I did a stupid thing. I had the back panel off the laptop and was tightening a screw on the motherboard. The battery was in the laptop and the power cord was plugged in. I saw a small arch. Did I fry the motherboard? I’m sure I fried something because the laptop will not turn on now. How do I know what I fried? I hate to buy a new motherboard only to find out it was something else.
Share
If you saw an electrical arc – a spark – yes, it’s quite possible you damaged something.
All modern computers (some since about the mid 1990s; all of them made in about 2000 or later) are ATX family computers. The ATX family mboards are always powered in some places even when the computer is not running, as long as there is live power connected to the mboard.The battery and/or AC adapter for a laptop must be disconnected, or there must be no live AC power to a desktop power supply, when you’re fiddling with anything inside the computer case if you want to avoid the possibility of damaging something.
You should always have both the battery and the AC adapter disconnected when you’re fiddling with anything inside the computer case including the ram, and you should take precautions to prevent static electricity discharges as well if the situation is favorable for producing that – e.g. low air humidity where the computer is and wall to wall carpet on the floor.
Take it to a local place that is authorized to repair your brand and have them analyze it.
If your computer is an older model you can often find a new, or a good used replacement mboard that has no passwords enabled in it’s bios for a reasonable price when you search on the web, but it’s wise for you to use a Service or Maintenance manual for the model series if you replace it yourself to avoid damaging something while dong that.