And I miss you all. A week without SimHQ has been weird lol. I miss my pc and my pc games. Was online last week on my day off then stopped to watch a movie on the tube. While watching, we had a huge crack of lighting strike nearby and it was only a single strike, no thunder preceding or after. No storm came through, no rain, nothing. Just BAMM!!! Oddly enough the power did not go out. However after my movie I went back to my computer. Internet connection stopped. Another family member's computer which was off also refused to come on. My Dad took that one to the Geek Squad and apparently that computer's motherboard went poof. After trying multiple things with my computer and the mystery disconnect, it went into the squad too. I also noticed that a rear fan was not functioning.(first time I've ever noticed that in four years)

They've had it a week. Apparently the bearings went bad in the back fan. As far as the modem, it was found to be non-functioning. While its there, we'd also had them look into another problem I've had and that is I have never been able to get a wireless adapter to function with my pc EVER! My last attempt left me with a "Code 10" and a subsequent google search of that problem. Apparently I'm not the only one. It refuses to download and install a proper driver. I tried myself to follow suggestions of using a registry cleaner to fix and remove old drivers and inconsistencies to no avail.

My dad says they still haven't figured out the wireless adapter issue after a week. But no wonder I've had trouble with this all these years because the Geek Squad still hasn't found a fix yet! Last I heard they think its a software error and will be contacting Microsoft. Strange.

The wireless adapter issue is something I've always had an issue with but I'm wondering if that crack of lighting somehow still managed to send a surge that zapped my modem and the other computer's motherboard? I have it hooked up to a quality surge protector and like I said, the electricity never went off. Is that possible?

Hope to be back online with ol' reliable sooner than later.

Years ago there was a lightning strike near the house. Power didn't go out but the TV turned on and was able to turn the TV off after turning the switch to ON and then OFF. TV was still working properly afterwards.

I would be on the floor, peeing my self. Seriously, every time I hear thunders I go to the middle of the biggest room I can find and stay there, away from any power outlet or anything connected to the outside.

If at home, the computer is the first (and only, though) thing I disconnect. I don't know how people live their lives in areas with big thunder storms, I would probably die from heart attack. I happened to be in Chicago one time, they have big ass thunder storms there, normal to them, but I didn't know what to do, every way I looked there was a power outlet or a window. I nearly sh!t my self.

No matter how good your surge protector is, a large amount of electricity can fry your computer before the.protector trips.

Years ago the lightning damaged mine by coming thru the cable line, not the power. It didn't hurt the cable modem but fried my hub and my PC's NIC. Back then I had a separate card, not on the mobo, so it cost me $40 for a new hub and $30 for a new NIC. Now it would cost me more.

However, I do have an RJ45 port on my suppressor that I use now.



The Jedi Master

If its getting ugly outside, best to physically unplug--power & ethernet.
On the positive side, a good excuse to upgrade!

You got it raw.

I was in a house once that got hit by lightning, It blew the computer printer and radio + tv which were all plugged various sockets.

One particular socket was charred and I guess we were very lucky there was no fire.



Sounds like a b@stard though for you to have that happen "out of the blue"

Yeah had the Ethernet cable still plugged into the modem. Maybe it surged and fried the socket. So far as I know everything else is okay other than the wireless adapter issue which I've always had.

Not looking good. Apparently they were not able to do anything with the modem as its built into the MB and its no longer functioning. Their diagnostic test apparently picked up a MB warning. Apparently they say the MB could fail or last forever.

My biggest irritation, they've had the computer for a whole week and the main online connection problem I've had has NOT BEEN FIXED AFTER A WEEK! They said they successfully connected the adapter to the pc and internet. However when I get it home and plug in the adapter they gave me, nothing. I try running the Lynksys Adapter cd software they gave me and I get an error message (0xc0150002 error). So it refuses to let me setup the adapter. The problem I have is that it they actually got it working, how come something as simple as running a bit of software on a cd not working? Are they fibbing? This software allows the adapter to work, I can't install said software, yet they say they got connected!?? Something does not add up. So I'm thoroughly irritated.

