I am a computer systems and software engineer and left the corporate world in '79. I started a business in '86 shortly after PC's came out. I develop PC based cash register (POS) systems for fast food restaurants and College and University student dining. I have installed many networked systems around the U. S. since then. All of the restaurant systems run 24 hours a day and don't get turned off unless there is a lightning storm close to the store. I believe I can answer the questions asked above.
1. Yes, a hard drive can stick after shutting down, but I have only seen it happen on defective drives. One manufacture put out tens of thousands of drives around '89 through '91 that had this problem in every drive we purchased. We had to eat around 50 drives, which at that time were expensive because every time the computer was turned off, the disk would not start up. If I thumped it, or banged the PC on the desk, usually it would start up, but permanantly fail within 6 months. The manu. got written up in national publications but they still would not recall them or extend the warranty beyond 1 year. Needless to say, we never bought that brand again.
2. When there is a lightning storm I recommend the equipment and UPS be turned off and the power strip unplugged from the wall. Unfortunately, the customers can't unhook all of the network, printer, and monitor cables. In 15 years, I have gone out on emergency runs to get stores and colleges operational many times after lightning storms and tornadoes.
3. Lightning creates a strong electronic field when it hits. I have had computers demolished and determined that network cables and printer cables (25 to 50 foot runs) are the most common antenna that brings the surge to the computers. Many times I have had to replace only the printer port and sometimes the printer because the voltage came in that way, but was not strong enough to wipe out the computer.
4. After a major lightning strike, I have learned that the computers and equipment that remain running have about a 50% chance of failure within the next 90 days due to marginal damage. Because of numerous follow up trips to replace additional computers, I now recommed that the customer replace all computers if more that 1 was seriously damaged and turn the claim into their insurance carrier.
5. In one case only, at Embry Riddle University in Prescott Az. , lightning hit the flagpole in the center of campus. It took out every one of the computers in the cafeterias, and knocked down the most of the campus systems used in class rooms and research labs. I don't know how many they ended up having to replace, but it took a while for the campus to be running smooth again.
6. I don't turn off my Windows 98 system except during storms, or unless Windows crashes. However, my Window 98 won't come up correctly until the computer has warmed up. Sometimes I have to do a cold restart (power off restart) 3 times for it to load all the drivers correctly after it has been off a few hours.
7. Since Windows has bugs which may cause problems that are not readily noticable, it is true that you could possibly gain from a power-off restart once in a while. It really depends on whether you run any software that the bugs might affect.
8. I turn off my DOS machines every night (yes, we still do 100% of our development in DOS, as do many POS developers) to reduce the amount of heat in my house (we office in my house). Several computers quickly build up heat which means running more A/C. Other than rare disk drive failures (these days) and even rarer memory failure, I have had no problem doing so. It is true that if you have a flaky memory chip, you might have trouble getting it going.
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98. 5 24V QC 4x4 SB 3:54 5sp
[This message has been edited by Rick Hansen (edited 05-08-2001). ]
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