The damage tag has no wiki summary.
4
votes
1answer
71 views
Sun and or heat damage to back of monitor or computer
I have a laptop, and 2 monitors that are on a desk next to a window. They get direct sunlight for a few hours a day. In summer it seems to be about 3 hours. Most days I'm not using the hardware during ...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
Change screen area available to apps and OS because of dead pixels
OK, I've inherited a nice laptop that has a screen with a 3 inch width vertical column on the right of dead pixels.
It's usable, I've installed the latest ubuntu and have the task bar on the left.
...
0
votes
0answers
60 views
Install XP on an external USB stick in a macbook without OS X installation damage
I have a macbook pro running os x lion and would like to play some windows xp games (grand thef auto san andreas, etc). Through vmware fusion or parallels it is quite slow and my disk is full so ...
2
votes
3answers
68 views
What are possible consequences of frequent BSODs?
I have a Sony laptop which originally came with Windows Vista. So, later when I changed OS to Windows 7, I had to find windows 7 version of drivers for my graphics card, but that version was never ...
1
vote
2answers
91 views
Would using P2P like software damage my SSD?
I have heard some nasty comments about the constant use of P2P like software would seriously damage the normal hard drive, would it have the same level of negative effect on SSD? Thanks.
2
votes
6answers
193 views
Can spilling a liquid on a keyboard or other input device connected to a desktop computer damage the computer itself?
I've heard that spilling liquid on the (wired) keyboard of a desktop computer can cause damage to the motherboard or other parts. Is this possible, or will only the keyboard be damaged? How does ...
1
vote
2answers
186 views
Ubuntu on Apple hardware (early 2011 MacBook Pro)
This isn't so much a "how do I install Linux on Apple hardware" question, but rather a "could this do any sort of damage" one.
I've heard a few people speak of "burning out" the Apple hardware by ...
1
vote
5answers
107 views
LCD screen damaged?
Ok, So I have an ASUS Laptop, obviously with lcd screen. Recently I may or may not have (shifty eyes) sat on it. Accidentally! I freaked out as soon as I heard something crack, saw it was my precious ...
1
vote
3answers
113 views
Possible speaker damage because of MP3 file?
I came across this voice-record from madonna, which upon playing, made a TERRIBLE loud cracking sound. After i played this, i'm pretty sure that there was some damage to the speakers since i'm very ...
2
votes
3answers
90 views
What happens when water is spilled in a powered-on PC?
I spilled some water into a PC (it got through the fan vents) and it powered down immediately. I just got a few splashes on the motherboard and graphics card. Is it fried?
Also:
The RAM did not get ...
47
votes
10answers
2k views
Can Screwdrivers With Magnetic Tips Cause Damage To Electronics?
While it is convenient to pick screws with magnetized tips i wonder if the magnetism can cause any damage to electronics?
1
vote
2answers
98 views
Why is my PC running horrendously slow after month of being turned off?
I hadn't turned on my tower until today, it has been off for about the last month. However, the power supply wasn't switched off (so I think there was power to the motherboard). I've got a relatively ...
1
vote
1answer
103 views
Will running ddrescue on a badly scratched DVD damage my DVD drive?
Is there any reason why running a lengthy ddrescue session on a scratched DVD would be bad for the DVD drive? Something like overheating or straining of certain components?
12
votes
2answers
324 views
How can I check if an anti-static wrist strap works?
I bought Belkin's anti-static wristband but i must be sure it works, since sometimes people report getting units that are defective or do not work in reality.
I have laptop only. How to check if ...
2
votes
3answers
182 views
Danger/Risk of Plugging USB Devices into Powered USB Ports
This question seems like it would have a logical answer, but I thought I’d ask to be safe.
As shown in the photo below, there exist externally-powered USB hubs (A) and USB power-adapters—like the ...
47
votes
18answers
3k views
Can some software physically damage hardware?
I know a question similar to this one has been asked before however it was about installing a 32bit OS on a 64bit laptop. My question is more....damaging.
I was wondering if there was a way of ...
4
votes
1answer
159 views
Laptop won't boot after alcohol spill
So I just had a minor spill and let everything dry out. Now when I try to boot my laptop, I get one or two beeps on the bios splash screen before the laptop shuts down. I can't get to the post screen ...
2
votes
5answers
572 views
how long a computer can be left on for? [closed]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it better to leave your computer on all the time?
I was just wondering is it okay to leave a computer on (I'm talking about desktop) on for more than 10 days? Is it ...
7
votes
2answers
173 views
Did my apartment's electronic key fob fry my flash drive?
I had a great thumb drive on my keychain (a LaCie iAmAKey), right next to the electronic key fob I use to beep myself into my apartment. Recently it's given up the ghost, refusing to be recognized on ...
4
votes
3answers
108 views
Damaged laptop power plug?
Should I be worried about a damaged computer plug? My parents (or someone) knocked it over today. I notice it is no longer straight. There seems like a little tear in the rubber from the fall. I'm ...
16
votes
2answers
583 views
Can flash memory be physically damaged if power is interrupted while writing?
If data is actively being written to a flash memory device, can a memory cell (or perhaps the entire memory device) be physically damaged if power is removed, or will data simply be corrupted? Can ...
0
votes
0answers
48 views
Is it safe to use Ethernet link from linux on virtual box, and USB modem from host windows XP simultaneously?
Environment:
Win XP SP3 connected to the internet from a USB modem on an 845GBV board
Win 7 x64 with an on-board realtek chip
What I want to try:
Setup a NIC on the 845 GBV board
Use the ...
4
votes
3answers
208 views
What's wrong with this screen
I have a Samsung netbook N130, out of warranty. One day a kid sat on it and since then the display on the monitor is split horizontally. Each half is a duplicate of the other as you can see on these ...
