Hi Owenbear
1)
It depends on how lucky you are :)
The thing that typically kills computer parts (when handling them), is electrostatic discharges (ESD).
Not necessarily at levels that can generate a spark, but more commonly is not even noticed. You can easily have a potential on a (few) hundred volts from left to right hand, which can kill a cpu instantly, if you discharge through it's pins.
So the question is - did you.?
My guess is as good as yours :) , so you have to test it, which brings us to
Question 2
I have tested several cpu's in various motherboards, without damaging the boards when the cpu's have been defective (as far as I know), but I can't give you any guaranties that it can't happen. (we are back to your level of luck I guess) :)
So my advice is to use a spare (old) board for that kind of testing, or at least a very cheap one, just in case...
If I am out of ESD safe bags, and need to store some computer parts, I usually use an old newspaper to wrap around it, as it will most likely not generate any ES by it self, and also usually will discharge any ES due to common humidity and its fibers.
I have (with luck) stored RAM blocks like this, for months without damaging them, but then again - it might just have been pure luck :)
It is however important not to use any coated "shiny" paper, since it might be a plastic coating which is electrically insulating (can carry an electrical charge).
