There was an electric power-surge yesterday in our apartment and my computers went off. I've tried reconnecting them even with new power cables and extension sockets to know avail. What might have happened? In other words, what I'm I supposed to repair or replace. I'm not very good with the hardware! Thanks in advance for your prompt response. Affected Comps; Dell Optiplex GX270 Desktop Compaq evo D500 Desktop
Sounds like they're fried. That said you can try giving them a day and seeing if that helps or you take them into a shop for a free assessment. I don't know what else to tell you.
Unfortunately in these cases replacing is your only choice. If they were plugged into a surge protector, if it was a name brand surge protector, they usually have a guaranty, and will replace any damaged equipment that the surge protector didn't protect.
If the electronics weren't protected by any kind of surge strip, then their fried. Don't try to power them on, or it may make it worse, and it also may be a hazard for a fire, as any components inside can spark. You can try replacing the power supplies, but it may be the internal components like the motherboard (basically the main component a computer cannot live without), the processor (the heart), the hard drive (the brain), or the graphics may be fried. If the power supply is the only one that is fried, then it will be no problem. The motherboard is your #1 concern.
Have you called tech support for your gear yet? They may prove more healpful or at least less depressing in their answers.
It could possibly just be that the power supplies were damaged, but it's likely the whole system(s) is shot. Another thing to keep in mind is that even if you had the computers plugged into a surge protector, if you had CAT cables running your internet directly into them you could have still fried them through that as well. You might at least be able to salvage the hard drives in them. Computer parts stores will sell empty hard drive cases with USB ports on them. You just attach the drive to the case, close it up and plug it in, then you can connect it to another computer via USB and copy your important materials off of it.
