Static Shocking Computer Restarts of Doom

[Village_Ideot]

SSCRD for short.
I have an aluminum case...

My computer will restart every time I accidentally shock it (which is often seeing as how my room is terribly staticky [not a word]) my computer will restart. But worse. You see, it doesn't restart, it just goes totally blank. The only way to get it back on is to switch the power supply off and back on.

The cool part of this is the fact that I can start it up by shocking it.

So...what do I do to ground it? I am worried that one of these days my hard drive will get wiped...

[James S]

If your computer came with plastic feet to elevate it off the ground that would be a good idea. Or just put a pad of rubber underneath it. I'm assuming you have a carpet floor? You should be sure to touch your door knob before you work with your computer if your room's static problem is as bad as you say. The grounding cable on your powersupply should remove every electrical current from your case out into the grounding unit on the power lines. Make sure a screw or something isn't overlapping and touching the PCB or connectors on the motherboard, and be sure you don't have any loose power cords that are touching any components.

[RICoder]

correction...you don't want to ground the case...that completes the circuit (which is the problem). The rubber feet will remove ground...this is good.

[James S]

[David Horn]

Unfortunately, the case is permanently grounded through the power supply - three pins: phase, neutral, and earth.

Your best option would be to ground yourself before touching the computer. You can get an antistatic wriststrap that plugs into the wall, or touch a radiator or anything electrical with a metal case, except your computer, obviously

[glenthemole]

[Village_Ideot]

Ok...I think the case did come with rubber feet, but no doubt I lost them, seeing as how the computer is on the carpet. Thanks for the help.

[Mechcommander]

[glenthemole]

I know it sounds stupid, but you could try a different pair of shoes. When I wear one particular pair of trainers in the summer I get loads of shocks when I touch things, but I never get them with any other shoes.

[Village_Ideot]

[David Horn]

[James S]

[David Horn]

[James S]

It's not you, David. It's me ... I just, I'm not ready for a serious relationship yet!

[Fish]

In the winter, the air is dry, so when you are walking around in your windbreaker and those $6 shoes you got from Payless, you build up a charge. Anything that IS grounded, is going to zero that charge. That's where the spark comes from.

There were some motorists in the news recently who brilliantly left the gas nozzle in the tank and walked around, then touched the nozzle...FOOOOOOOM! Adios Honda Civic and your eyebrows.

Find something metal besides your computer to touch before you touch your case. A heat register, the window sill, something.