What can cause physical component damage in a computer?

Electrical spikes can cause physical component damage in a computer because they represent sudden increases in voltage that can exceed the tolerances of electrical components. This surge can result from various sources, such as lightning strikes or power surges from the electrical grid. When these high voltage levels reach a computer, they can lead to immediate and sometimes irreversible damage to delicate components like the motherboard, power supply, and other critical circuitry.

While inadequate cooling systems can lead to overheating and subsequent damage over time, this issue typically manifests gradually rather than as an acute event like an electrical spike. Similarly, faulty software installations and outdated operating systems can cause operational problems but do not directly impact the physical hardware of the computer in a destructive manner.