USB killer?
USB killer?
Please verify if this might be a USB killer. It seems unlikely given the lack of condensers. Your concern is understandable.
You purchased a retail windows key and immediately disassembled the USB drive to examine it.
It seems he likely got it secondhand rather than purchasing it directly from an authorized seller.
There are condensers and capacitors on the board, with two shown in the first image and twelve in the second. Some are SMD parts with a light gray finish—searching for 'SMD ceramic capacitor' gives a clearer picture. These aren't the massive capacitors you see on USB killers, so they probably aren’t powerful enough to damage a USB port. Still, if you're worried about a USB killer, it's wise to also consider the possibility of malware. Based on what I see, picture one likely contains a NAND chip while the other appears to be a controller module, though this is just an assumption.
I purchased it from a third-party seller. It worked during installation but my laptop froze after 15 seconds. The BIOS won’t respond, and the power indicator stays on. I reset everything but the issue persists. I tried removing USB devices, jumper connections, and clearing BIOS/CSM settings. A new motherboard is showing similar symptoms—red and orange lights, CPU and RAM not functioning. I suspect a USB failure, but I’m unsure what else is wrong. The motherboard I’m using is an Asus Tuf B650 Plus, now an MSI B650 Tomahawk with a 7800X3D CPU and 6000MHz RAM. The graphics card is still connected but not working. I haven’t installed the RTX 4090 yet. Any suggestions? Maybe a professional repair would help.
I also tested the USB port where the possible USB killer might be located, and it functions properly with the keyboard providing power. The PC simply prevents me from accessing BIOS before shutting down after 15 seconds.
You’re aware that you can obtain Windows for free, and you can also utilize a stolen key from the gray market.