A lot has been written about preventing ESD when working inside a computer, but what about just normal use? My unit sits on a plywood platform a few inches off the carpet, and my chair is on a poly/plastic office pad to protect the carpet. I also work off a computer/station desk.
I have NOTICED in the PAST that if I wipe my screen off while working, a static charge develops sometimes, and the system has shut down, not always. Needless to say, I clean the screen when the system is off. But are there any other precautions one could take? I am almost afraid to vacumm in the room for fear of building up static.
Thanks??? There is nothing to fear, as long as you don't open up the PC when its running and stick your fingers or a screwdriver in there. When it is running it's grounded through the plug, so that's safe. when the PC is off and your inside the case you should, at least, wear a ESD wrist, ER, thing. (forgot the exact term). I use one of these and a anti-static mat. Components should be placed in an anti-static bag.

Years (and years) ago, no-body bothered about static so much. But i'm a firm believer in 'if its not broke then don't brake it'. Its worth using ESD wrist bands because they are actually quite cheap and if you compere that with blowing your motherboard then you can see it's worth it.

If your GOING to vacuum you should use a anti-static vacuum cleaner. They are made ESPECIALLY for cleaning PC's. Vacuum cleaners actually create static.Also, computer case is made out of metal, and it works as Faraday cage. Enclosure like this blocks out external static electrical fields.