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Electricity Power Surge - Harddrive Question pls

  • 04-01-2008 12:53pm
    #1
    justagirl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 565 ✭✭✭


    There was a power surge in my friends home (in Canary Islands so not local) - she had her desktop plugged into a power protection ganglead ... unfortunately it didn't help and her computer is now kaput.

    Do any of you reckon her harddrive would be recoverable? or is there anything we can try ourselves?

    Thanks in advance.


Comments

  • #2
    Karoma
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,396 ✭✭✭✭Karoma


    By "harddrive", you do mean the Hard Disk Drive, right? not the PC..? Sorry, just a lot of people seem to refer to the PC as "the harddrive".

    Assuming you mean the HDD:
    Open it up, inspect the HDD, if it looks OK - put inside another PC. Alternatively, tell her to buy an "enclosure" (3.5" presumably) - it's a casing that she can put the HDD into and then plug into a PC as a USB/Firewire(Depending on what she buys) device.


  • #3
    justagirl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 565 ✭✭✭justagirl


    Txs for quick reply Karoma.

    Just spoke to her now... her computer screen, box (where you turn it on/put disks into - I called this the harddrive - sorry:o).... external modem... all all not working ... when she plugs them in ...nothing happens.... funny thing is her printer works and this was plugged into the same power protection ganglead.... two dvds and a sky box have gone too.... mare.

    Doesn't sound good eh?...


  • #4
    Karoma
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,396 ✭✭✭✭Karoma


    Obviously, test in another socket, etc. (no ganglead).

    Otherwise, it could just be the Power Supply Unit (PSU). (wall ->plug->back of PC->PSU>to motherboards/components)
    Easy enough to pick one up. Cost <100eur - depending on what she needs.
    She'd need to unplug the machine, open the case, check the "box the power cord plugs into" - note the power/details, and get her to check for obvious signs of damage to other components.
    Replace the PSU and it might do the trick.


  • #5
    Thomas_S_Hunterson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,151 ✭✭✭Thomas_S_Hunterson


    Could well be the power supply unit inside the box. These generally sacrifice themselves in the event of a power surge and the rest of the machine may be unscathed.

    See if your friend can get her hands on another psu to test it.


  • #6
    justagirl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 565 ✭✭✭justagirl


    Karoma wrote: »
    Obviously, test in another socket, etc. (no ganglead).

    Otherwise, it could just be the Power Supply Unit (PSU). ......

    Thanks Karoma... yes, she replaced the plug just in case the fuse was gone....

    Karoma & Sean_K - I'll get her to check the PSU.

    Thanks again.. much appreciated...


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  • #7
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,552 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    justagirl wrote: »
    external modem...
    . two dvds and a sky box have gone too....

    Doesn't sound good eh?...
    no if other equipment also died then I'd suspect the equipment that survived might be on it's last legs after being stressed so much, unless it was off and had a mechanical switch instead of soft power.

    If it wasn't lightening then your friend might be able to lodge a claim against the electricity supply company. Brings back memories of a guy who asked " have you ever seen a fluorescent light glow like the sun ?" The ESB had crosswired a transformer and sent 600V into a couple of houses and they replaced all the electrical goods in them.

    If you are lucky replacing the PSU in the computer €50 give or take should get it up and running again.

    If the problem was lightening then the mother board could have been fried through the modem / phone line so probably not worth repairing. I know a radio ham who tired everything including unplugging everything during bad weather but in the end it was a matter of replace the modem and computer every year or so.


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