The most common causes of hardware failures can be divided into two major categories: physical damage and component failure.
Physical damage occurs when an external force impacts the hardware and causes it to malfunction or cease functioning entirely. This can include a surge in electrical current, mechanical vibration or shock, extreme temperatures, dust, water or other liquid spills, and corrosion or oxidation. In this case, physical damage can lead to complete failure of the hardware or at least reduce its performance.
Component failure is a more complex issue and can be caused by different factors. The most frequent reason for hardware failure due to component defects is due to hardware manufacturing defects, such as faulty transistors or integrated circuits. Other causes include over-use of the hardware, commonly known as “burn-out”, due to high temperatures that are generated during long periods of sustained use. Poorly soldered joints can also cause component failure. Similarly, components may fail due to incorrect settings within the BIOS, outdated firmware, dirt on the memory module, ageing hard disks, weakened capacitors, and the usage of non-compatible parts.
To conclude, the two main causes of hardware failures are physical damage and component failure. Physical damage can be caused by external forces such as electrical surges, mechanical vibration, extreme heat, cold, dust and liquids, as well as corrosion or oxidation. Component failure can be caused by manufacturing defects, over-use, incorrect settings within the BIOS, outdated firmware, dust and dirt on the memory modules, aging hard disks, weakened capacitors, and the usage of non-compatible parts. To avoid hardware failure, the best thing to do is to ensure that the hardware is properly maintained and secure from physical damage, as well as regular checks for component performance and compatibility.