[wwright]

I don't mean to bring back the forum lifestyle of the 00s, but this is just plainly FUD. Linux does not cause hardware issues like this with any high frequency (of course it may occasionally, but any software will damage that hardware eventually). I've installed Linux, and helped others install Linux, on dozens of machines over my life. I've worked with others who install Linux on everything they touch. I've literally never heard of a story like this.

So it is POSSIBLE that Linux might have caused your issue. Your computer repair guy, however, is probably just wrong. And I would personally guess that your damage was due to power or environmental issues rather than Linux.