Advice to all. Make sure protection up to date. This site attracts more than users.
Dave
Is there a computer Dr. in the house?
Moderator: Global Moderators
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Crawford Mair
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Thu Dec 16, 2004 4:43 pm
- Location: Musselburgh
Computer problems
Nice to see all the experts on the site offering their advice to those of us who are just short of dinosaur level. I have just about every virus scanner, firewall, spyware etc etc that I can because I have been hit before. I zap everything that it tells me to, I have lost some usage of genuine programs but as someone has pointed out - colleteral damage!
Researching Crawford & Mair family and their relatives. The Crawford's are Central Scotland based and the Mairs originate in Portknockie.
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DavidWW
- Posts: 5057
- Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 9:47 pm
While we're on the subject ......................
If you haven't already got a power surge cut-out on the power supply to the computer then get one asap !! If you have a landline telephone connection then the telephone cable should also be protected. You will find dual power/telephone extension boxes, up to 4 or 6 sockets, at PC World for £20 to £30, which incorporate a power surge cut out (Radio Shack in the USofA, - and I'd anticipate the same figure for the price but $ instead of £). In fact you only need a single socket device as you can run an extension off that, - about £12 or £14 from PC World when I bought mine........
The reason that you need it? A nearby lightning strike can induce massive currents in the cables, power and telephone, that will, in the ultimate, zap your whole system. (And when did you last do a full backup BTW ????
)
OK, I've never heard of any friend in this country (UK) who has lost their whole system, but I know of 2 in Oz, and 1 in the USA who have lost their complete systems, - totally fried and irreparable, - and you may not find that the household insurance covers the damage if the system value is over the single item limit. (So check the household contents insurance as well. Ain't I just a ray of sunshine today ?
)
Fortunately we don't get, on a regular basis at least, the types of severe thunderstorms very common in other countries in the UK; but I still recall, about 3 years ago, sitting at the breakfast bar in the kitchen taking my lunch. There had been some quite distant thunder, but nothing to worry about.
Out of nowhere came this Godalmighty "crack", which I'm told probably means the strike hit something very close to the house. Only later did I find out that the internal modem on my laptop had been burnt out by an induced current in the telephone line. Fortunately my desktop system was switched off, and partly protected by an power surge protection device, and suffered no damage....
Is my tale of potential woe finished
Nope 
If there is ever a large thunderstorm close to you, then don't mess, shut your whole system down, and, most important, take out all the plugs, and the telephone cable connection to the modem........... power surge cut out devices are not infallible, and have been known to have been unable to handle a particularly large induced current, - it's a question of the device being able to cut out quickly enough. (There are devices that give 99.99999% protection, as opposed to 99.9%, but they will cost a heckuva lot more, and may not fit in your study!)
The cost of the power surge device? As low as £12 to £14 in the UK. The risk that is then largely eliminated? Replacing your whole system. That's what our US friends call a "no-brainer" Never mind the hassle of re-installing all your software and restoring all the data files from the up-to-date backup that, of course, you have !! (Continuing on the ray of sunshine theme 
, if you have a full backup, do you keep a copy somewhere else away from your house? - or, if there's a fire will you give higher priority to your backup CDs rather than the wife and weans? 
)
Those of you sitting smirking at the back of the class, because you've got a power surge protection device already, and have broadband via a cable link rather than a telephone landline, so that you don't need any power surge protection on the cable link, can stop smirking now,
as lightning can also induce a large current in the associated cabling. There might be an optical cable out in the road, and from there to a junction box on the outside or inside of your house, but you will most likely find that it is a wire from there to the broadband modem alongside your 'puter............ Don't let your broadband supplier tell you that there is no risk. OK, the risk is minimal in that situation, but however small that risk is, it's the consequences that have to be considered.
My next such post will be on the subject of backups. Think I'll save that for Christmas Day
Orraverybest
Davie
PS When purchasing your power surge cut-out device from PC World or Radio Shack please quote reference DWW460217 so that I get my commission.
If you haven't already got a power surge cut-out on the power supply to the computer then get one asap !! If you have a landline telephone connection then the telephone cable should also be protected. You will find dual power/telephone extension boxes, up to 4 or 6 sockets, at PC World for £20 to £30, which incorporate a power surge cut out (Radio Shack in the USofA, - and I'd anticipate the same figure for the price but $ instead of £). In fact you only need a single socket device as you can run an extension off that, - about £12 or £14 from PC World when I bought mine........
The reason that you need it? A nearby lightning strike can induce massive currents in the cables, power and telephone, that will, in the ultimate, zap your whole system. (And when did you last do a full backup BTW ????
)OK, I've never heard of any friend in this country (UK) who has lost their whole system, but I know of 2 in Oz, and 1 in the USA who have lost their complete systems, - totally fried and irreparable, - and you may not find that the household insurance covers the damage if the system value is over the single item limit. (So check the household contents insurance as well. Ain't I just a ray of sunshine today ?
