Re: Switching Kernels without Rebooting?

[Ian Stirling <root@mauve.demon.co.uk>]

> 
>  > I've just suspended to disk after the list line, pulled the power 
> supplies,
>  > taken the RAM chip out, shorted the pins to make really sure, then 
> powered
>  > back up.
> 
> FYI: Taking the memory module out and shorting its pins together is a 
> great way to unnecessarily risk zapping your RAM with ESD, and a 
> terrible way to ensure that its contents are erased.  When the DRAM is 
> not being accessed (by definition true when you remove power), the gate 
> capacitors that form the DRAM array are floating unconnected and cannot 
> be intentionally discharged.  You just have to wait for good old leakage 
> to kill the bits.  A minute should be more than enough.

I know, I observed antistatic precautions, and did wait a couple of minutes
(while making a coffe).