Laptops Forum·2,716 discussions

Is this electrostatic damage?

Tags: Hardware, Operating Systems, Software

I have a jumpertech laptop thing, and a few days ago I had touched one of the usb ports and saw and felt a huge spark, then the screen went dark. Not off just dark. I turned it off then on again and it worked fine. But then a while later I touched the usb port again and there was another spark. That time the screen glitches a little and nothing else. Anyways the laptop worked perfectly fine for the rest of the day.
Then the next day I pressed the power button to turn on the laptop but it didn’t come on. It was charging and the charging light was on, but it wouldn’t turn on. When I pressed the power button nothing happened at all.

After a few days I tried to turn on the computer again and now it does something different. It turns on, shows the logo for a split second then turns back off again. It does this over and over again and I can also hear a high-pitch electricity/buzzing like sound coming from the laptop whenever it tries to turn on. I have tried removing the internal battery and holding the power button to release static electricity, but it doesn’t work. How can I fix this, is the damage permanent?

Topic

Since the battery and button didn’t clear it up.

In reply to Is this electrostatic damage?

It’s damaged. Does not matter if it’s ESD or not since the damage is done. To fix these we replace the motherboard since you can’t be sure how many parts on the motherboard took a hit.
Get estimates and to prevent this in the future, perform some static control in your computer area.

Example from ChatGPT (AI):
“ESD, or electrostatic discharge, is the sudden flow of electricity between two charged objects caused by contact, an electrical short, or dielectric breakdown. ESD can damage sensitive electronic components, such as those found in laptops, and it is important to take precautions to prevent it.

One way to control ESD around your laptop is to use an ESD wrist strap. This is a device that you wear around your wrist and is connected to a grounding mat or other grounded object. The wrist strap provides a path for the static electricity to flow away from your body and into the ground, reducing the risk of ESD.

Another way to control ESD is to use an ESD mat on your desk or work surface. These mats are made of a special material that helps dissipate static electricity and provide a safe, grounded work area for your laptop and other electronic devices.

It is also a good idea to avoid building up static electricity on your body by wearing natural fibers, such as cotton or wool, and avoiding synthetic materials like polyester. Avoiding walking on carpets or other materials that can generate static electricity can also help reduce the risk of ESD.”

Reply To: Is this electrostatic damage?

In reply to Is this electrostatic damage?

It sounds like there may be some damage to the laptop due to the sparks that you experienced. It’s possible that the power supply or the motherboard has been damaged, which could be causing the issues that you are experiencing.

If you are comfortable doing so, you can try to open the laptop and inspect the components for any visible signs of damage such as burn marks or damaged connectors. If you do not see any visible damage, you can try reseating the RAM and checking all of the cables to ensure that they are properly connected.

If the issue persists after these steps, it is likely that there is some internal hardware damage that will need to be repaired. In this case, it is recommended to take the laptop to a professional for repair or to contact the manufacturer for further assistance.

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