Monday 13 April 2009

Not Paying Attention Can Be Costly

This is how:

09-04-13-Kingston-Memory---Chipped

Memory Registers

While inserting a memory upgrade into one of our lab boxes, I pivoted the stick into the slot instead of sliding it straight down into its seat.

That first pivot caused a snap sound that was immediately recognizable as a soldered joint letting go.

Then, to top it off, the without thinking, the second piece went in the same way and I was greeted with the same sound.

The registers are sitting just to the left of the memory sticks in the above screenshot.

And, no, they will not be RMAd since I am responsible for killing them.

We are fortunate that the RAM is not that expensive, but even then, this is still a costly lesson to have.

The need to focus on what we are doing when it comes to the more intricate hardware procedures, such as installing RAM (what happens when a slight sideways pressure causes the stick to rotate? I am sure we have some readers that know … as do I) is of utmost importance when we are working on production systems.

This focus is even more important when we are running through a series of complicated steps for a server setup, upgrade, or operating system reconfiguration. One mistake can lead to an error that can ultimately put our clients out of business until we restore.

Having a lot of things on one’s plate does not count as an excuse when things go wrong at our own hands. Either trying to rush things, or thinking about the next task on the to do list, does not work when we are doing something intricate.

So, it is time to take a series of very deep breaths and focus the mind on the task at hand … and to let go of the frustration of the moment! ;)

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer

1 comment:

Andy Asselin said...

Seen that before once had ram chip full over memorey stick off brand ram it was bad solder joint

Also people stick ram backwords yes not what you did It happy but you always feel bad when you do it youself shound,nt happen to professonaly :> lol

I got two stick from client that try change his own ram installed backwords yes people seem to just force stuff in

2 x 2 gig stick one died mainboard and his old 2 stick 512 ram

It was more costly mistake for him

It seem people never know when to stop

he was try upgrade his ram from 1 gig 2 x 512 he remove old ram install new 2 x 2 gig fryed it put backwards burned the ram slot realy badly

then he thoght well he put old ram in did same things

Tottaly Agree with not rma Mistake Happens

The guy does,nt do his own upgrade now I think he reliezed it better let people who know what do it