Exploding Computer Components

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Older computers may have been built during a time when the electronic components used in their construction were of poor quality. In particular, a large number of capacitors suffer from a syndrome called the “Capacitor Plague” where they swell, bulge, burst and may even blow up with quite a bang!

Photos: A motherboard with the Capacitor Plague

Before these components fail catastrophically, they will likely cause stability problems with the computer. frequent lock-ups and crashes. The computer may even fail to boot or fail POST, amongst all manner of other issues. 

How this came to pass is a story straight out of a James Bond movie. Several Taiwanese manufacturers used a stolen formula that had vital details missing, which resulted in the components not being manufactured to the correct construction or grade. The result was the supply of components to electronic device manufacturer that were destined to fail given some time and use!

The Wikipedia entry for the “Capacitor Plague” makes for interesting and comprehensive reading on this topic.

If you’ve got an older computer and are experiencing strange problems that don’t seem to be down to the usual Operating System, drivers and software causes then it is worth a quick inspection of your components for signs of this condition. Roundtrip Solutions can perform this inspection for you if you suspect it is the cause of your computer problems. This is a part of our computer support and repair service offering that covers Edinburgh, Fife, and Tayside. We will advise you of the necessary repair required to get your computer operating again both stably and safely.

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