Can I stay on my computer during a lighting storm?
367010
Actually 50% of all lightning fatalities occur inside the house when people talk on the telephone, take a shower or are in contact with any other conductors while lightning strikes their home.  I personally would not count on the surge protector to save my life, I would just shut down the computer, stay away from all electrical and just read a book until the storm has passed.  Remember, lightning is the number 2 weather killer in the US each year (73 deaths) just surpassed by flash floods.
935797
You don't "use" it, it's passive. If your computer is plugged into a power strip with a surge protector or has one of its own on its power cable, it's already active. Even so, it's a good idea to unplug your computer during severe storms.
721078
All electrical storms can effect telephones and computers. Surge Protectors can save a life through a storm. If this storm is local to you, I'd sign off, relax and wait for the storm to pass. Better to be save than sorry. To be sure, to be sure
1000212
Your computer recieved a power surge via lightening or a spike caused by a power outage.
793156
you must not be too bad off if you are able to be on the computer.
362774
the internet carriers will tell you lightning could fry your modem. personally it's worth the cost of a new one to save the inconvenience of turning everything off during a storm, for all the likelihood that lightning will strike my house.\n\nsigh hope i didn't jinx myself.....
479088
Nope - turn off the monitor, though, because that consumes a lot more power than the computer itself. Leaving your computer on is actually even better for it, because most failures happen when you turn it off and back on.
554049
It depends on how high up you are in your apartment complex. So long as you are not the top floor or two then you are ok in that respect. make sure that you are not standing in water, that you have rubber shoes on and that you aren't touching anything metal. of course this is all just to be on the safe side just to make sure that a positive spike doesn't come off of you and try to connect with a bolt.\n\nI am an amateur photographer and have stood out in open fields taking pictures of lighting from storms 5-30 miles away. It's all in a matter of how safe you feel. I have had some REALLY close calls. If your hair ever starts to stand up drop to the ground FAST and roll away from whatever you are next to.
774102
ride the lightening!\nGod Bless
941592
Go on a computer that it is not blocked on.
519006
You cannot make natural storm lightening.\n\nFor artificial lightening, look for plans for a Tesla coil.
590262
You should be ok if you have it on a hard surface like a desk or table. \n\nIf you have it on the floor, or couch, or table with tablecloth, it may overheat due to the fan being blocked by the fabric.  Overheating is bad as it can kill the motherboard and/or drive and you would have an expensive paperweight.\n\nLeaving a computer on is supposed to be good for it since booting from the off state over and over adds wear and tear to the system.  I have a PC that I power off every night, and a work laptop that gets shut down once or twice a day, both work fine.  I haven't rebooted my mac in over a month and it too works fine.
244583
If you have a good surge protector, that is one that not only protects the power, but also your modem line or cable, and you have backups, you are reasonably safe.  If not, it would be best to unplug your computer from modem and power.\n\nTo those who say that it is absolutely unsafe to be online during a thunderstorm, do you all think that every business with computers shuts down during thunderstorms?  Of course not.  They just take precautions.  If the home user does not have adequate electrical protection, then she would be wise to disconnect her computer.  If she has adequate protection, then surf away and have fun!
829354
Don't touch anything metal that is connected to the outside - i.e. plumbing, wiring.  \n\nMake sure you unplug your computer and tv sets (and anything else electronic) because a direct hit close by will fry the circuits in these things - or at least get some good surge protectors if you forget to unplug or aren't around.
471788
No, you can always turn off or restart your PC.  It's good to keep the cable modem on, however if it does go down it will resynch on it's own most of the time.
264419
Found 10:\n1. Stay or go indoors! \n2. Stay away from anything that could conduct electricity.\n3. Don't use any plug-in electrical appliances like hair dryers, electric toothbrushes, \n4. Don't use the telephone during the storm. \n5. Stay in your automobile if you are traveling. \n6. Don't use metal objects outside, like fishing rods and golf clubs. \n7. Get out of the water. \n8. If you're outdoors, seek shelter from lightning! \n9. If you can't find shelter, avoid the tallest object in the area. \n10. When you feel the electrical charge, drop to the ground immediately!
489229
No.  You'd probably be in the eye of the hurricane, which is basically the hole in the center that the storm rotates around.  It's calm for a couple of hours and then the storm picks up again.  Of course, if the eye has already passed, it's probably fine ;)