How to prevent computer damage when connecting/disconnecting peripherals to/from the back

[Electric Man]

I seem to have a problem damaging computers simply by connecting or disconnecting peripherals such as USB devices, speakers, and network cables to the back of the computer.

First a computer will simply freeze up, and then they don't always start, and my main computer won't even start at all now.

I originally thought a particular pair of cheap speakers were causing my computer to freeze, but it later seemed to occur with other devices and with other computers

There seem to be no problems if I have someone else plug something in for me, and a computer is even more likely to turn ion if someone else turns it on. Of course, this is impractical.

Any advice on how to make sure I am discharged before changing something on the back of my computers?

I'd appreciate any advice on anything else anyone might think could be contributing to the problems.

Thanks.

 

[Anzar]

When not connecting any device to ur computer does ur computer freeze? Have u tried connecting in front panel of the computer?

 

[Electric Man]

When not connecting any device to ur computer does ur computer freeze? Have u tried connecting in front panel of the computer?

Thanks for the reply.

None of the 3 affected computers have front panel connections.

Sure, they have all frozen during regular use, and they didn't freeze every time I changed something either, but there were many times where it was clear that changing a connection caused a freeze. For instance, it would happen almost every time I'd switch to/from that one pair of speakers I mentioned.

And after an incident like that, freezing during regular use would sometimes increase until the computer wouldn't boot

I remembered that the other computer besides this one that still works froze and sustained damage to the secondary harddrive when I simply turned the audio interface connected to a PCI card in it on. The thing didn't want to start after that. I attempted it several times, but then let it sit for a month or so, as it isn't a compuiter I need to use as often, and it has worked ever since other than the damage to files on that second hard drive.

Also, one day I repeatedly tried to turn the computer that no longer works on. I asked someone else to try it, and it turned on on the first try.

So I guess I tried to be a little too specific in my otiginal post; it might be more accurate to say that when I touch a computer or anything connected to it, there is a high probability for it to freeze and/or sustain damage or otherwise malfunction..

I just wanted to distinguish my problem from the more typical ones involving static electricity where someone is actually working inside their computer.

Of course, I am afraid to work on them too, at this point, but beyond that I don't want to get something fixed and then have it die just by touching something plugged into it.

So far none of the peripherals themselves seem to have been damaged. I do have a firewire audio interface that no longer works(not recognized by computer) and used to be attached to the dead computer, but I can't verify when it died. It may have been the first casualty of this phenonmenon, or it may be unrelated. I'd send it off to be repaired, but I am afraid the same thing will happen because of the problem I am describing in this thread.

Thanks.

 

[Anzar]

Sir I would recommend u of re-installing the motherboard drivers of that motherboard company of which u are using coz the onboard drivers must've not installed correctly if u've installed pci card pls install the driver too. If someone uses the computer and it works might be the problem of connecting of ur external device to ur computer. One thing have to make sure is when ur connecting any external device it should not be loose or back panel ports should not be loosely moving it might damage ur motherboard.

 

[Electric Man]

I thought I posted this the other day but for some reason I guess it didn't work.

Can anyone tell me a good way to make sure I am not carrying any excess charge in my body when I touch any of the computers or anything attached to them?

All the computers are sitting on the floor on carpet if that matters. That is how I have always had them though.

I still welcome any other suggestions if people think this is not the problem, but I'd like a system to discharge myself as a precaution too.

Thanks.

 

[Tradesman1]

Might pick up an anti static stap

 

[Electric Man]

Might pick up an anti static stap

What would I attach it to before/during plugging something into the back of the computer or turning on an audio interface or other device connected to the computer or the computer itself?

I would think that simply toughing the metal part of the back of the computer ought to do it, but if that is the case none of this should have happened, unless of course I haven't been touching the metal most times I plug something in

Thanks.

 

[Tradesman1]

Generally that does do it, I haven't used a strap in about 20 years, but it can be handy for some, for me it's just a habit

 

[Electric Man]

Generally that does do it, I haven't used a strap in about 20 years, but it can be handy for some, for me it's just a habit

What about with a laptop or a device connected to a computer that is a good distance away?

I was going to use someone else's laptop with an external hard drive with an on off switch on it connected to it. What do I do to discharge before flipping that switch on the hard drive?

thanks.

 

[keha12]

You dont need a static strap. Just put one hand on the back of your PSU and your now discharged. Same thing a Anti-static strap does basically. Hell Ive put together whole computers by maintaining my hand on the PSU and a foot on the metal frame.
But if your hotswapping say something like HDMI which may have power off it from a TV, then its just bad to do that.