UBB.Developers Forums General Discussion Chit Chat Computer dead out of the blue...what now?

Hi all,

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this and if it's not my apologies.

Anyways, my problem is this. I bought a new computer 2 years ago (the warranty expired after one year) and haven't had any problems with it. A few weeks ago I turned it on before going to work to check my e-mail, I left it on but turned off the monitor. While I was at work there was a pretty bad thunder storm. When I got home my computer was "dead" no power, nothing. I assumed the storm caused a power surge and fried my power supply or motherboard. So I contacted my house insurance and they took my computer to have it checked by their technicians. They've had it a few weeks and the technicians decided the damage was NOT caused by the storm but that that there was a power supply failure which in turn damaged my motherboard, memory and corrupted the OS.

Which basically means I can toss the computer in the garbage. Is this normal?? For a power supply after two years to supposedly out of the blue "fail" and cause that much damage?? Or is the insurance company just trying to get out of paying for a new computer? Can the technician really tell without a shadow of doubt if the damage was done by lightning or not? And if that is the case can I demand the company I bought the computer from to replace it even if the warranty has expired??? It just seems crazy that a 2 year old computer that worked perfectly fine before could "die" just like that?? It seems crazy to me. Does this seem normal to everyone??

I'll be talking to the technician that looked at it tomorrow...what kind of questions should I be asking him?? What should I do if anything?? Should I be talking to the company that sold me the computer?? Do I have a reasonable argument?? I feel like I'm getting s**** over and I'm not sure how to deal with it. Any suggestions? ideas?
Please I can use all the advice I can get on this. Thanks in advance for any help.

Sincerely,

betina

did anything else in that room get destroyed? Did any of your TV's get a weird color? A surge that could destory a PC should do something to other things on that circuit. I've never heard of a power supply failure doing that much damage, but that's just me. A reccomendation for the future is to get a Monster Cable surge protector, for not only protection, but the $25,000 guarantee which says that anything that gets fried by a power surge that's connected to the surge protector will be replaced free of charge by Monster.

Also keep in mind that even if the insurance company does cover it, you might have a deductible, which can be $1000. For that money you could go buy yourself a really nice new computer, with a new warranty

Agree witgh what Ian said... it sounds like you're getting the usual routine insurance company treatment.

I had a desktop machine with a faulty power supply that up and died at about 16 months. But it was still under warranty and they sent it back with a new power supply and all was well. So the power supply going kaflooey did no other harm, but it was plugged into a good heavy duty ups/surge-protector when it happened.

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

Actually no nothing else in the house or the room my computer was in got damaged but then it was in my bedroom. The only other thing there that could have been damaged was my stereo but it wasn't on. All the other electronics we have are on another floor. As for the insurance deductible it's $500 so whatever they gave me would still help but I'm not holding my breath. I must be able to complain to the company I bought it from....that much damage out of the blue?! This sucks!

Well since the monitor, keyboard, speakers, mouse and CD drive still work would it be cheaper just to get the rest separately or are the deals now better with all included?? How much should I expect to pay for a good computer these days? I paid $1800 (CAD) two years ago for the one that just died....if I have to get a new computer I don't want to make the same mistake twice.

Thanks!

betina

This reminds me of something last year. Someone brought me their computer to have it looked at, because it supposedly "wouldn't turn on".

So my friend took the case lid off, and we plugged it in. When he hit the power button, the power supply literally "exploded". It sounded like a gunshot, and there was smoke pouring out of it.

Pretty freaky.

hehe... 'lectricity is nothing to play with

Did they open the power supply (the person who brought you the pc)? I've heard people opening them and trying to modify them and all that good stuff; then they poof

Actually she's my friend's gramma, so I can't see her doing that.

Haha, all the better... One of those "how does this work" or "What does this do" things hehe... ok, so I've done it... :glances at broken alarm clock and walks off: