Zapped!

[T-Bone]

We had a small storm last night... nothing big. I woke up to find my clocks blinking. So... reset them and get ready for my shower. The computer went off due to the power outage, so I clicked on the button as I went to the shower. I came back out and the computer was still off. I clicked the button again and nothing. I checked the surge protector and everything was fine, and everything else plugged into it worked fine as well. I figured I lost my power supply. I took the tower out and went to another outlet, and the computer finally powered up. That was a little weird

I brought it back to the desk and plugged everything back in and sure enough it powered up. I know I didn't put the USB cables back in the same way they came out, but it's usually not a problem as Windows recognizes them and adapts. When powering up, the screen said something about overclocking failed due to oversurge. I shut it back down and restarted again. That screen didn't come up, but the black screen did asking me how to boot up due to Windows being shut down properly. I clicked on normal startup and everything came back except for my ZBoard Keyboard. The icon for it was flashing red and green as it couldn't find it's own drivers, then Windows kicks in telling me the same thing. So, I directed it where to find them and it froze up, no mouse, nothing.... I think Windows was fighting with ZBoard over who gets the drivers first

I restarted and the same thing happened again. After 2 attempts, I finally got Windows to ignore the ZBoard while I tried to uninstall the drivers. It froze up again, another restart. I finally got them uninstalled and went to the Program Files to make sure the entire folder was deleted for a fresh install. I started the install, and freeze again... another restart. Thi same process happened over and over this morning and pissed me off to no end. I finally got my regular keyboard out and plugged that in, and although it worked fine, Windows was still looking forthe ZBoard drivers. It took another 3 restarts to finally get them uninstalled.

The computer "seems" to be doing fine for now, but when I get home, there's a reformat and reinstall in the works. It's about that time anyway. I have a 250gb hard drive sitting on the shelf doing nothing, so now's a good time to install it and take the 160gb out

NOW........ what I'd like to know.... Is why the $60+ surge protector didn't do it's job

[SteveForever]

Sorry about your computer - similar thing happened to us after a storm, essentially stray surge trons wreaking random havoc. As do you we had a better than average surge protector. I'm not the expert by any means but voltage surges and variation in power frequency probably cause these problems. Best solution is an "APC" surge protector with battery back-up. Website is http://www.apc.com/index.cfm

Good luck and sorry that happened, btw, you probably know this but you can get a surge protection for your whole house placed in the power distribution panel thru an electritian, Mr. Electric is a good company if you have that francise in your area. You might have had a lightening bolt travel thru the ground and up thru your house

[Greg]

NOW........ what I'd like to know.... Is why the $60+ surge protector didn't do it's job

To be honest, it really doesn't matter much about the surge protector, if the lightening is going to getcha, it's going to get you regardless. Surge protectors don't really protect from lightening strikes like people would think they should.

[styxman]

We had a small storm last night... nothing big. I woke up to find my clocks blinking. So... reset them and get ready for my shower. The computer went off due to the power outage, so I clicked on the button as I went to the shower. I came back out and the computer was still off. I clicked the button again and nothing. I checked the surge protector and everything was fine, and everything else plugged into it worked fine as well. I figured I lost my power supply. I took the tower out and went to another outlet, and the computer finally powered up. That was a little weird

I brought it back to the desk and plugged everything back in and sure enough it powered up. I know I didn't put the USB cables back in the same way they came out, but it's usually not a problem as Windows recognizes them and adapts. When powering up, the screen said something about overclocking failed due to oversurge. I shut it back down and restarted again. That screen didn't come up, but the black screen did asking me how to boot up due to Windows being shut down properly. I clicked on normal startup and everything came back except for my ZBoard Keyboard. The icon for it was flashing red and green as it couldn't find it's own drivers, then Windows kicks in telling me the same thing. So, I directed it where to find them and it froze up, no mouse, nothing.... I think Windows was fighting with ZBoard over who gets the drivers first

I restarted and the same thing happened again. After 2 attempts, I finally got Windows to ignore the ZBoard while I tried to uninstall the drivers. It froze up again, another restart. I finally got them uninstalled and went to the Program Files to make sure the entire folder was deleted for a fresh install. I started the install, and freeze again... another restart. Thi same process happened over and over this morning and pissed me off to no end. I finally got my regular keyboard out and plugged that in, and although it worked fine, Windows was still looking forthe ZBoard drivers. It took another 3 restarts to finally get them uninstalled.

The computer "seems" to be doing fine for now, but when I get home, there's a reformat and reinstall in the works. It's about that time anyway. I have a 250gb hard drive sitting on the shelf doing nothing, so now's a good time to install it and take the 160gb out

NOW........ what I'd like to know.... Is why the $60+ surge protector didn't do it's job

It didn't have made in the UK..that's why

[larryfromnextdoor]

t-bone, maybe it did work ,, with out it u may have a fried computer,, zapped mother board,,

[T-Bone]

After thinking at work today, I'm going to try and reinstall drivers for the ZBoard WITHOUT it being plugged in, so Windows doesn't interfere with the installation. Then plug it in when I'm done. Still the same, it's time for a refresher on the OS anyway. As I said, I do my OS once a year just to make sure things stay fresh anyway. Plus I have the 250gb hard drive I want to put in, so now's a good time to do it. I thought about the bios as well, but I'm not all that great with dealing with them. I know some, but not alot.