Lightning-struck computer
thomas2b
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xplom Posted messages 13834 Registration date Status Modérateur Last intervention -
Hello, I need help with my computer that has encountered a (small) problem. So, I had my desktop computer on when lightning struck, and I didn't think to turn it off...
But I don't think it's completely ruined, so that's why I need help from someone who knows a bit about this (unlike me, lol). It turns on, but at startup (during the initial black screen), I get a message saying it doesn't detect a mouse or keyboard (even though both are plugged in and work on my laptop). Anyway, it turns on, and then I get a computer diagnostic message, followed by a message saying that automatic repair couldn't fix my PC, and I have two choices: Shut down or Advanced options (which I can't select because my mouse and keyboard aren't working). Do you think it's just a USB port issue?
I hope I provided enough details; feel free to ask if I wasn't clear enough :)
Thank you.
But I don't think it's completely ruined, so that's why I need help from someone who knows a bit about this (unlike me, lol). It turns on, but at startup (during the initial black screen), I get a message saying it doesn't detect a mouse or keyboard (even though both are plugged in and work on my laptop). Anyway, it turns on, and then I get a computer diagnostic message, followed by a message saying that automatic repair couldn't fix my PC, and I have two choices: Shut down or Advanced options (which I can't select because my mouse and keyboard aren't working). Do you think it's just a USB port issue?
I hope I provided enough details; feel free to ask if I wasn't clear enough :)
Thank you.
8 réponses
jeannets
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Good evening,
No, you're forgetting the important part... it's to provide precise information... and not just in general, so we can help you.
1° The brand and model of your PC that has the problem... If I understand correctly, there are two PCs?
2° You're talking about a mouse and a USB port... does that mean you have an additional external mouse on your laptop?
3° You're mentioning diagnostic messages... but you forgot to include the content of the message...
4° If you had a lightning strike at your home... there must be other devices that were affected... What are they? How many?
Was the PC plugged into an outlet or connected to Ethernet at the time of the storm?
There is still information to provide to better understand what is invisible to us.
No, you're forgetting the important part... it's to provide precise information... and not just in general, so we can help you.
1° The brand and model of your PC that has the problem... If I understand correctly, there are two PCs?
2° You're talking about a mouse and a USB port... does that mean you have an additional external mouse on your laptop?
3° You're mentioning diagnostic messages... but you forgot to include the content of the message...
4° If you had a lightning strike at your home... there must be other devices that were affected... What are they? How many?
Was the PC plugged into an outlet or connected to Ethernet at the time of the storm?
There is still information to provide to better understand what is invisible to us.
Good evening,
This requires a material repair due to lightning (no miracle).
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The enemy is foolish: he thinks we are the enemy when in fact it is he!
Pierre Desproges
This requires a material repair due to lightning (no miracle).
--
The enemy is foolish: he thinks we are the enemy when in fact it is he!
Pierre Desproges
Good evening,
There are several models of Dell 780 ... on the back it says "SFF C2D" or something else.
Start by:
> unplugging your PC from the power source
> opening it (one side comes off, it should be recognizable as it slides off and is held in place by knobs at the back.)
> removing the BIOS battery (on the motherboard you should find a flat round battery)
> holding down the power button for 1 minute
> putting the BIOS battery back in, closing it up, plugging it back in, starting it up, and seeing what happens.
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There are several models of Dell 780 ... on the back it says "SFF C2D" or something else.
Start by:
> unplugging your PC from the power source
> opening it (one side comes off, it should be recognizable as it slides off and is held in place by knobs at the back.)
> removing the BIOS battery (on the motherboard you should find a flat round battery)
> holding down the power button for 1 minute
> putting the BIOS battery back in, closing it up, plugging it back in, starting it up, and seeing what happens.
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If applicable, depending on which model it is exactly, the dimensions of the motherboard and also of the power supply are not standard, it will be necessary to find the same motherboards and/or power supply units... it should still be cheaper than the PC... These refurbished models are around €200..
We also need to find these cards on eBay...
Maybe even by looking at the board there is a big black hole right in the middle..??!!
We also need to find these cards on eBay...
Maybe even by looking at the board there is a big black hole right in the middle..??!!
Hello everyone.
Why bother trying to save this PC whose motherboard seems to have overheated? A repair is surely going to cost an arm and a leg. If a quote is made, sometimes if you don't accept the repair, the quote is still chargeable. In other words, around 30 € for the trash and the PC . . . trash
Personally, I would rather consider another purchase, refurbished with a 1-year warranty for parts and labor.
EXAMPLE >>>
https://www.tradediscount.com/hp-elite-8200-sff-core-i5-4go-250go-windows-10-famille-01td1438-7942.html
I even really want to buy it :)
See you later . . .
P.S.: Hi MP!
Why bother trying to save this PC whose motherboard seems to have overheated? A repair is surely going to cost an arm and a leg. If a quote is made, sometimes if you don't accept the repair, the quote is still chargeable. In other words, around 30 € for the trash and the PC . . . trash
Personally, I would rather consider another purchase, refurbished with a 1-year warranty for parts and labor.
EXAMPLE >>>
https://www.tradediscount.com/hp-elite-8200-sff-core-i5-4go-250go-windows-10-famille-01td1438-7942.html
I even really want to buy it :)
See you later . . .
P.S.: Hi MP!
Hi gugu
Indeed, I had already made the same suggestion in another post for a similar issue.
https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-26043169-clavier-et-souris-non-detecte-au-demarrage-de-windows
But here, lightning struck while the PC was running. However, I'm afraid the USB ports might be rusty. Still, you're right, it’s worth a shot. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, as they say.
