Protecting against thunderstorms

Hi,

I'm wondering if someone here can answer a question for
me.

I just moved to an area that has lots of thunderstorms.

I run Windows 98 Second Edition. My computer is hooked-up
but I do not yet have a phone or an ISP and therefore I
cannot go online. (I'm using a neighbor's computer now).

I use a Surge Master II that protects against power
surges. Everything but the phone line is plugged into it.

Since I cannot go online is it still a good idea to turn
off the surge master gizmo that's on the floor and unplug
the computer when there is a thunderstorm?

Thanks for any help.

Matt

Yes, unplug it because your PC can still be damaged from a power loss. Get
a reliable UPC (battery backup) which provides a monetary guarantee against
lightening damage.

--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"Matt" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I'm wondering if someone here can answer a question for
me.

I just moved to an area that has lots of thunderstorms.

I run Windows 98 Second Edition. My computer is hooked-up
but I do not yet have a phone or an ISP and therefore I
cannot go online. (I'm using a neighbor's computer now).

I use a Surge Master II that protects against power
surges. Everything but the phone line is plugged into it.

Since I cannot go online is it still a good idea to turn
off the surge master gizmo that's on the floor and unplug
the computer when there is a thunderstorm?

Thanks for any help.

Matt

Thanks Ron. I will unplug the computer.

And I think you're right. I will go out and get a good
UPC.

Appreciate your help.

Matt
-----Original Message-----
Yes, unplug it because your PC can still be damaged from
a power loss. Get
a reliable UPC (battery backup) which provides a
monetary guarantee against
lightening damage.

--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"Matt" wrote in
message
...
Hi,

I'm wondering if someone here can answer a question for
me.

I just moved to an area that has lots of thunderstorms.

I run Windows 98 Second Edition. My computer is hooked-
up
but I do not yet have a phone or an ISP and therefore I
cannot go online. (I'm using a neighbor's computer
now).

I use a Surge Master II that protects against power
surges. Everything but the phone line is plugged into
it.

Since I cannot go online is it still a good idea to
turn
off the surge master gizmo that's on the floor and
unplug
the computer when there is a thunderstorm?

Thanks for any help.

Matt


.

Does the battery in a laptop act as the equivalent of a UPC.? What does UPC
stand for?
Blair

"Ron Badour" wrote in message
...
Yes, unplug it because your PC can still be damaged from a power loss.
Get
a reliable UPC (battery backup) which provides a monetary guarantee
against
lightening damage.

--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"Matt" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I'm wondering if someone here can answer a question for
me.

I just moved to an area that has lots of thunderstorms.

I run Windows 98 Second Edition. My computer is hooked-up
but I do not yet have a phone or an ISP and therefore I
cannot go online. (I'm using a neighbor's computer now).

I use a Surge Master II that protects against power
surges. Everything but the phone line is plugged into it.

Since I cannot go online is it still a good idea to turn
off the surge master gizmo that's on the floor and unplug
the computer when there is a thunderstorm?

Thanks for any help.

Matt

I don't think so if you have the AC adapter plugged in and this is
especially true if you have an analog modem connected via a telephone line.
I can use my laptop (without the AC adapter) since I have a wireless
network.

Uninterrupted Power Supply CyberPower and APC are two manufacturers.

--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"Blair" wrote in message
...
Does the battery in a laptop act as the equivalent of a UPC.? What does
UPC
stand for?
Blair

"Ron Badour" wrote in message
...
Yes, unplug it because your PC can still be damaged from a power loss.
Get
a reliable UPC (battery backup) which provides a monetary guarantee
against
lightening damage.

--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"Matt" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I'm wondering if someone here can answer a question for
me.

I just moved to an area that has lots of thunderstorms.

I run Windows 98 Second Edition. My computer is hooked-up
but I do not yet have a phone or an ISP and therefore I
cannot go online. (I'm using a neighbor's computer now).

I use a Surge Master II that protects against power
surges. Everything but the phone line is plugged into it.

Since I cannot go online is it still a good idea to turn
off the surge master gizmo that's on the floor and unplug
the computer when there is a thunderstorm?

Thanks for any help.