)Fortunately we don't get, on a regular basis at least, the types of severe thunderstorms very common in other countries in the UK; but I still recall, about 3 years ago, sitting at the breakfast bar in the kitchen taking my lunch. There had been some quite distant thunder, but nothing to worry about.
Out of nowhere came this Godalmighty "crack", which I'm told probably means the strike hit something very close to the house. Only later did I find out that the internal modem on my laptop had been burnt out by an induced current in the telephone line. Fortunately my desktop system was switched off, and partly protected by an power surge protection device, and suffered no damage....
Is my tale of potential woe finished
Nope If there is ever a large thunderstorm close to you, then don't mess, shut your whole system down, and, most important, take out all the plugs, and the telephone cable connection to the modem........... power surge cut out devices are not infallible, and have been known to have been unable to handle a particularly large induced current, - it's a question of the device being able to cut out quickly enough. (There are devices that give 99.99999% protection, as opposed to 99.9%, but they will cost a heckuva lot more, and may not fit in your study!)
The cost of the power surge device? As low as £12 to £14 in the UK. The risk that is then largely eliminated? Replacing your whole system. That's what our US friends call a "no-brainer"
Never mind the hassle of re-installing all your software and restoring all the data files from the up-to-date backup that, of course, you have !! (Continuing on the ray of sunshine theme , if you have a full backup, do you keep a copy somewhere else away from your house? - or, if there's a fire will you give higher priority to your backup CDs rather than the wife and weans? )Those of you sitting smirking at the back of the class, because you've got a power surge protection device already, and have broadband via a cable link rather than a telephone landline, so that you don't need any power surge protection on the cable link, can stop smirking now,
as lightning can also induce a large current in the associated cabling. There might be an optical cable out in the road, and from there to a junction box on the outside or inside of your house, but you will most likely find that it is a wire from there to the broadband modem alongside your 'puter............ Don't let your broadband supplier tell you that there is no risk. OK, the risk is minimal in that situation, but however small that risk is, it's the consequences that have to be considered.My next such post will be on the subject of backups. Think I'll save that for Christmas Day
Orraverybest
Davie
PS When purchasing your power surge cut-out device from PC World or Radio Shack please quote reference DWW460217 so that I get my commission.
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HK
Just to back up all you've said Wullie.My husband is into electronics in a big way.(If he can keep the Canadian Sea Kings in the Air when most are older than he is,then he must know something.)In Gander he worked a second job besides the Military at an electronics repair shop.Telly's VCRs,comp.etc.While there we had a number of big lighting storms,and as he knows the end results he always shuts everything down completely.After one particularly bad storm they couldn't keep up with the need for repairs and had to hire extra help.That was after they had given last rites to more than half.They couldn't even use them for spare parts they were so fried.Take Wullie's advice to heart and check you systems.
HK
HK
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CatrionaL
- Posts: 1519
- Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2004 11:11 pm
- Location: Scottish Borders
Hullo Davie,
Thanks for the advice. It's good to be reminded from time to time of such matters.
Once I've worked out what the power surge thingy is in french computer speak, I'll be off to the nearest supplier.
Not quite sure if I understood properly. Did you mean that if we quoted Customer No DW460217 the thingy would be charged to your account? That's a great idea.
Bon après-midii
Catriona
Thanks for the advice. It's good to be reminded from time to time of such matters.
Once I've worked out what the power surge thingy is in french computer speak, I'll be off to the nearest supplier.
Not quite sure if I understood properly. Did you mean that if we quoted Customer No DW460217 the thingy would be charged to your account? That's a great idea.
Bon après-midii
Catriona
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Moonwatcher
- Posts: 207
- Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:38 am
- Location: North West Highlands. Scotland
StewL,
Re. That trojan you spoke of. That's EXACTLY what happened to me last week! Despite running Spybot and Adaware and other stuff, the little bugger was still lurking in a folder in the registry (so I'm told, cos it was actually the wife and son who did the troubleshooting.) They eventually tracked it down and as of last night everything returned to normal. It's certainly made me a lot more wary. Some really good advice being given here - particularly for us numpties with only Sinclair Spectrum experience to draw on.
Bob.
Re. That trojan you spoke of. That's EXACTLY what happened to me last week! Despite running Spybot and Adaware and other stuff, the little bugger was still lurking in a folder in the registry (so I'm told, cos it was actually the wife and son who did the troubleshooting.) They eventually tracked it down and as of last night everything returned to normal. It's certainly made me a lot more wary. Some really good advice being given here - particularly for us numpties with only Sinclair Spectrum experience to draw on.
Bob.
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DavidWW
- Posts: 5057
- Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 9:47 pm
Aye weel, you could always try this, but Ah hae ma doots if this account would be recognized !! <vbg>CatrionaL wrote:...... snipped ...........
Not quite sure if I understood properly. Did you mean that if we quoted Customer No DW460217 the thingy would be charged to your account? That's a great idea.
Davie
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sporran
- Posts: 496
- Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 11:40 pm
- Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK
Re: power protection
Hello all,
very good advice from Davie, and I look forward to advice about backups.
