Lightning Damage

Question

Lightning Damage

Hi there. There was a large storm in my area today, and my Powerbook was on and connected to the mains and phone line. I saw a flash of light and my Powerbooks screen flickered. The power adapter also turned off (the LED on the adapter went off). I counted at least 2 seconds from the time I saw the light and heard the sound. So the lightning was relatively close.

Anyway, the computer seems fine, and the Power adapter works fine (after changing the plug it was inserted into). I live in Australia however my Powerbook is only covered under a South African warranty. Is it worth taking it in to get checked up, now, while I'm in South Africa, or is it unlikely that any damage occurred.

Many thanks.

Posted on Sep 26, 2005 4:50 PM

Reply

Answer 1

WK

Level 3

525 points

Sep 26, 2005 7:55 PM in response to Michael Gonsalves

Lightening can fry computers easily. My friend just had his iBook scrambled by lightening, and now his USB ports dont work.

boot up from the disk that came with you PB and do a hardware check, just to make sure.

Reply

Answer 2

carl wolf

Level 6

14,631 points

Sep 26, 2005 10:18 PM in response to Michael Gonsalves

Michael,
I've never heard of Apple offering a warranty valid only in South Africa. Regardless, I doubt that any warranty would cover an act of nature - which would include lightening strikes.

Reply

Answer 3

Camrahn

Level 2

464 points

Sep 27, 2005 6:50 AM in response to Michael Gonsalves

" Is it worth taking it in to get checked up, now, while I'm in South Africa, or is it unlikely that any damage occurred. "

Although a lightning strike may actually shorten the life downstream, there is no real way to check for it. If all is working now why pay someone else to give you the same answer.

This happens all the time with aircraft and marine computer equipment.

Reply