A technician installed a known-good, compatible motherboard on a new laptop. However, the motherboard is not working on the laptop. Which of the following should the technician MOST likely have done…

While removing jewelry can prevent short circuits or snagging, it is not the primary measure to prevent damage from electrostatic discharge to sensitive electronic components.

Completing an inventory of tools is a good organizational practice but does not directly prevent physical or electrical damage to components during installation.

Practicing electrical fire safety is crucial for overall workplace safety but is unrelated to preventing damage to electronic components from static electricity during installation.

Motherboards and other sensitive computer components are highly susceptible to damage from Electrostatic Discharge (ESD). A proper ESD strap grounds the technician, dissipating static electricity from their body and preventing it from transferring to and damaging the delicate internal circuitry of the motherboard during handling and installation.