8Safety Instructions
In addition, take note of these safety guidelines when appropriate:
• When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its strain-relief loop, not on the cable itself. Some cables have a
connector with locking tabs; if you are disconnecting this type of cable, press in on the locking tabs before disconnecting the
cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins. Also, before you connect
a cable, make sure that both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.
• Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the components or contacts on a card. Hold a card by its edges or by
its metal mounting bracket. Hold a component such as a microprocessor chip by its edges, not by its pins.
SAFETY: Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) events can harm electronic components inside your computer. Under certain conditions, ESD may
build up on your body or an object, such as a peripheral, and then discharge into another object, such as your computer. To prevent
ESD damage, you should discharge static electricity from your body before you interact with any of your computer’s internal
electronic components, such as a memory module. You can protect against ESD by touching a metal grounded object (such as an
unpainted metal surface on your computer’s I/O panel) before you interact with anything electronic. When connecting a
peripheral (including handheld digital assistants) to your computer, you should always ground both yourself and the peripheral
before connecting it to the computer. In addition, as you work inside the computer, periodically touch an I/O connector to remove
any static charge your body may have accumulated.
You can also take the following steps to prevent damage from electrostatic discharge:
• When unpacking a static-sensitive component from its shipping carton, do not remove the component from the antistatic
packing material until you are ready to install the component. Just before unwrapping the antistatic package, be sure to
discharge static electricity from your body.
• When transporting a sensitive component, first place it in an antistatic container or packaging.
• Handle all electrostatic sensitive components in a static-safe area. If possible, use antistatic floor pads and work bench pads.
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