Computers and Storms
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TV ClubHouse: Archives: Computers and Storms

Ryanc829

Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 10:19 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Just spent the last hour and a half formatting and restoring my computer because I was stupid and kept using the computer during a storm. Power went out, and when I got the computer up and running again it was slow ans nothing worked right. No idea what the zap screwed up but everything is better now that I've restored. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid...Oh well, I'll learn.

Juju2bigdog

Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 10:41 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
A good reminder for us all, Ryan. Betcha most of us couldn't begin to restore our computers in an hour and a half.

Ryanc829

Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 10:49 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Juju - I've had practice. LOL. Still gotta install realplayer and stuff, but I've got the basics done.

Moral of the story: Lightning+Computer=Bad

Spygirl

Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 11:20 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Ryan, I have to admit I continued using my computer throughout that storm tonight. I do have a pretty good UPS backup that has a high dollar surge protection in it. Even still, I know it is silly to keep it booted up...but I can't help myself

Ryanc829

Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 11:33 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Spygirl - I was busy arguing on AIM....Is that a good excuse?

Spygirl

Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 11:34 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
LOL - sure! I was busy reading the board and talking in chat. Does that count?

Ryanc829

Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 11:37 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Guess it's as good an excuse as any. LOL.

Azriel

Friday, August 29, 2003 - 01:56 am EditMoveDeleteIP
A few years back my computer got fried during an electric storm. I had a surge protector, but that wasn't enough. I was on a dial-up connection and the lightning hit the phone box on the outside of our house. The lightning traveled through the phone line straight to my modem.

If you are on a dial-up make sure you get a surge protector that has a place for your modem phone line to plug in, too. They cost a little more, but it might save you a lot more in the future.

Ryanc829

Friday, August 29, 2003 - 01:59 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Azriel - Fortunatly I'm one of the lucky ones on broadband.

Juju2bigdog

Friday, August 29, 2003 - 10:03 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Az, I have always remembered you saying that when it happened. And I DO have a surge protector on the phone line. Hmmmmmm, we installed a new phone line. Wonder if Bigdog hooked it back up through the surge protector??? Might be a good idea to check.

And when we leave for an extended period, I need to remember to unhook the phone line as well.

Egbok

Friday, August 29, 2003 - 10:56 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Hey guys, how about with DSL...what type of protection should I have besides the Surge Protector for the electrical plugs? Thanks for any suggestions/ideas!

Mack

Friday, August 29, 2003 - 01:30 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I have everything but my DSL line through the modem on a surge protector (phone line isn't but modem is). Probably not a bad idea though I think the modem would get fried if the line was hit and it (the modem) belongs to the phone company. From the looks of it I'd say it cost them all of $5.95. :-)

Twiggyish

Friday, August 29, 2003 - 03:20 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Good point. We have a lot of nasty storms here.

Juju2bigdog

Friday, August 29, 2003 - 10:28 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
When we got Bigdog's new old play computer, the guy gave us a surge protector, and it had places to plug in a DSL cable.

Gen

Sunday, September 14, 2003 - 10:05 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I have DSL and when a storm is 50 or so miles away (not in the immediate area), I loose my internet connection. Have other DSL users experienced this? Does it happen with Road Runner? Any information you can provide would be appreciated. Thanks!