0
votes
2answers
382 views
How to corrupt a file system the most spectecular way ;-) [closed]
I want to cause damage to a file system and then try to restore it. I want to use a VM first and when I've learned a little try it on an old HDD. Any ways to damage a filesystem non physically is ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
I got water on my laptop and the usb ports quit working?
I have a BIG problem. Some water has just fallen into my laptop and the usb ports don't work anymore. On debian there is this message: unable to enumerate usb device on port 1 unable to enumerate usb ...
9
votes
6answers
774 views
Is moving an “all-in-one” PC when turned on/off dangerous?
I have an "all-in-one" computer. I know that moving a computer when it is switched on is harmful to the hardware components. What I would like to know is if the same applies to "all-in-one" computers ...
0
votes
3answers
152 views
How to avoid damage to ISO archives?
So had a problem where a 16GB ISO was damaged(likely my own fault using standard windows copy dialog instead of proper copy tool like robocopy with verification turned on).
It took several hours but ...
0
votes
1answer
249 views
Windows XP stuck during booting on the splash screen
Yesterday I accidentally dropped my school's Dell computer onto to floor. It didn't appear to be damaged so I turned the computer on to see if it still worked. To my brief moment of relief, the laptop ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Laptop water damage repair procedure
I'd love some advice in repairing a water-damaged laptop.
My girlfriend spilt a glass of water on her Sony Vaio and now it doesn't turn on...at all...dead! What steps should I go through to work out ...
1
vote
5answers
387 views
Motherboard scratch
I purchased a month ago a motherboard (LGA 1156 - Gigabyte P55A-UD6) at about 328USD.
All worked fine until yesterday, when I saw I mounted the CPU fan (Thermaltake Frio - a monster of 1.5kg weight) ...
0
votes
3answers
447 views
My damaged Hard Disk doesn't pass SMART test, and Linux won't boot with it connected, even from a Live CD (Windows does). Is there any way to fix it?
Its basically an old SATA Hard Drive with a Windows XP partition I was trying to sell.
When my computer does the BIOS checks, it doesn't pass the SMART test (but I can boot it anyway), although I ...
0
votes
1answer
151 views
Touched magnet to my amplifier [closed]
While putting my amp on the shelving unit i had it turned on listening to music, i bumped it against the magnets that hold the doors shut and the amp shut off. now the amp wont playback any sound ...
1
vote
3answers
92 views
USB ports on a laptop
If you attach too many USB devices to one USB port on a laptop by using something that allows you to attach multiple USB devices then can that cause damage to the USB port?
1
vote
3answers
1k views
Will just a couple of thermal “trip” shutdowns typically damage a CPU?
The short version
If a CPU gets so hot that the system turns itself off because of a thermal trip signal just a couple of times, is it likely that the CPU will be damaged? Or does the trip do its ...
1
vote
5answers
509 views
Data loss by randomly unplugging the computer during runtime
I'm from Austria and we and the Germans have some sort of bad science-show which runs every day. What I call it would rougly translate to "half-knowledge" if you want so. By the way: It is called ...
0
votes
4answers
89 views
Which components are most susceptible to kinetic damage (fall)
I guess the most obvious answer would be a hard disk, are there any other components that are very susceptible to this kind of damage?
6
votes
2answers
139 views
Is it safe to just yank an external hard drive if you know nothing is writing to it?
Yes, I know somewhat about the possibility of data corruption if there was data that hadn't been all written to it.
But I just saw this:
Note:If u remove HDD(not USB sticks)
without safely ...
1
vote
1answer
402 views
Short Circuit - can it cause/detecting damage
It's a fairly simple question, can a short circuit in a modern PC cause damage, or are they pretty well protected?
The situation being my PC shutdown unexpectedly on my wife. I had to open it up, tip ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
How to fix a cracked disc?
A friend of mine has a DVD with a crack "its a crack straight through it, about two centimeters on each side of the middle circle", he says.
I suggested toothpaste, will anything else work?
10
votes
10answers
5k views
Can a power failure or forceful shutdown damage hardware?
Can computer hardware suffer damage from forceful shutdowns (holding the power button for five (5) seconds) or power failures?
I believe that normal PC hardware does not suffer from this - after ...
3
votes
4answers
437 views
Water damaged parts, is there any chance of recovery?
I live in the Philippines and our house here was one of the many that was submerged by the flash floods that Typhoon Ketsana brought. We moved one of our computers from the first to the second floor ...
0
votes
2answers
637 views
USB drive errors after airport scan
Well, I just got a new PNY usb drive and it passed through an airport scanner yesterday.
For some reason, I wrote to it and then tried to read from it today, and it gave me a corrupted error!
chkdsk ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
hibernate: can it damage a hard disk
I have been told by someone quite knowledgeable in PC's that placing a PC into hibernate mode can be detrimental to a hard disk or the MBR (Master Boot Record) can be damaged and so cause some havoc.
...
0
votes
2answers
133 views
Dead-ish Laptop, What's next?
UPDATE 2:
Strange... I left it off for a few days and turned it upside down overnight. The lines disappeared... (Loose gfx card making sparking noises and lines? I don't know. Still, HP refused to ...
1
vote
4answers
566 views
Accidental format of external hard drive (not started but gave problems and now the disk doesn't mount)
I've done the following (stupid) thing: I had to format a SD card on Vista. So I right clicked, then selected quick format... just a second after I noticed that IT WAS MY USB HDD. :O and I hit CANCEL. ...
3
votes
2answers
499 views
Burnt SATA Drive
By stupid curiosity, I've connected the FDD power cable to the jumper pins of a SATA drive, and powered on the system. The SATA drive's controller burned out. What now? Can it be replaced, and still ...