If you can afford it, buy an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) rather than just surge-protection, etc. extension boxes. Most UPSs, except perhaps passive ones, condition the mains supply so that they protect against surges, brownouts, etc. In addition, they protect against dips in the supply (very common here) and short breaks. When we have power cuts here, there are usually several periods when the mains is restored for a short time before cutting out again. If you are re-booting a computer when the power fails, it could be very bad news.
Despite manufacturers stating that modern TVs do not need to be unplugged when lightning is about, I always disconnect everything, and remove the aerial (antenna) lead from the wall.
Equally serious is being outdoors during lightning, and the advice is to be away from objects that could fall on you, get to a low point, remain still, and kneel if possible (so that the wide area of your back spreads the shock). Kneeling in a ditch during a winter thunderstorm in Scotland would not be my idea of fun, but it could save your life. In my youth, I was near a tree that was hit by lightning, and the shock threw me off my bike. The big branch that was split off missed me as well.
Far worse was peeing on to a fence that I did not know was electrified, and that is something that you do only once in your life. When I mentioned this to friends, they said that shipworking welders used to look out for people relieving themselves over an upper deck, and put the electric welding rod into the stream, hoping that it was continuous.
Regards,
John
very good advice from Davie, and I look forward to advice about backups.
If you can afford it, buy an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) rather than just surge-protection, etc. extension boxes. Most UPSs, except perhaps passive ones, condition the mains supply so that they protect against surges, brownouts, etc. In addition, they protect against dips in the supply (very common here) and short breaks. When we have power cuts here, there are usually several periods when the mains is restored for a short time before cutting out again. If you are re-booting a computer when the power fails, it could be very bad news.
Despite manufacturers stating that modern TVs do not need to be unplugged when lightning is about, I always disconnect everything, and remove the aerial (antenna) lead from the wall.
Equally serious is being outdoors during lightning, and the advice is to be away from objects that could fall on you, get to a low point, remain still, and kneel if possible (so that the wide area of your back spreads the shock). Kneeling in a ditch during a winter thunderstorm in Scotland would not be my idea of fun, but it could save your life. In my youth, I was near a tree that was hit by lightning, and the shock threw me off my bike. The big branch that was split off missed me as well.
Far worse was peeing on to a fence that I did not know was electrified, and that is something that you do only once in your life. When I mentioned this to friends, they said that shipworking welders used to look out for people relieving themselves over an upper deck, and put the electric welding rod into the stream, hoping that it was continuous.
Regards,
John
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Moonwatcher
- Posts: 207
- Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:38 am
- Location: North West Highlands. Scotland
Peein oan tae an electrified fence!!!! Oh man! That jist disnae berr hinkin aboot! Thers no a smilie in existence thit could capture the appropriate expression! An no a wummin thit could appreciate the implications. Oh Man! Oh Man. Lets move oan tae inither topic... please!
Bob. (cross legged at the thought)
Thers no a smilie in existence thit could capture the appropriate expression! An no a wummin thit could appreciate the implications. Oh Man! Oh Man. Lets move oan tae inither topic... please!Bob. (cross legged at the thought)
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DavidWW
- Posts: 5057
- Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 9:47 pm
Re: power protection
As promised, to follow on Christmas Day !!sporran wrote:Hello all,
very good advice from Davie, and I look forward to advice about backups.
This is what I meant when I referred to 99.99999% solutions as opposed to 99.9% solutions, but be aware that UPSs don't come cheap !!sporran wrote:If you can afford it, buy an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) rather than just surge-protection, etc. extension boxes. Most UPSs, except perhaps passive ones, condition the mains supply so that they protect against surges, brownouts, etc. In addition, they protect against dips in the supply (very common here) and short breaks. When we have power cuts here, there are usually several periods when the mains is restored for a short time before cutting out again. If you are re-booting a computer when the power fails, it could be very bad news.
I couldn't agree more !!sporran wrote:Despite manufacturers stating that modern TVs do not need to be unplugged when lightning is about, I always disconnect everything, and remove the aerial (antenna) lead from the wall.
So we're fortunate on two accounts that Moonwatcher is still with us !sporran wrote:Equally serious is being outdoors during lightning, and the advice is to be away from objects that could fall on you, get to a low point, remain still, and kneel if possible (so that the wide area of your back spreads the shock). Kneeling in a ditch during a winter thunderstorm in Scotland would not be my idea of fun, but it could save your life. In my youth, I was near a tree that was hit by lightning, and the shock threw me off my bike. The big branch that was split off missed me as well.
sporran wrote:Far worse was peeing on to a fence that I did not know was electrified, and that is something that you do only once in your life. When I mentioned this to friends, they said that shipworking welders used to look out for people relieving themselves over an upper deck, and put the electric welding rod into the stream, hoping that it was continuous.
It was only with the greatest difficulty that I didn't p**s myself with laughter when reading this para !! Very much something, if the experience is indeed survived, that you only do once in your life !!
Davie