See you...
Indeed, I had already made the same suggestion in another post for a similar issue.
https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-26043169-clavier-et-souris-non-detecte-au-demarrage-de-windows
But here, lightning struck while the PC was running. However, I'm afraid the USB ports might be rusty. Still, you're right, it’s worth a shot. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, as they say.
See you...
jeannets
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You can also look into insurance... it's a different approach... You need to prove that there was a storm that day... and check with the insurer what they say about it..
It's just a suggestion.
It's just a suggestion.
Nothing indicates that this PC is dead.
Nothing costs to try 2, 3 things that take no more than 5 minutes.
Nothing else seems to have come in his home, so there's a small chance that ...
;-)
Message 12 to try
https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-36267673-ordinateur-qui-as-pris-la-foudre#12
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Nothing costs to try 2, 3 things that take no more than 5 minutes.
Nothing else seems to have come in his home, so there's a small chance that ...
;-)
Message 12 to try
https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-36267673-ordinateur-qui-as-pris-la-foudre#12
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Hello
a PC works with 12 V
if the power supply is from a reputable brand; in principle, the overvoltage protection should work properly
at a minimum, the power supply is dead and at worst; both the power supply and motherboard are dead
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today, I'm doing nothing, if I haven't finished, I'll continue tomorrow
a PC works with 12 V
if the power supply is from a reputable brand; in principle, the overvoltage protection should work properly
at a minimum, the power supply is dead and at worst; both the power supply and motherboard are dead
--
today, I'm doing nothing, if I haven't finished, I'll continue tomorrow
not certain at all... lightning is very fast, and the voltages are very high even with low current...
For example, the circuit breaker in the house is breached and carbonized by lightning... Power supply protections, like many things, require reading the specifications; there are minimum and maximum operating limits to have surge protection certification... Look inside a power supply, there are no components rated for more than 1000 volts... and lightning can reach 1,000,000 volts for a millisecond.. all electronics are dead and there is nothing visibly burned.
I have an example that struck the transformer of a housing development... All devices were fried in the development: oven, microwave, computer modem, TV... etc... No fuse blew, no circuit breakers tripped...
So, power supply protections, even serious ones in this case, are out of specification... whereas for a short circuit in the computer, yes, the protection works. One should not confuse surge and short circuit.
For example, the circuit breaker in the house is breached and carbonized by lightning... Power supply protections, like many things, require reading the specifications; there are minimum and maximum operating limits to have surge protection certification... Look inside a power supply, there are no components rated for more than 1000 volts... and lightning can reach 1,000,000 volts for a millisecond.. all electronics are dead and there is nothing visibly burned.
I have an example that struck the transformer of a housing development... All devices were fried in the development: oven, microwave, computer modem, TV... etc... No fuse blew, no circuit breakers tripped...
So, power supply protections, even serious ones in this case, are out of specification... whereas for a short circuit in the computer, yes, the protection works. One should not confuse surge and short circuit.
I agree with Jeannets.
I have also seen this kind of thing several times; I lost several components of a PLC system in less than a second, which by its principle is more "sensitive," not even to lightning but to a surge from the public electrical network over an area of several kilometers. I know this because I was present. All the devices had a "hiccup" at the same time, lighting and otherwise, everything that was on in the house and even the public lighting.
At first, I noticed nothing; everything turned back on immediately or rebooted, no damage, phew. But a few hours later, I noticed that several elements of the PLC were unresponsive, fried.
And let's not forget that if lightning "can produce 1,000,000 volts, for 1 millisecond", even if it doesn't reach the electronic component "directly," it generates an intense field (EMP) capable of frying components "at a distance."
I have also seen this kind of thing several times; I lost several components of a PLC system in less than a second, which by its principle is more "sensitive," not even to lightning but to a surge from the public electrical network over an area of several kilometers. I know this because I was present. All the devices had a "hiccup" at the same time, lighting and otherwise, everything that was on in the house and even the public lighting.
At first, I noticed nothing; everything turned back on immediately or rebooted, no damage, phew. But a few hours later, I noticed that several elements of the PLC were unresponsive, fried.
And let's not forget that if lightning "can produce 1,000,000 volts, for 1 millisecond", even if it doesn't reach the electronic component "directly," it generates an intense field (EMP) capable of frying components "at a distance."
1. The brand is a DELL model Optiplex 780 and it's a desktop computer.
2. No, both were connected to my computer during the lightning strike.
3. The message on the screen at the beginning says "Keyboard not found. Please connect USB keyboard to a USB port on the computer."
4. Only my PC suffered major damage.
5. It was connected via Ethernet.
I hope it's clearer now :)
As the message says, your keyboard is no longer accessible, you could plug another one into a free USB port on the PC; you can find them for 15€ at supermarkets...
It’s just to see if the PC is still alive..! by only trying to enter the BIOS... since your screen seems to be working..
That would be the first step before trying to launch Windows... if the hard drive hasn’t been damaged...??
It's on my desktop that it no longer works (the one that's damaged, so) and as a result, I can't do anything at all because I can't get past any step...
If you have another keyboard or mouse, try it on the same USB port.
Also, try the keyboard and mouse on the front and back USB ports to see if that makes a difference.
Otherwise, it's possible that one or more USB ports are dead, which means there is damage to the motherboard. Depending on the protections in place on the motherboard to protect against surges in USB, it could be a relatively easy fix, or it could be impossible.
And depending on how far the surge propagated, the PC may have suffered various damages. Particularly if the power supply allowed a surge to pass through the 12V rail...