Matt

The plug-in UPS does not even claim to provide such protection. It
does claim to protect from a transient that does not typically exist.
This is often enough for others to *assume* the plug-in UPS protects
from all types of transients.

Power loss does not damage a properly constructed computer. After
all, what is power down? Power loss created by the human user.

The OP seeks hardware protection from the typically destructive
transient. That recommended UPS does not provide same as demonstrated
by two characterisitics: 1) does not have the necessary and essential
'less than 10 foot' connection to central earth ground and 2) avoids
all discussion about earthing. For effective protection, the
discussion should have turned immediately to 'whole house' protectors
and the verfication or enhancement of the building's earth ground.

Further information and solutions are discussed previously.
"RJ-11 line protection?" on 31 Dec 2003 in pdx.computing at
http://tinyurl.com/2hl53
"strange problem after power surge/thunderstorm" in comp.dcom.modems
on 31 Mar 2003 at
http://tinyurl.com/2gumt

That monetary guarantee is so full of fine print exemptions that one
would be lucky to get UPS replaced. Real world protector
manufacturers don't even offer a warranty. Instead they discuss
earthing so that real world protection is provided.

Power loss does not damage hardware. Power loss can damage data.
And that includes data previously saved on FAT filesystems - the hard
drive used by Windows 9x/Me Operating Systems.


"Ron Badour" wrote in message ...
Yes, unplug it because your PC can still be damaged from a power loss. Get
a reliable UPC (battery backup) which provides a monetary guarantee against
lightening damage.

"Matt" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I'm wondering if someone here can answer a question for
me.

I just moved to an area that has lots of thunderstorms.

I run Windows 98 Second Edition. My computer is hooked-up
but I do not yet have a phone or an ISP and therefore I
cannot go online. (I'm using a neighbor's computer now).

I use a Surge Master II that protects against power
surges. Everything but the phone line is plugged into it.

Since I cannot go online is it still a good idea to turn
off the surge master gizmo that's on the floor and unplug
the computer when there is a thunderstorm?

Thanks for any help.

Matt

Comments in line:

The plug-in UPS does not even claim to provide such protection. It
does claim to protect from a transient that does not typically exist.
This is often enough for others to *assume* the plug-in UPS protects
from all types of transients.

http://www.cyberpowersystems.com/ups.htm Quote: A spike is an
instantaneous increase in voltage. Spikes can be cause by such things as
lightning or overloaded power grids. Spikes can cause damage to your
computer, your modem as well as other components. All CyberPower UPS systems
have modem protection included and are designed to protect your system
against the damage that can be caused by spikes. Unquote


Power loss does not damage a properly constructed computer. After
all, what is power down? Power loss created by the human user.

I beg to differ having replaced hard drives damaged by power loss. However,
it may be possible this damage was influenced/caused by the power coming
back on while the drives are spinning down. However, if the power loss had
not occurred, then the damage (regardless of actual cause) would not have
occurred either.

That monetary guarantee is so full of fine print exemptions that one
would be lucky to get UPS replaced.

I got my CyberPower gurantee out and read it again and it is pretty straight
forward. Also, when I had a problem with my UPS, CyberPower mailed me a new
one with few questions asked. The APC gurantee is also straight forward
regarding equipment replacement. My perceptions are based on materials I
have in my possession and have read--upon what do you base your claims?

Power loss can damage data.
And that includes data previously saved on FAT filesystems - the hard
drive used by Windows 9x/Me Operating Systems.

Power loss certainly can cause data loss but I hardly think that fat file
systems are a hard drive.



You may be right in your criticism of UPS products and since I have never
suffered a lightening strike, I have no experience to refute your claims.
What I am refuting are various statements you made above. If UPS do not
work as you claim, it makes little difference to me since I have a
guarantee of hardware replacement and no evidence saying the companies don't
honor their promises.


Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo


"Ron Badour" wrote in message
...
Yes, unplug it because your PC can still be damaged from a power loss.
Get
a reliable UPC (battery backup) which provides a monetary guarantee
against
lightening damage.

"Matt" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I'm wondering if someone here can answer a question for
me.

I just moved to an area that has lots of thunderstorms.

