Topic: I told him not to overclock his processor, but did he listen?

[toasty0]

Techie found dead in front of burnt computer
4 Apr 2009, 0442 hrs IST, TNN


 
CHENNAI: A young software engineer working with Tata Consultancy Services was killed in a suspected computer blast at his home on Telugu Brahmin Street in Velachery late on Friday. The incident took place when Vijayakumar (28), hailing from Madurai, was working on the computer.

Police said his charred body was found in a sitting posture. “We are yet to ascertain the cause of the blast. The computer was completely damaged and the deceased was charred,” a police officer told TOI. Vijayakumar was sharing the house with two other software engineers, Vignesh (26) and Ram Prasad (26). When the accident occurred Ram Prasad was in the room with Vijayakumar, police said.

“Ram Prasad had gone to take bath. He told us that suddenly he heard a blast and when he rushed out he saw the charred body of his friend and fainted,” the officer said. However, the case has baffled the investigating officers. “It sounds quite unbelievable. We have not heard of such a case before. But the scene of the accident seems to suggest that the youth was killed in an accident as his body was in the sitting position in front of the burnt computer,” the official added. 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4357502,prtpage-1.cms

[marstone]

sounds like a practical joke gone bad.  Buddies wanted to scare the guy by having his computer fuff out alittle flame, put accelerant in it, accelerant fumed, thus exploded in fire ball instead of going pop with some flame.  Would be interesing if there is a follow up on this.

[knightstorm]

Was it a laptop.  I remember a few years ago there was that video of the dell laptop bursting into flames.

[Nemesis]

It wasn't just Dell laptops, it was laptops with Sony batteries.  The batteries if damaged would develop an internal short and heat up, the electrolyte would vaporize and the cell would burst under pressure.  The vented material would then ignite.  The released heat would cause the next cell to do the same and a chain reaction would occur until all cells had burst and ignited.

[knightstorm]

I didn't say it was just Dell laptops, just that the laptop in the video was a dell.  The law of probability would dictate this based on the massive numbers of Dell victims.

[RazalYllib]

It wasn't just Dell laptops, it was laptops with Sony batteries.  The batteries if damaged would develop an internal short and heat up, the electrolyte would vaporize and the cell would burst under pressure.  The vented material would then ignite.  The released heat would cause the next cell to do the same and a chain reaction would occur until all cells had burst and ignited.

Kool, just like a Andromedan PA panel...cascade

[Nemesis]

I didn't say it was just Dell laptops, just that the laptop in the video was a dell.  The law of probability would dictate this based on the massive numbers of Dell victims.

Should I assume that because the only video I saw was an IBM Thinkpad meant that most of the exploding machines were IBMs?  More likely is that very few of the detonations were caught on video and neither of us saw very many videos.  I did read about more of them and there were a variety of machines from different manufacturers exploding, the common factor being Sony batteries.

[marstone]

I didn't say it was just Dell laptops, just that the laptop in the video was a dell.  The law of probability would dictate this based on the massive numbers of Dell victims.

Should I assume that because the only video I saw was an IBM Thinkpad meant that most of the exploding machines were IBMs?  More likely is that very few of the detonations were caught on video and neither of us saw very many videos.  I did read about more of them and there were a variety of machines from different manufacturers exploding, the common factor being Sony batteries.

Then with the way "news" videos work.  It was probably a setup so they could film it burning.  LIke when to show how dangerous the side mounted gas tanks were on some trucks, they put ignitors in the tanks so it would explode when they did the crash test.  Made for good video.

[toasty0]

I didn't say it was just Dell laptops, just that the laptop in the video was a dell.  The law of probability would dictate this based on the massive numbers of Dell victims.

Should I assume that because the only video I saw was an IBM Thinkpad meant that most of the exploding machines were IBMs?  More likely is that very few of the detonations were caught on video and neither of us saw very many videos.  I did read about more of them and there were a variety of machines from different manufacturers exploding, the common factor being Sony batteries.

Exploding? I think there was a burn and fire hazard, but explosions? I don't recall explosion being the concern.

[Nemesis]

I didn't say it was just Dell laptops, just that the laptop in the video was a dell.  The law of probability would dictate this based on the massive numbers of Dell victims.

Should I assume that because the only video I saw was an IBM Thinkpad meant that most of the exploding machines were IBMs?  More likely is that very few of the detonations were caught on video and neither of us saw very many videos.  I did read about more of them and there were a variety of machines from different manufacturers exploding, the common factor being Sony batteries.

Exploding? I think there was a burn and fire hazard, but explosions? I don't recall explosion being the concern.

The film I saw was taken in an Airport.  I don't think it was staged. 

Containers (such as a battery case) can burst explosively due to pressure as it did in this case.  When the liquid inside changes state to a gas the pressure surges enormously and can cause an explosion.  The gas then ignites if flammable.  Why do you think aerosol cans all have warnings not to dispose of them in a fire or to heat them up? 

As each cell burst and the gas ignited not only did it provide more heat to the next cell but the bursting itself weakened the next cell enabling it to explode quickly due to reduced structural strength. 

When I was taking spills response training one of the videos was from a train wreck.  They had checked the pressure on a tank car to ensure that it would not explode but neglected to consider the temperature change once daylight came.  The explosion from internal pressure threw parts of that car out of sight.  (I think it was liquid nitrogen - non flamable).

[knightstorm]

I didn't say it was just Dell laptops, just that the laptop in the video was a dell.  The law of probability would dictate this based on the massive numbers of Dell victims.

Should I assume that because the only video I saw was an IBM Thinkpad meant that most of the exploding machines were IBMs?  More likely is that very few of the detonations were caught on video and neither of us saw very many videos.  I did read about more of them and there were a variety of machines from different manufacturers exploding, the common factor being Sony batteries.

Then with the way "news" videos work.  It was probably a setup so they could film it burning.  LIke when to show how dangerous the side mounted gas tanks were on some trucks, they put ignitors in the tanks so it would explode when they did the crash test.  Made for good video.

Once more Nem, I did not say that Dells have a greater propensity to explode.  I said that there are more Dell machines in circulation, so the laws of probability would suggest that if you come across an exploding laptop, its more likely to be a Dell.  I refer to Dell laptop purchasers as victims due to my own experience with Dell's poor customer service.  Then again, the explosion could have nothing to do with the battery, and be caused solely by how nasty his porn is.

Marstone: The incident I spoke about was at some conference.  I haven't been able to find the video, but here are some pictures.

[Bonk]

I am still amazed that Lithium batteries are given to non-chemists/physicists. (i.e. consumers)

The coin batteries were OK; limited quantities, limited hazard. I became concerned when I saw the larger ones in cell phones. People keep these in their pockets! Laptops have become popular enough now to be a problem, and with a battery that size I'm kind of surprised that this is the first defacialising incident on record.

[KBF-Crim]

I am still amazed that Lithium batteries are given to non-chemists/physicists. (i.e. consumers)

The coin batteries were OK; limited quantities, limited hazard. I became concerned when I saw the larger ones in cell phones. People keep these in their pockets! Laptops have become popular enough now to be a problem, and with a battery that size I'm kind of surprised that this is the first defacialising incident on record.

I thought you fixed the alt out penalty bonk...