Can I stay on my computer during a lighting storm?
368105
There are four ways a person can get injured from lightning: a direct strike, "splashes" (when the lightning bounces off something and strikes you), ground strikes (when lightning strikes the ground and then you conduct the electricity), and EMP waves (i don't know what this is). You have a 1 in 3000 chance of being hurt by lightning, and a surge protector lowers that odds even more. So according to the fact that chances are pretty low, I'd say it's safe to stay on the computer.
512682
No way, you will get fried if your hit by lightening.
720054
I'm in Oklahoma, too, so I feel your pain!  Always unplug your computer system from the wall during storms, do NOT rely on a surge protector.  Also, unplug the phone line from your DSL modem.  Electricity can flow through the phone lines and kill your modem, lost mine a month ago because I forgot to unplug it.  Be sure to remove the DSL line from the back of your computer as well.  Better safe than sorry, and better paranoid than regretful!
497407
Off of coure is it's for hours but for short piorod's of time it wont hurt to leave it on. But even you computer needs it's sleep some times it will help it! Just like sleep hepls you! Plus you save on your power bill!
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.....
606935
any wire can carry a charge, and a thunderstorm can hit any wire outside your home.... so if your computer is connected to 1) a power outlet or 2) any other wire such as phone or broadband, there is a risk that lightning will hit the right line outside and send a gigantic current to your computer (destroying it)... so yes, unplug your pc completely (leave the keyboard and mouse...)
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
966535
when you know you will come back to your computer in the same day then you can put it in stand by. The less you keep turning on and off your computer the better. It puts a strain on your hard drive if you do that a lot of times a day. So stand by is the best you can go.
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!
263201
I am an electronics student and this has camu in class one time. It is usually safe to turn it iff every night if you want, and it will take longer for the fan and power supply to burn out. But whenever you turn the computer on there is a higher than normal surge of electricity that run through your motherboard and every circuit, this surge isnt big and it only happens for a split second but excessively turning on your computer can damage some of the circuits but this usually doesnt happen.\n\n  I myself usually just leave it on and restart about once a week, and at times I have turned it off every night. I have had my computer for 5yr's and I havent had to replace anything so its really up to you, its not anything I would worry about too much though.
56637
stay indoors if possible
143286
Sure! Make sure any scheduled tasks use the advanced mode to bring system out of standby.\nSTART, ALL Programs, Accessories,System Tools,Scheduled Tasks - then choose:\nProperties, Settings, Wake the Computer to run this Task
210883
wear a rainjacket. it's highly doubtful you're getting radiation from your laptop tho.
420212
Thats because it it Internet Explorer, use Firefox and it wont happen. If lightning struck your power source there would be a lot more trouble than web pages.
524276
most website servers are never turned off... Its okay...\n\nexcept for the electricity.
617158
A good surge protector will normally take care of any problems. However, I had a lightning strike in my back yard and it blew out my entire pc even with surge protector. I recommend shutting off your pc during a thunder storm.
42544
Static electricity. You need to be careful about this as it can severely damage your system. You may need one of those bracelets that help to discharge the static electricity before you get on your computer during the winter months as the weather & walking around on carpets is part of what helps to create the build-up...