[pyx]

I know of no modern computer chips that can be erased or damaged by a magnet.

RE: CPU's themselves, I agree.
(JJ you very likely already know what follows, but for others) Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), SDRAM memory, many Programmable Integrated Circuits (PIC) chips, several embedded CPU support chips are sensitive to magnetic fields and degaussing. Unshielded electronic alarm systems with programmable settings and memory of activity would obviously be sensitive to high gauss fields such as a child's magnet.

[John Jamieson]

No, I don't know that. All the chips I use (mostly PICs) are sensitive to infarred light (unless sealed), but not sensitive to magnetic field.

[Spunky]

Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), SDRAM memory, many Programmable Integrated Circuits (PIC) chips, several embedded CPU support chips are sensitive to magnetic fields and degaussing. Unshielded electronic alarm systems with programmable settings and memory of activity would obviously be sensitive to high gauss fields such as a child's magnet.

Is this what happens when K-Mart-Wal-Mart take the CD or DVD you have just purchased run it across there magnet, you get home and there is nothing on it?

[Krodg]

Pyx, could you please speak English.