Why software techs must not forget test pointsSoftware tools make our work fast and tempting. It is easy to rely only on a program and forget the hardware under the hood. Lately I have seen many technicians so used to preloader auth tools that they almost ignore test points — the physical pads and pins that let you talk directly to a device’s processor or memory. That’s risky. Here’s a plain, no-fluff explanation of why test points matter, what to watch for, and how to stay safe.Credit goes to https://www.facebook.com/MofadalllTest points are not optionalTest points are the bridge between software and hardware. When you skip them or connect to the wrong pad, the consequences can be small or permanent. Wrong connections can cause the device to stop responding, blow fuses, or lock critical chips. For that reason alone, every tech who works mostly in software should learn the basics of where test points are, what they do, and how to connect to them correctly.Be careful with connectionsSome practical, low-risk ways to avoid mistakes:Confirm the function of each pad before you touch it. Labels and board diagrams help, but double-check visually.If you are unsure, do not improvise. Disconnect and re-evaluate.Where possible, make temporary, removable connections instead of soldering permanently. This reduces the chance of permanent damage.For repeated work on a single model, mark safe test points clearly so you don’t mix them up later.I am not going to give step-by-step ways to bypass protections. The point here is simple: wrong wiring causes damage. Work carefully.Tools should be kinder to hardwareA lot of trouble comes from tools that try to reconnect too fast. If the processor cannot see RAM yet, or if a line is still settling, the link may fail or corrupt the device state. A useful feature for software tools would be a short sleep or freeze after a connection attempt so the hardware has time to stabilise. That small pause can cut down on failed syncs and damaged e-fuses.At the moment, in my experience, Pandora is one tool that handles timing better. It waits a little before reconnecting, giving the board time to be ready. That approach reduces errors when dealing with flaky lines or slow initialisation.Understand e-fuses and irreversible limitsElectronic fuses and one-time programmable values exist on many modern boards. Once they are blown or written, you cannot undo them. In practice that means:Treat any operation that can change fuses as high risk.Know which parts of the board are one-time programmable and which are not.If a device shows signs of fuse-based locking, stop and get expert input rather than guessing.I will write a deeper essay on e-fuses later, because they come in different types and behave differently. For our field, the most important thing is to recognise which fuses are irreversible and to avoid accidental writes.Train software-only techs in hardware basicsA lot of problems come from a knowledge gap. Trainers and team leads should give short, practical classes for people who mainly work in software. Minimal hardware knowledge that every software tech should have:How to identify common test pointsWhat a short or wrong connection will doHow RAM and processor initialisation affects connectionsThe role and danger of e-fusesEven a few hands-on hours with boards and test clips will pay off more than fixing mistakes later.Final notes: focus, caution, and respect the boardWork slowly. Respect the hardware. When the job is risky, pause and ask an experienced colleague. Tools and speed are useful, but speed without hardware understanding causes damage that you cannot undo. Keep learning, mark safe points, and push makers to add gentler timing and pause features in their tools. That will protect devices and the people who repair them.