Hi! I am currently using a Lenovo Ideapad 520-15IKB from 2018, which was shipped from Saudi Arabia to India. Since arrival, I’ve noticed a slight earth leakage issue—I can feel electricity on the metal body while charging. However, I didn’t think much of it at the time. Recently, I replaced the HDD with an SSD and have been using the HDD externally via an enclosure. Now, whenever I connect the HDD to one of my USB-A ports, it messes with the WiFi (frequent disconnections or failure to connect) and causes severe lag in my mouse, which is connected to the other USB-A port. While the HDD is running, the mouse becomes nearly unusable. It’s not just the HDD—I also tested a mobile phone and an external 256GB SSD, and they caused similar issues. However, when I use a different USB port, everything works fine, and the touchpad remains unaffected no matter what device is connected. Another issue is that when I type on the keyboard, touch the laptop, or slightly move it, both USB devices disconnect. Interestingly, the USB-C port remains unaffected by all of these issues. Additionally, I’m experiencing audio noise in speakers connected via the 3.5mm jack, which are powered by the laptop’s USB. The noise gets even worse when the external HDD is connected, suggesting possible power or interference issues. Can someone please help me diagnose and fix these issues? Also, would you recommend changing the thermal paste since it’s been almost seven years?
Sounds like you might have a grounding issue with the laptop, especially if you’re feeling electricity on the metal body. Have you tried using a different charger or checking the power outlet?
It seems like the USB ports might be sharing power or data bandwidth, causing the lag and disconnections. Have you tried plugging the HDD into a powered USB hub instead?
For the audio noise, it might be interference from USB devices. Try using the audio jack without any USB devices connected and see if the noise persists. Also, changing the thermal paste could help with overheating issues if it’s been seven years.