Got the new 700W PSU in the mail this morning. So there should be no excuse why I shouldn’t just unplug everything on the back of my computer, lay it down on the bed, and get to work installing the new parts. But I keep thinking of excuses to avoid doing
it. Apart from the usual “I’m scared I’m going to fuck up somewhere” reason (even though it’s nearly been two years, but I feel that was ‘pure luck’ of it booting perfectly).
Why am I so nervous? I saw this video. And when he explained how to properly ground yourself, it made me back away.
He explains if you’re not using an ESD Band (and plug the metal part to the GROUND of a wall outlet), this will happen. And um, this has never happened to me…? Maybe I got lucky? I didn’t even use my ESD Band when I upgraded my graphics card, and my computer didn’t fry. All I did was place my fingers of both hands on a metal part of the case for about 5-10 seconds. Of course, I was wearing shoes. Maybe my body doesn’t really build up a lot of static, so.. that’s what saves me from frying my parts?
Or maybe it’s not even luck at all, and there’s not really a ‘correct’ way to ground
yourself (as long as you do it). And I do it frequently.
Zagro confirms this. What’s actually saving me is how humid my room is. 60% or higher humidity, the risk of frying your parts is extremely low.
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Another thing that worries me, is cleaning the paste off of my 4350 (and the
cooler). The reasoning is I want to be able to store both back in their boxes until mother is ready for me to upgrade hers (instead of having them to the side and collect dust as I install the new motherboard).
I still remember the nightmare of trying to clean off the 9590. But Zagro says that even if I get paste on the pins (or inside the heat spreader), the CPU isn’t fucked. Said all I need to do is get a bowl and fill it about 1/4 with Isopropyl Alcohol, and dip the CPU in. Said the alcohol will eat away at the paste, then let it air dry for awhile and the CPU will be good as new afterwards.
I can also do the same for my fingers (if I get paste on them when taking the cooler and the CPU off). Still wearing gloves for that step though. 😛
I also haven’t fully completed the pre-prep stage– I haven’t backed up my Desktop and icon positions. nor have I looked up this thing that DJ got a key for a low fee. I need to do that. And finally, I haven’t backed up Firefox.
Finally, I feel like I should de-dust the inside of the case before I start. It has been awhile since I’ve done it, and I would had done it sooner if it wasn’t for mother warning me of possible mold in the garage (where the air compressor is). Now she says the mold has mostly gone away, so.. a cleaning wouldn’t hurt.