Laptop suffered fatal crash following a motherboard arc during repair work.
Laptop suffered fatal crash following a motherboard arc during repair work.
I encountered a significant issue with the CPU and GPU during my repair work. A large arc appeared near the CMOS and battery area, causing the system to fail to boot for nearly a week. After leaving it on the charger, it eventually started working again. The motherboard looks intact, all connections appear secure, and there are no obvious signs of damage from the arc. Windows scans show no hardware problems.
Recently, the laptop stopped charging altogether when I removed the battery completely and sealed the device. Now, when running games like Call of Duty: MW2 or Baldur's Gate 3, it crashes after about 5 to 10 minutes. Under load, the CPU stays around 50°C and the GPU around 45°C. The machine functions normally without a battery, but the crash events are appearing in both the Reliability Monitor and Event Viewer.
To diagnose further, you might want to:
- Check for any residual power issues or faulty connectors near the CPU/GPU.
- Inspect thermal paste and heatsinks for proper heat dissipation.
- Test the battery with a different charger or replacement to rule out internal failure.
- Run a clean boot to see if the crash is specific to background processes.
- Consider professional diagnostics, as the motherboard damage may be subtle.
If you suspect an arc on the motherboard, it could indicate a more serious problem that might not be easily fixed.
Remove the battery physically from inside the device. Start it and observe if it crashes. This helps determine if the issue lies with capacity checks or firmware changes. Always disconnect the battery and power during any internal work on laptops. Look for firmware updates from the manufacturer regarding battery, charging, and BIOS. If the system runs smoothly without a battery, but you're using it as a desktop, it should be fine. However, if the battery is faulty (especially if no firmware is embedded), replacing it can resolve the problem. You might be facing tight constraints. Is your performance goal set for maximum power usage? Test with and without the battery to see how it affects stability.
It keeps crashing whether or not the battery is connected. The CMOS appears to be functioning normally too. I think it’s best to remove it since it won’t charge anymore, and I might need to purchase a new one from Acer. I’ve kept the system in High Performance mode all along. Are there any more advanced diagnostic tools available that could show error logs and let the built-in Acer Care program detect issues? If my explanation was unclear, please let me know so I can go into more detail. Thanks.
The BIOS in laptops usually includes a diagnostic feature. However, considering the details you mentioned, it might be wise to inspect the board for a damaged cap, fuse, relay, or chip, or check for any signs of arcing damage.