I searched the error message and it has something to do with a registry error yet alas, all the "free" scanners of said problem only scan and don't FIX the problem for free and to register the product you need an internet connection.

Plus it seems my pc is struggling and moving really slow. I fear the MB maybe more damaged than thought. I'm mostly irriated that after a week the problem we sent it into for is not fixed though they said it is. All I got out of a week in the shop is a new generic rear fan installed.

I fear old reliable might have had it.

I don't have the money, but can someone recommend a build-it-yourself pc site? This pc has been wonderful and its from Ibuypower so I'll probably go with them again. I may have to get a new pc because of this.

I say, get a second opinion.

Geek Squad is very low in diagnostic reliability and repair knowledge.

Last week, my office manager wanted a new personal laptop, so she went to Best Buy for a quick buy, since she did not wanted to wait for the shipping. Got herself a new Dell XPS that doubles as tablet and comes win Win 8 Pre installed. She asked to get it "downgraded" to Win 7 (not the right machine if she really wanted 7) and they said yes, but she needed to buy the Win 7 license, so she did.

After 4 days they call her and say that all was good with the Win 7 install, except the USB ports did not work. They asked her if that was OK with her. WHAT?! Of course she said no, and they re-installed Windows 8, but since the box was already opened, they told her they would not accept a return for the Win 7.

If they would had been honest -

1) They would have recommended another computer after she asked for Win 7.

2) Even if they said yes, they should have accepted they could not do what they promised the customer and return her money for Win 7.

And how on Earth did the got the idea that a customer will accept back a NEW product that does not have all it's functionality?

It can still be the MB, but I would not take that diagnostic from Geek Squad employee as a decision making basis.

Like anywhere, it depends on who you get to work on it. They have things they have to do first, usually a version of Linux designed for testing and takes a while to run.
What I'm thinking is that for the cost of taking it to them, you could buy a workable mobo. You don't have to spend a lot. Can't help but wonder what else might have issues, but if it runs now other than some oddities, I guess cpu, memory and HD are ok. You will likely need a fresh OS install, and when you activate it, you may have to call in to do so, but that's no big deal.

It will think you're installing on a new pc. Just tell the automated system you're installing in the only one pc you've had it in and give it the code on the screen. Same if you talk to someone, just give them the code.

The swap isn't as hard as you might think. Just take some backup pictures for peace of mind, write down what goes where and go for it. Most plugs will only go in the right place. The new mobo will tell you where the little annoying wires go, like power button, reset button, activity light etc.

Yes, iBuypower uses standard ATX cases, so mobo replacement is a viable option. Probably also the most reliable, least expensive option.

I think we'll take it elsewhere for another set of eyeballs to look at. I don't know how they can say they got connected online when the adapter software won't even run because of some error message. Played a couple of offline games on it and it still seems to run. Just can't get a freakin' adapter to work and annoyed with the time they had it and initial problem was never fixed.

If I can get it fixed this has been my best gaming pc. Upgraded only once with more ram and new video card and I can play most anything. I love the Element S case. If I had to get another I'd love to get the same case again.

Why not just get a new network card?

The Geek Squad....

We have a couple of lots smarter folks here at our own hardware and software forum.

There isn't a network card. The modem? I was using for the Ethernet connection is built into the motherboard. Maybe I can get a network card depending on what kind of slot it takes.

They're saying to add a network card in one of your expansion slots. Depending on what slots you have open and not blocked by the graphics card:

http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-WDN4800...ss+network+card

Just an example, no idea about the quality of that card, but go for antennas. It does look good though.
IMO, you're going to keep on having issues with that mobo until it fails. Might bite the bullet so it doesn't take something out with it.
You don't have to buy a whole new pc, just swap it all over to the new mobo in the same case.

I think I'm now heading in the direction of a new motherboard and new processor like you were suggesting RK. What do you think would be a good gaming based MB and processor to go with that won't break the bank?

Looking at maybe getting a core i7 3.4GHz cpu (47795 I think it is) and perhaps the ASUS Sabertooth motherboard.

Yeah, go Intel if you can. Wish I had, but too costly to switch when everything is working ok. Should be some cpu/mobo package deals out there to help on price. Watch newegg, tigerdirect and amazon.