a problem, and the results of a discharge can be very spectacular "" in relation to changing a DVD.

Phew! That second capacitor really went. I don't quite think that's likely to happen in a computer system however, not without some fairly sever tampering.

Most I have had happen to me was a smoked PSU when I plugged an 8800 in. PSU should have been able to take it, but that's cheap hardware for you. I don't think it was a capacitor that blew though, looked more like a resistor, but then it was a bit hard to tell from the small pile of grey ash where the burnt out part used to be.

andyb215

in my experience changing a DVD drive is just a case of unplugging and plugging in cables. as long as the PC is disconnected from the mains and you have pressed the power button so that all the residual electricity is used then it shouldnt be a problem! although it may be wise to touch a radiator it should not be necessary. it is bad practice to keep the pc attached to the mains whilst changing drives as power could still be supplied to the drive cable and cause a short circuit and potentially damage the motherboard.