Measuring resistor

[Julius]

What is the advantage of measuring resistor in reference to ground? I see a lot of technician doing this when they troubleshoot such as tv circuit board trying to find open or short. When they measure the resistor one probe stay on the ground and they just move the other probe. But how do you know you'r not measuring the resistance of the circuit board traces? Since one leg could be tied to ground and the other leg could be connected to another component. What is the indication that this is the resistor value? What is the diff when measuring the resistor directly between two legs?

[Chris Smith]

Your not checking the resistance, but rather the yes/no situation.

The circuit board resistance, and resistor resistance, usually is not the information you are seeking to a problem, but rather the open/ short value indicating a failure of an component, including the trace on the board leading in and out of the circuit under test..