I run Windows 98 Second Edition. My computer is hooked-up
but I do not yet have a phone or an ISP and therefore I
cannot go online. (I'm using a neighbor's computer now).

I use a Surge Master II that protects against power
surges. Everything but the phone line is plugged into it.

Since I cannot go online is it still a good idea to turn
off the surge master gizmo that's on the floor and unplug
the computer when there is a thunderstorm?

Thanks for any help.

Matt

I live in an area that has thunderstorms almost every
week during the spring and summer. Have had many lightning
strikes on or around the house. From complete power loss
to brown outs to flash off/on. Have the PC on all the time.
No damage to PC. The trick is to make sure the "House
Ground" is good and to code. A "Gound Fault" protected
outlet(the ones with a test and reset button in the
center) will do as much good as a surge protector.
These UPSs. Even though they DO protect your PC from most
surges. They are designed to give you enough power to shut
down the PC properly (to save data) during a power loss.
-----Original Message-----
Comments in line:

The plug-in UPS does not even claim to provide such
protection. It
does claim to protect from a transient that does not
typically exist.
This is often enough for others to *assume* the plug-in
UPS protects
from all types of transients.

http://www.cyberpowersystems.com/ups.htm Quote: A spike
is an
instantaneous increase in voltage. Spikes can be cause by
such things as
lightning or overloaded power grids. Spikes can cause
damage to your
computer, your modem as well as other components. All
CyberPower UPS systems
have modem protection included and are designed to
protect your system
against the damage that can be caused by spikes. Unquote


Power loss does not damage a properly constructed
computer. After
all, what is power down? Power loss created by the
human user.

I beg to differ having replaced hard drives damaged by
power loss. However,
it may be possible this damage was influenced/caused by
the power coming
back on while the drives are spinning down. However, if
the power loss had
not occurred, then the damage (regardless of actual
cause) would not have
occurred either.

That monetary guarantee is so full of fine print
exemptions that one
would be lucky to get UPS replaced.

I got my CyberPower gurantee out and read it again and it
is pretty straight
forward. Also, when I had a problem with my UPS,
CyberPower mailed me a new
one with few questions asked. The APC gurantee is also
straight forward
regarding equipment replacement. My perceptions are
based on materials I
have in my possession and have read--upon what do you
base your claims?

Power loss can damage data.
And that includes data previously saved on FAT
filesystems - the hard
drive used by Windows 9x/Me Operating Systems.

Power loss certainly can cause data loss but I hardly
think that fat file
systems are a hard drive.



You may be right in your criticism of UPS products and
since I have never
suffered a lightening strike, I have no experience to
refute your claims.
What I am refuting are various statements you made
above. If UPS do not
work as you claim, it makes little difference to me
since I have a
guarantee of hardware replacement and no evidence saying
the companies don't
honor their promises.


Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo


"Ron Badour" wrote in message
...
Yes, unplug it because your PC can still be damaged
from a power loss.
Get
a reliable UPC (battery backup) which provides a
monetary guarantee
against
lightening damage.

"Matt" wrote in
message
...
Hi,

I'm wondering if someone here can answer a question
for
me.

I just moved to an area that has lots of
thunderstorms.

I run Windows 98 Second Edition. My computer is
hooked-up
but I do not yet have a phone or an ISP and
therefore I
cannot go online. (I'm using a neighbor's computer
now).

I use a Surge Master II that protects against power
surges. Everything but the phone line is plugged
into it.

Since I cannot go online is it still a good idea to
turn
off the surge master gizmo that's on the floor and
unplug
the computer when there is a thunderstorm?

Thanks for any help.

Matt


.

