Computer is gimped from a power surge

[MorganFreeman911]

Hi, My computer is horribly crippled from a power surge.

It dosn't boot half the time, it crashes whenever I try to change a graphical setting, and the reflections in games reflect blood red. All of them except Gmod, which seems perfectly fine.

 

[G-Dub]

I'd reformat :|

 

[Glirk Dient]

Sounds like your hard drive got messed up. Reformat.

 

[MorganFreeman911]

I've narrowed it down to the Graphics card / Motherboard.

 

[joule]

You should invest in a surge protector/UPS.

 

[MorganFreeman911]

I just did, today, in time for the next huge storm tomorrow.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

It's probably a better idea not to have the computer on at all during a storm especially if you know it's coming, that way there is a ZERO chance of messing it up instead of a low one.

 

[AtomicSpark]

It's probably a better idea not to have the computer on at all during a storm especially if you know it's coming, that way there is a ZERO chance of messing it up instead of a low one.

You mean plugged in. As long as your computer is plugged in, the motherboard still has power to it and the whole case is still grounded. If a lightning strike's power were to go into your Ethernet/phone/power cable, you're screwed. Sadly surge protectors don't protect you against such things. ;( You can get lightning protectors for your house but they're $$$.

 

[Ren.182]

You mean plugged in. As long as your computer is plugged in, the motherboard still has power to it and the whole case is still grounded. If a lightning strike's power were to go into your Ethernet/phone/power cable, you're screwed. Sadly surge protectors don't protect you against such things. ;( You can get lightning protectors for your house but they're $$$.

You can get surge protectors which you can plug phone lines and ethernet cables into. So you can still be protected from those too. MIne has them on it I think

 

[MorganFreeman911]

I bought a surge Protector too, its hooked up to my USB, along with a power regulator.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

So a lightning strike will screw the pc even if the psu switch is flipped off?

 

[MorganFreeman911]

Probably.

 

[Shasta]

So a lightning strike will screw the pc even if the psu switch is flipped off?

Yes. Plug in wall when lightning / power surge hits = fried circutry. Unplug EVERYTHING valuable in a lightning storm. Or strong winds - they can knock a tree over into power lines. Same result. I lost a phone, TV, and alarm clock in a windy storm once.