Compaq BANG but still goes

[crooked windows]

It's a Presario V3000 and experienced a BANG! similar to one end of a 12" wooden ruler being lifted about 2" and released, if you get my drift. It was also accompanied with a flash which emanated from the left rear side This is the fan exhaust. My other half sitting 10m away asked "what was that"? It still goes fine and has me smiling but curious to what it was.
Can anyone enlighten me?
thanks
Ps maybe my anti virus is getting serious

 

[Someone Somewhere]

That would have to be a very serious antivirus...

Open it up and have a look in there - if you saw a flash, there should be some kind of scorch marks.

Does the battery still charge? That's the main thing that could produce that much current.

 

[mauller07]

Sounds like a capacitor blowing, open it up and have a look.

 

[Shaun o]

It does sound like a capacitor has popped on the board, you will get the loud cracking sound and a small flash when one does.

You really should get the laptop taken apart, to check for damage.
It may still work in your eyes, but for example I have known a charging circuit become faulty on a laptop.

It then over charged the battery of the laptop and exploded the battery inside the device setting it on fire.

At least get it checked out, Because you wont be smiling if it burns the house down.

 

[crooked windows]

Thanks for that , will try and trace down a renegade cap. Initially I did a quick sniff test but no signature odor, whipped the back covers off (the ones possible that is) to look for any signs of scorching.. nothing. every thing is as it was. The fans speeds seems to still be working fine too. I have thought it's been running slower, but thats most likely paranoia . HP have probably built something in so it goes pop on day 366. ..............?
if I ever find out what went, I'll update the thread.

 

[mauller07]

was probably just a duff capacitor with a rather shorter life, or the heat of a component in the laptop wore it down quicker than its normal life expectancy.