PE> On my XT, whenever I used to plug the com port in, I'd often get a spark,
PE> once the serial port was stuffed because of that and needed repair.

Shit. Thats not real terrific at all.

PE> I never learnt my lesson, but I've never had a problem
PE> since, on my more modern machines.  Did they improve
PE> that technology or something? The XT was a Commodore PC5.

Thats not normal even for an XT.

Its not too clear what you are actually asking me. If you
are asking if you can just forget about the problem now
on your more modern machines, yes, thats basically true.

The XT is likely fixable so it doesnt do that, but presumably its binned now.
@EOT:

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