When Lightning Strikes ?

[smkymntgrl]

I've been having problems with my burners since my modem went out. Internet provider came out and said my modem was most likely fried due to lightning. Computer was off and on surge protectors during storms. Tech said the modem was probably affected by it electricity through the cable hookup. Would something like this be likely to effect my dvd writers in any way. Been having trouble with internal and external since.

I appreciate any input.
Thanks,

[Gary D]

Did your surge protector have the cable or telephone jacks? Were they in use?

Is your cable or telephone line buried?

Did your surge protector come with lightning insurance?

http://www.compukiss.com/basics/lightning-dangers-2.html

[katzdvd]

I don't put very much faith in surge protectors, although I do have my home entertainment center going thru one w/ all cable/sat. lines protected.

For my pc, I use a UPS system, that also protects the cable line, but I still will not rely on that. In the event of a storm, I always shutdown & unplug everything, all connections.

I have lost modems & sat. receiver in the past due to lighting. I really can't see a connection between a lightening strike on a modem & an internal and external burner problem, unless the hard drive would be active (writing) at that time & a "surge" would have hosed some data...altho again, how would that affect an external component...

I would be tempted to try a system restore to a date before the storm...can't hurt anything.

Good Luck

[locoeng]

Lightning fried my modem, telephone and answering machine once...I think is entirely possible, but the problem might not be with the drives themselves (although it would be the cheaper route) but rather maybe a problem internally with the PC that is causing the problems.

[Chewy]

I would suspect the power supply, it's one of the most sensetive components to voltage surges and is always on even if the computer is off, switching et all, it is important to test all components as soon as possible.

A bad power supply can take a mobo/cpu with it as it dies.

[photo_angel2004]

The do make surge protectors to run phone and or cable lines to. You may want to check them out for a future storm.

I know a lot of people dont think they help much but I have seen first hand how they do. We were hit a few years ago everything pluged into the surge protectors were OK and everything not was fried and the house filled with smoke.

They do make some high end ones to they cost a lot but they are inssured if your stuff does still get fried. I have one that is holds a warranty for up to 150,000 on replacment cost of anything that would become damaged from an electrical surge that is pluged into it. Expensive for a surg protector but cheap inssurance.

And yes if you were hit that could effect anything or everything in your computer. Most likely what chew sugested.

[Chewy]

when a storm approaches simply turn off all surge protectors, that on/off switch is the best protection, same when leaving for any extended period of time

an ups if designed right should have a fast blow fuse, something that is even better than surge protectors in my opinion

[photo_angel2004]

when a storm approaches simply turn off all surge protectors, that on/off switch is the best protection, same when leaving for any extended period of time

an ups if designed right should have a fast blow fuse, something that is even better than surge protectors in my opinion

or unplug high end stuff if you can. (If your home) or are expecting a storm.

[katzdvd]

A bad power supply can take a mobo/cpu with it as it dies.

Good one Chewy. I should've thought of that but I was still *groggy* when I posted this morning.

I have lost several pcs. of equipment on several occasions that were plugged into surge protectors, & that is why I don't rely on them, since lightning can jump a great distance, it is my feeling that the tiny fuse/gap can easily be arced across in a surge protector.

But there is the other side of that, which is the insurance coverage /guarantee that is offered by the surge protector company.

I have never filed a claim, so I don't know what kind of track record these companies have when dealing with damaged equip. replacement.

Best option, unplug everything!

[doctorhardware]

BE very very afraid, but knock on wood I have been very lucky, have had severeal very close lighting strikes but have survived all. Every thing is on ups and power surge strips. It may be possible that it may have done something to your power supply, even though that it was turned off. If you have a spare power supply try that out, or if you need a power supply let me know I have several spare that I can send to you if needed.

[smkymntgrl]

Thanks for the input guys! I'm beginning to think that my internal dvd writer is just toast. It's been replaced already last year. It's not the best drive out there I'm sure. The external has been coming up with a lot of errors that I can't get into as I see things have changed a little around here while I've been gone.

I called about the warranty and they had me try several things that I had already tried. I did try a system restore before calling. No help. The last thing they wanted me to do was a system recovery. I really didn't like the idea of doing that for a drive that I think is just worn out. They wouldn't honor the warranty if I didn't but I wasn't spending the time to get everything back on after wiping it. Won't buy the extended warranty on another pc again.

Anyway I'm going to just buy a drive and replace the internal. Which leads to yet another question. What's the difference between the sata and the ide drives? Does anyone have any opinions or reasons to get one or the other?

Thanks,

[Gary D]

Like Chewy said, check your power supply first.

I thought I had a DVD drive go but it turned out to be lousy 16X Verb media. (1600 PIFs vs <100 PIFs for the old stock). Try some TYs instead to rule out the media. I now have my NEC in storage because I thought I was having burner problems. It turned out to be bad media.

[smkymntgrl]

Thanks Gary,

How do I go about checking me power supply? Sorry, I'm not real computer savvy! Chewy said to test all components and I'm not sure what or how to do that either.

I don't think it would be media. I've got a few different brands and all were working previously to the problem. I thought about firmware but the internal is a TSSTcorp CD/DVDW TS-H552L with firmware 0614. The external is a LITE-ON SHW-1635S with ysoz firmware. I thought I updated the firmware in the external a while back but after thinking about it that drive was also replaced sometime last year so I probably need to update the firmware on it.

When a disc is in the internal it just spins and spins, tries to read the disc but can't. It acted the same way when it was worn out last time.

Thanks,

[doctorhardware]

Check the voltage at the red and yellow wires on the molex connector that attached to your DVD drive. One should be +12Vdc and the other should be +5Vdc. Use a digital volt meter to measure the voltages. The red and yellow wires are positive and the two black wire are the grounds.

[smkymntgrl]

Thanks Doc,

I assume that means I have to get into the case of my pc right? As you can tell I really don't know much about computers. I have no idea what a molex connector is but the red and yellow should point me in the right direction. Don't think I'm up for it tonight but will check it this weekend. I know this is probably a dumb ? but since it tries to spin up the disc, isn't it getting power?