GraveHorizon
poop meter feature creep
A couple weeks ago I purchased a car adapter for my 13.3 inch screen laptop, with the reasoning that I'd want power for it if I go on a long trip somewhere. After plugging it in to my laptop (which was on the desktop) and toggling the switch on the adapter, my screen immediately went black and something inside the laptop started smoking. I unplugged it, and the smell/smoke emanated from the corner of the unit. The laptop hasn't turned on since then. My girlfriend's father took it apart and identified the component that was fried, but we don't know what it is. Can any computer experts help me? I don't know if it's something I'd be able to order and replace myself, or if I'll have to take it in somewhere, assuming my laptop isn't ruined beyond repair.
When I took the adapter back to Radioshack, the guy that sold it to me said the reason it happened was because the car adapter was DC, while my laptop used AC power. I noticed there wasn't a brick in the middle of the cord like there is on my normal adapter, but I don't know shit about electricity so I didn't think much of it. As a bonus, he tried to pass the blame to me for not telling him to what it was for, despite the fact that I specifically asked if it would work for my 13.3 inch screen laptop. I specified because we had previously gone there looking for a car adapter for my girlfriend's laptop, but her screen was so big nothing (affordable) could power it. Anyway, I politely didn't make a scene about his incompetence and got a refund on the adapter.
The small black square thing is what we're pretty sure burnt out.
Here a shot of the whole motherboard(?).
When I took the adapter back to Radioshack, the guy that sold it to me said the reason it happened was because the car adapter was DC, while my laptop used AC power. I noticed there wasn't a brick in the middle of the cord like there is on my normal adapter, but I don't know shit about electricity so I didn't think much of it. As a bonus, he tried to pass the blame to me for not telling him to what it was for, despite the fact that I specifically asked if it would work for my 13.3 inch screen laptop. I specified because we had previously gone there looking for a car adapter for my girlfriend's laptop, but her screen was so big nothing (affordable) could power it. Anyway, I politely didn't make a scene about his incompetence and got a refund on the adapter.