Incomplete answer.
Software can damage hardware - in a number of ways.

One of the posters above has mentioned firmware modification - this can render the affected hardware as close to bricked that it is difficult to tell the difference.

Also, since an awful lot of hardware timings these days are controlled by software, it's possible to make changes of clock speeds which will shorten the lifespan of hardware, particularly if it is undercooled.

You can send a set of ATA commands to a hard disc, setting a password on it. Not sure how long that's been in there, but if anyone knows a way to recover that (even just to restore the hardware as a blank) I'd be happy to know.

This aside, it does sound like the original poster was (1) sold a lemon and (2) slit up a treat by the guy that turned up afterwards. Hope you have better luck with your tech gear in the future.
(_(_(_(_(_(_(_(_(_ =o.o=, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 17:04, 1 reply)

Not to mention the possibility of faulty code overwriting hard-coded BIOS routines.
Though I'm not sure how likely that is nowadays.
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 18:05, closed)

Also...
A virus/software could conceivably alter fan settings as well as clock speeds thus melting various parts, overheating RAM etc.

I'm not saying it happened, PC specialists from the paper with zero call out charges have to get their money somehow!
( JebediahSpringfield, Sat 26 Sep 2009, 0:02, closed)