A GFI outlet or circuit will NOT provide the same protection (or anywhere close) as
a surge protector. All a GFI does is momentarily cut off power in the event of a
ground fault (such as a person grounding the circuit, instead of the ground wire).
The fact that your PC is on all the time during brown-outs or power failures and you
do not think you have any damage, does not mean that damage has not occurred.
Certainly, properly grounded house circuitry is a big help, but it will not protect
you from power surges, or from damage or data loss due to power drops.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Tstorm" wrote in message
...
I live in an area that has thunderstorms almost every
week during the spring and summer. Have had many lightning
strikes on or around the house. From complete power loss
to brown outs to flash off/on. Have the PC on all the time.
No damage to PC. The trick is to make sure the "House
Ground" is good and to code. A "Gound Fault" protected
outlet(the ones with a test and reset button in the
center) will do as much good as a surge protector.
These UPSs. Even though they DO protect your PC from most
surges. They are designed to give you enough power to shut
down the PC properly (to save data) during a power loss.
-----Original Message-----
Comments in line:

The plug-in UPS does not even claim to provide such
protection. It
does claim to protect from a transient that does not
typically exist.
This is often enough for others to *assume* the plug-in
UPS protects
from all types of transients.

http://www.cyberpowersystems.com/ups.htm Quote: A spike
is an
instantaneous increase in voltage. Spikes can be cause by
such things as
lightning or overloaded power grids. Spikes can cause
damage to your
computer, your modem as well as other components. All
CyberPower UPS systems
have modem protection included and are designed to
protect your system
against the damage that can be caused by spikes. Unquote


Power loss does not damage a properly constructed
computer. After
all, what is power down? Power loss created by the
human user.

I beg to differ having replaced hard drives damaged by
power loss. However,
it may be possible this damage was influenced/caused by
the power coming
back on while the drives are spinning down. However, if
the power loss had
not occurred, then the damage (regardless of actual
cause) would not have
occurred either.

That monetary guarantee is so full of fine print
exemptions that one
would be lucky to get UPS replaced.

I got my CyberPower gurantee out and read it again and it
is pretty straight
forward. Also, when I had a problem with my UPS,
CyberPower mailed me a new
one with few questions asked. The APC gurantee is also
straight forward
regarding equipment replacement. My perceptions are
based on materials I
have in my possession and have read--upon what do you
base your claims?

Power loss can damage data.
And that includes data previously saved on FAT
filesystems - the hard
drive used by Windows 9x/Me Operating Systems.

Power loss certainly can cause data loss but I hardly
think that fat file
systems are a hard drive.



You may be right in your criticism of UPS products and
since I have never
suffered a lightening strike, I have no experience to
refute your claims.
What I am refuting are various statements you made
above. If UPS do not
work as you claim, it makes little difference to me
since I have a
guarantee of hardware replacement and no evidence saying
the companies don't
honor their promises.


Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo


"Ron Badour" wrote in message
...
Yes, unplug it because your PC can still be damaged
from a power loss.
Get
a reliable UPC (battery backup) which provides a
monetary guarantee
against
lightening damage.

"Matt" wrote in
message
...
Hi,

I'm wondering if someone here can answer a question
for
me.

I just moved to an area that has lots of
thunderstorms.

I run Windows 98 Second Edition. My computer is
hooked-up
but I do not yet have a phone or an ISP and
therefore I
cannot go online. (I'm using a neighbor's computer
now).

I use a Surge Master II that protects against power
surges. Everything but the phone line is plugged
into it.

Since I cannot go online is it still a good idea to
turn
off the surge master gizmo that's on the floor and
unplug
the computer when there is a thunderstorm?

Thanks for any help.

Matt


.

It's UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)....UPC is the code on the box they use at
the cash register. ;-)
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

"Blair" wrote in message
...
Does the battery in a laptop act as the equivalent of a UPC.? What does UPC
stand for?
Blair

"Ron Badour" wrote in message
...
Yes, unplug it because your PC can still be damaged from a power loss.
Get
a reliable UPC (battery backup) which provides a monetary guarantee
against
lightening damage.

--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"Matt" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I'm wondering if someone here can answer a question for
me.

I just moved to an area that has lots of thunderstorms.

I run Windows 98 Second Edition. My computer is hooked-up
but I do not yet have a phone or an ISP and therefore I
cannot go online. (I'm using a neighbor's computer now).

I use a Surge Master II that protects against power
surges. Everything but the phone line is plugged into it.

Since I cannot go online is it still a good idea to turn
off the surge master gizmo that's on the floor and unplug
the computer when there is a thunderstorm?

Thanks for any help.

Matt