Recovering from Lightning Strikes: My Experience with a Damaged PC

Recently, I faced a harrowing experience that many tech enthusiasts dread: my computer failed to start after a lightning strike during a storm. While I was engaged in my usual tasks, a sudden bolt of lightning hit, causing my PC to spark internally before it abruptly powered down.

Despite my attempts to turn the system back on—trying multiple times but encountering dead silence with no lights or fans activating—I realized something was seriously wrong. I took the initiative to open the case and reset the CMOS, but to my dismay, nothing worked. This led me to suspect that the power supply unit (PSU) had taken the brunt of the electrical surge.

Upon inspecting the PSU, I discovered melted traces inside, which confirmed my fears. I decided to entrust it to a professional technician, who replaced the faulty PSU with a new one. Unfortunately, even after this replacement, my computer remained unresponsive. Currently, it’s still in the technician’s hands, and I find myself anxious about the potential extent of the damage.

Now, I’m left wondering about the fate of my entire setup. Could it be just the motherboard that has been compromised, or is it possible that the entire system is doomed? I appreciate any insights or experiences others might have with similar situations, especially regarding what problems I might face ahead.

Here are my system specifications for reference:
– Processor: Intel Core i3-3220
– RAM: 8GB
– PSU: Litepower 650W Thermaltake
– GPU: GTX 980

As an additional note, my computer was connected to the network via an Ethernet cable when the lightning struck, and the router sadly succumbed to the same fate. The positive aspect is that I did not detect any burnt smells within the case, leading me to hope that my other components survived unscathed.

Update: I received great news! The technician was able to fix the issue, and it turned out that only the motherboard had been fried.

If anyone has similar experiences or advice for preventing future incidents, I would love to hear from you! Your feedback could be invaluable in helping others prepare their systems against unexpected electrical storms. Thank you for your support!