Bad Day at Black Rock

Yesterday, we had a major storm, with buckets of rain and much thunder and lightning.

Even though my computer is protected by a UPS, I shut it down.

THIS WAS NOT ENOUGH!

The computer is a Dell Dimension E510. Like most new computers, it doesn't really shut all the way off.

And, you guessed it, a nearby lightning strike (close enough to make all my fan and dimmer controls go crazy) took out the little circuit board that controls the on-off switch. At least, I think that's what got zapped. It's either that or something in the power supply that supplies keep-alive power to that circuit.
I'll know more later.

The moral is: IN A BAD LIGHTNING STORM, DON'T JUST TURN IT OFF, UNPLUG THE DAMN THING!

Meanwhile, I'm temporarily up and running using my wife's computer, with my hard drive installed. I can only do this while she's at work, so I'm limited to 7:30-5:30 daily.

Sigh!! Just what I needed right now.

Aw that just stinks! Sorry it happened! HUGS

Just think of it this way...

When the door of opportunity closes, another window opens. This could be an opportunity to upgrade your computer.

"Yes, honey, I need to purchase a new computer since the lightning strike permanently damaged my existing computer."

Karl C wrote in post #3788692
"Yes, honey, I need to purchase a new computer since the lightning strike permanently damaged my existing computer."

"Yes, but we're going to have to take it out of your B&H wish fund."

Sounds like an insurence claim to me

BillsBayou wrote in post #3788781
"Yes, but we're going to have to take it out of your B&H wish fund."

Exactly!! Which I why I'll try the fix-it route first.

Besides, It's only a little less than a year old.

PeterUK300 wrote in post #3788845
Sounds like an insurence claim to me

$500 deductible. Hopefully it'll cost much less to fix.

That happened to me about 6 months ago, luckily it only took out the DSL Router, I still have a 'light' spot on the monitor though where it should be blue.

I have my computer and all the peripherals hooked up to a surge protector/switch panel. When I shut off the computer, I turn off the switch panel also. This pretty much isolates the computer from the house circuits.

20droger wrote in post #3788456
Like most new computers, it doesn't really shut all the way off.

?? ?? ?? ?? ??

Most new computers, like TVsand other such devices, have a keep-alive circuit within them.

In the Dell, it keeps the front switch alive, which allows controlled activation and prevents an instan-off, which may damage Windows.

The comuter goes to the shop on Monday.

I'm back up. It took minutes to find the problem. One of the five USB ports available on the back panel was shorted. My choices were:

1: Get a new motherboard = $$$; or

2: Cut a trace and disable that port completely = No charge (not even his posted minimum.

I now have four back-panel USB ports. I can live with that. Hell, If I need more ports, I can always buy a hub!

This is the weirdest computer problem I've encountered since I started programming the 8008 back when Bill Gates was a complete unknown.