220-1101 Question 148
Single answerStaticA technician is upgrading RAM in several desktop PCs at a repair bench during winter. One motherboard fails immediately after the upgrade, and the technician notices they were working on carpet while wearing a wool sweater. To reduce the risk of this problem during future upgrades, which action should the technician take FIRST?
- A
Wear an antistatic wrist strap connected to a proper ground point on the chassis or mat
- B
Place the computer on top of the antistatic bag while installing components
- C
Unplug the power cable and press the power button repeatedly to remove all static electricity
- D
Use compressed air on the DIMM slots before handling memory modules
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This question tests practical ESD prevention in a real repair scenario. In A+ Core 1, technicians are expected to know that static electricity can damage sensitive components such as RAM, CPUs, and motherboards, especially in dry environments or when working on carpet. The best first action is to use proper ESD protection, such as an antistatic wrist strap attached to a grounded chassis or approved ESD mat. Industry best practices also include avoiding carpeted work areas, minimizing static-generating clothing, handling components by the edges, and storing parts in antistatic packaging when not installed. A common misconception is that unplugging power or pressing the power button addresses ESD risk; those steps may help with electrical safety but do not replace grounding the technician.
- A. Correct.
Correct. An antistatic wrist strap properly connected to ground is a primary ESD control method and is a standard best practice when handling sensitive internal components such as RAM and motherboards. This equalizes electrical potential between the technician and the equipment, reducing the chance of electrostatic discharge damaging components.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Antistatic bags are designed to protect components during storage and transport, but placing a computer or component on top of the bag during installation is not the recommended practice. The outside of many ESD bags is conductive or dissipative, and best practice is to use a proper ESD mat rather than using the bag itself as a work surface.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Unplugging power is important for safety and to avoid electrical damage, but pressing the power button does not remove all static electricity from the technician or work area. This option confuses residual electrical charge in the power supply with electrostatic discharge control.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Cleaning dust from DIMM slots may help with installation or connectivity issues, but it does not address the main risk in the scenario: static electricity generated by the environment and the technician's clothing and work surface.