The proper way to handle computer circuits is to wear a grounded wrist strap. Any electrical charge that builds up on your body is then immediately conducted to ground. But experienced technicians have tricks for controlling static electricity.

One trick is to leave circuit board laying on top of an antistatic bag or antistatic foam as much as possible. Another is to leave computer plugged into AC outlet with computers power switch off. This places ground on computers metal case. Then technician works with one hand always on a metal part of case. Any electrical charge that builds up on your body is then immediately conducted to ground same as with a wrist strap.

The important thing is to take static discharge seriously. Don't stick yourself or someone else with a flaky computer because you were too lazy to take basic care to protect against static discharge. ---------------------------------------------------------- Resource Box: Copyright(C)2002 Bucaro TecHelp. To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on Web visit http://bucarotechelp.com To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter Send a blank email to bucarotechelp-subscribe@topica.com ----------------------------------------------------------

Can't See CD Drive in Explorer

Modern CD-ROM drives use same ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) interface that a hard drive uses. (Sometimes called IDE for integrated drive electronics). A motherboard usually has two ATA channels, primary and secondary. Each channel can control two drives, master and slave.

In Device Manager, click on + next to Hard disk controllers to open that branch. Make sure Primary and Secondary IDE controllers are listed and they don't have a yellow exclamation (!) mark next to them. If one is not visible, controller may be disabled in BIOS setup. If there is an exclamation mark, CD-ROM drive may be defective.

Eject Button Does Not Work

If a CD gets stuck in drive, turn off power to PC. Then insert a straightened paper clip into tiny emergency eject hole on front of drive.

Unusual Problems

Inside computer's case, make sure power cable on back of CD-ROM drive is not loose. Make sure data cable is not loose on connector on back of CD-ROM drive and on motherboard. A loose cable may have worked until dust drawn in by cooling fan accumulated inside case.

The ATA channel master or slave assignment is configured automatically by data cable or is configured by a jumper on back of CD-ROM drive. If a new drive has been added, check this configuration.

Some software records letter of CD-ROM drive from which it was installed. If you later remove or install a storage device, Windows will reassign drive letters. The software may not be able to find CD-ROM drive. If you can't reconfigure that software, you can go into CD-ROM drive's Properties dialog box, select Settings tab, and set a letter to be used by drive.

Some CD-ROM drives require a driver. Follow drive manufacturers instructions to install driver. It can usually be done through CD-ROM drive's Properties dialog box, Driver tab. ---------------------------------------------------------- Resource Box: Copyright(C)2002 Bucaro TecHelp. To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on Web visit http://bucarotechelp.com To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter Send a blank email to bucarotechelp-subscribe@topica.com ----------------------------------------------------------