My computer has nine lives...

shamrock_uk · 03-11-2005, 03:15 PM

I just had to share this crazy sequence of events with you guys...I'm still amazed:

Its really crazy stuff, one minute I was typing, the next minute my computer shuts off. I think its a power cut except my monitor is still working. Then it starts up again.

I'm a bit suspicious at this, so I press the power button to turn it back off so I can take a look.

The next thing, the power supply goes 'bang', there's a brief burst of flame that shoots out the back (luckily i'd drawn the cutains otherwise they'd have been there!) and the PSU starts chucking out smoke!

As you can imagine, I was a bit 'worried'! Cue frantic opening of door/windows to let out smoke (at university the fire brigade are automatically called if alarm goes off), ripping cables out the back etc.

Anyway, believe if or not, after inserting a replacement power supply, everything works! I haven't fried my motherboard or even my RAM and all my data appears to be intact.

I'm just amazed! Still can't quite believe it. And how lucky I was in the room at the time!

Mack_Attack · 03-11-2005, 03:23 PM

Wow you were very lucky to be in the room. I am amazed that it stll works. There must have been a lot of heat there with the fire. Man must of had your heart going.

armageddon272 · 03-11-2005, 04:10 PM

20 bucks says that your comp will accidentally hack into the government and launch missiles all over the world causing a nuclear war, winter, apocolypse, in that order.

Bungleau · 03-11-2005, 05:33 PM

Hmmm... that ranks somewhere between amazing and unbelievable.

Still, being the methodical kind of guy I am... I wonder what the root cause of the problem was... and whether it's waiting to happen again

Mack_Attack · 03-11-2005, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by armageddon272:
20 bucks says that your comp will accidentally hack into the government and launch missiles all over the world causing a nuclear war, winter, apocolypse, in that order.

I think his computers name was HAL.

Ladyzekke · 03-11-2005, 05:56 PM

LOL, same thing happened to me a few years ago, but no flames (well at least as far as I could see, my PC is not visible to me when I'm at my desk). But it sure did make a big pop and smoked. I, like you, jumped up and was frantically unplugging everything, didn't take time to find the exact power cord, just unplugged it all out of the surge protector LOL. Frantic! I was worried too something got fried besides the power supply, but when I put a new one in there, all was just fine. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I think it's the quick thinking that helps. That's also why, as I mentioned in another thread, I'd be hesitant to keep my PC on 24/7. Because what would happen if you weren't there, would the fire continue or just burn itself out in the PC? And yours had flames and nearby curtains, so even if it burned out inside the PC, the curtains would continue.

Either way, glad your PC is OK Shamrock! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 03-11-2005, 06:01 PM: Message edited by: ladyzekke ]

shamrock_uk · 03-11-2005, 09:50 PM

Lol Bungleau, I was worried about the same thing. But the cable is fine, the adapter it was plugged into is also fine - think it was just the PSU giving up the ghost in this case!

Hehe, armageddon...who knows

Nice to know its not just me Lady Z! But yeah, I shall certainly rethink leaving mine on! It seems that the flame died out of its own accord, but its not something I would want to test in the future!

Bungleau · 03-11-2005, 11:03 PM

Good show! In any case, I wouldn't go parking it next to any flammable objects

armageddon272 · 03-11-2005, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bungleau:
Good show! In any case, I wouldn't go parking it next to any flammable objects

Or missle silos.

Hivetyrant · 03-13-2005, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by armageddon272:
20 bucks says that your comp will accidentally hack into the government and launch missiles all over the world causing a nuclear war, winter, apocolypse, in that order.

I'll take that bet

03-11-2005, 03:23 PM	#2
Mack_Attack Osiris - Egyptian God of the Underworld Join Date: May 22, 2001 Location: Sherwoodpark,Alberta,Canada Age: 51 Posts: 2,929	Wow you were very lucky to be in the room. I am amazed that it stll works. There must have been a lot of heat there with the fire. Man must of had your heart going. __________________

03-11-2005, 05:33 PM	#4
Bungleau 40th Level Warrior Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: Western Wilds of Michigan Posts: 11,752	Hmmm... that ranks somewhere between amazing and unbelievable. Still, being the methodical kind of guy I am... I wonder what the root cause of the problem was... and whether it's waiting to happen again __________________ B Save Early, Save Often Save Before, Save After Two-Star General, Spelling Soldiers -+-+-+ Give 'em a hug one more time. It might be the last.

03-11-2005, 05:56 PM	#6
Ladyzekke Ironworks Atomic Moderator Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Virginia, U.S.A. Age: 57 Posts: 9,005	LOL, same thing happened to me a few years ago, but no flames (well at least as far as I could see, my PC is not visible to me when I'm at my desk). But it sure did make a big pop and smoked. I, like you, jumped up and was frantically unplugging everything, didn't take time to find the exact power cord, just unplugged it all out of the surge protector LOL. Frantic! I was worried too something got fried besides the power supply, but when I put a new one in there, all was just fine. [img]smile.gif[/img] I think it's the quick thinking that helps. That's also why, as I mentioned in another thread, I'd be hesitant to keep my PC on 24/7. Because what would happen if you weren't there, would the fire continue or just burn itself out in the PC? And yours had flames and nearby curtains, so even if it burned out inside the PC, the curtains would continue. Either way, glad your PC is OK Shamrock! [img]smile.gif[/img] [ 03-11-2005, 06:01 PM: Message edited by: ladyzekke ] __________________ Reality Show Recaps

03-11-2005, 11:03 PM	#8
Bungleau 40th Level Warrior Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: Western Wilds of Michigan Posts: 11,752	Good show! In any case, I wouldn't go parking it next to any flammable objects __________________ B Save Early, Save Often Save Before, Save After Two-Star General, Spelling Soldiers -+-+-+ Give 'em a hug one more time. It might be the last.

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03-11-2005, 03:15 PM	#1
shamrock_uk Dracolich Join Date: January 24, 2004 Location: UK Age: 41 Posts: 3,092	I just had to share this crazy sequence of events with you guys...I'm still amazed: Its really crazy stuff, one minute I was typing, the next minute my computer shuts off. I think its a power cut except my monitor is still working. Then it starts up again. I'm a bit suspicious at this, so I press the power button to turn it back off so I can take a look. The next thing, the power supply goes 'bang', there's a brief burst of flame that shoots out the back (luckily i'd drawn the cutains otherwise they'd have been there!) and the PSU starts chucking out smoke! As you can imagine, I was a bit 'worried'! Cue frantic opening of door/windows to let out smoke (at university the fire brigade are automatically called if alarm goes off), ripping cables out the back etc. Anyway, believe if or not, after inserting a replacement power supply, everything works! I haven't fried my motherboard or even my RAM and all my data appears to be intact. I'm just amazed! Still can't quite believe it. And how lucky I was in the room at the time!

03-11-2005, 04:10 PM	#3
armageddon272 Symbol of Cyric Join Date: September 20, 2004 Location: Maine, feel sorry for me Age: 33 Posts: 1,163	20 bucks says that your comp will accidentally hack into the government and launch missiles all over the world causing a nuclear war, winter, apocolypse, in that order.

03-11-2005, 09:50 PM	#7
shamrock_uk Dracolich Join Date: January 24, 2004 Location: UK Age: 41 Posts: 3,092	Lol Bungleau, I was worried about the same thing. But the cable is fine, the adapter it was plugged into is also fine - think it was just the PSU giving up the ghost in this case! Hehe, armageddon...who knows Nice to know its not just me Lady Z! But yeah, I shall certainly rethink leaving mine on! It seems that the flame died out of its own accord, but its not something I would want to test in the future!

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