Microwave fried my computer??

[Jtardiou]

Ok short and sweet.

I turned on the microwave with a paper bag in it and the whole power in the room shut off. After I moved my computer to a different room and plugged in my computer, I've had numerous problems. My computer somteimes made clicking noises (I think coming from HDD), loaded up games very slowly, and kept freezing. Also, I kept losing sound, the sound would get staticy and then just turn off completely. When I tried playing a song in winamp, it wouldn't even try to play it - as if no sound drivers had been installed. After a reboot, it would fix but it would happen later and kept happening.


Today I tried to watch a video and looked like video card problems where the colors started blending in together and then my computer froze. I tried rebooting but it said NO VIDEO CABLE CONNECTED and it smelled like something was burning I checked my computer and my video card was EXTREMELY hot and the video card fan wasn't on. I made sure the video card fan was still plugged it but it won't start when I boot up the computer. After I let it cool off a few hours, the computer seems to boot up but the fan still isn't going so I shut it down ASAP.

I'm really clueless as to what to do now. I don't even know what the problem is. What is wrong with my computer? Is it fried?

EDIT: if the video card fan malfunctions, should the video card still get that hot? (so hot you can barely touch it?)

 

[Operandi]

First off, why were you microwaving a paper bag??

To your problem/s. You might have experienced some sort power surge that may have damaged some of your components including the GPU fan. And yes the heatsink will get very hot without the fan moving air over it.

The first thing I would do is replace the video card's heatsink assuming the card is worth it, if not look into a new card.

If you still have issues you could be looking at a damaged PSU, motherboard and/or other components.

 

[Jtardiou]

Ok, but I'm sure it's not just the card.

Where could the clicking come from? I can only think of the HDD.

And the sound problem?

Is my computer done?



BTW my specs--
2.8ghz AMD w/ bundled mobo, 512mb w/ radeon 9800pro

 

[KeithTalent]

You didn't answer the most important question:

Originally posted by: Operandi
First off, why were you microwaving a paper bag??

Definitely what I would like to know.

 

[Jtardiou]

hey guys thats cool but im pretty sure its irrelavent. thanks for caring so much though, not like i didnt learn my ****** lesson

edit: now my video card fan works when I booted it up a few minutes ago. What is going on? Seriously...

 

[jonesthewine]

temporal contiguity does not necessarily imply causation...

 

[imported_RedStar]

firstly, a microwave pushing 1500 watts (or even 1200 W) should be th eonly thing on its circuit.

Secondly, you should have had a power bar attached to your computer to protect it from that scenario.

Now if you did have one ...it gets interesting.

regardless, sorry to hear about your computer imploding

 

[bobsmith1492]

Did you bounce something loose in your computer while moving it? How long has it been since you last moved it? Do you move it a lot? Did you check the voltages coming from the power supply? That would likely be the first to be damaged if the microwave sent a surge through the lines.

 

[BladeVenom]

For future reference, don't run a microwave oven without something in it that will absorb the microwaves.

 

[Jtardiou]

Originally posted by: bobsmith1492
Did you bounce something loose in your computer while moving it? How long has it been since you last moved it? Do you move it a lot? Did you check the voltages coming from the power supply? That would likely be the first to be damaged if the microwave sent a surge through the lines.

I moved the computer in the other room. I didn't drop it or anything. I move it pretty often, I used to travel alot with this computer, it's stable. How do I check the voltage coming from the PSU?

Also, there was food in the bag I was trying to warm up.

 

[w00t]

HD's sometimes click when seeking/writing/deleting if it does it while always running there may be something wrong and should do a backup asap.

your video card was overheating probably causing the problems you had with games, and freezing. The sound thing may of also been from the video card overheating idk though.

I suggest you get a new gpu cooler so your can keep your vidoe card from overheating hopefully you didn't to any damage to the card itself.

now that i am reading about the gpu fan working i guess keep it make sure it doesn't overheat it needs to work consistently. I think you really need to troubleshoot the problem find out what is causing the problem when it happens it really helps us to determine what is wrong with the computer.

 

[Operandi]

If you are sure the video card's fan wasn't working that's a good indication that it's starting to go out and a good chance the source of your problem.

You can pickup a Zalman VF-700 or VF-900 that you can put on the 9800 and carry over to a newer card, that would be my suggestion.

 

[Seekermeister]

If it were me, I would start at the beginning with a check of the power supply, not just the video card, since you had symptoms elsewhere. First and foremost, check the output of the power supply with a DMM. check on all of the output cables so that all of the rails are checked. A faullty PS can lead to alot of different kinds of problems that may seem unrated. I would think that the PS is a likely cause, because of how the problem was incurred. Fix or replace the video card and see what happens. If problems persist, the motherboard is the next suspect to check, but I'm not going to go into that now.

 

[bobsmith1492]

Originally posted by: Jtardiou

Originally posted by: bobsmith1492
Did you bounce something loose in your computer while moving it? How long has it been since you last moved it? Do you move it a lot? Did you check the voltages coming from the power supply? That would likely be the first to be damaged if the microwave sent a surge through the lines.

I moved the computer in the other room. I didn't drop it or anything. I move it pretty often, I used to travel alot with this computer, it's stable. How do I check the voltage coming from the PSU?

Also, there was food in the bag I was trying to warm up.

You can go into the BIOS to check it, if it supports it, or possibly use Motherboard Monitor (google it) if your computer is old enough (>1 year or so). Or , like seekermeister said, use a meter if you have one (but then again I'd assume you don't since you asked).

 

[xgsound]

The way I would approach this is to see what is working. I would eliminate the whole video card by replacing it if you can. Then run the simplest tests you can find. I usually start with memtest from a diskette or cd boot. If you can't get another video card definately replace the fan before you test with it. They're $5 or so. If memtest fails, strip all but one mem stick out and check each individually. If it still fails, remove cards and drives until all that's left is the minimum components to run memtest. If memtest still fails you have a better handle on what the problem is (mobo, cpu, psu, kb, all ram, mouse, monitor) than you did before.

Once memtest runs you can (re install if necessary) check the other components one at a time.


Jim

 

[athlonxp2200]

I think the problem started when it was moved. I know microwaves don't release any sort of waves that could have it damaged it because they're shielded. To fix it I'd try replacing each piece of hardware one bye one (if you have the stuff you need).

 

[Bozo Galora]

my guess is a huge voltage spike on the 120V line blew the mobo power regulation - IF the PC was ON when it happened. If not, the the PSU is suspect. He said it blew the room lites - went off, didnt say if he had to reset circuit breakers, or if they auto reset.

I would do cmos clear multiple times.

 

[Jtardiou]

OK today the Video Card fan blew out and just flew out. Makes no sense. Looks like I have to buy a new PC.

Can anyone recommend me the best CPU/Mobo bundle that you can get for a cheap/reasonable price. Also what is the best video card for about 200$? Maybe also a a cheap noose?

 

[Markbnj]

I think you have a poltergeist that messed with the computer while you were freaking about the microwave.

Seriously, it sounds like you're assuming the one big event is responsible for a whole bunch of small, not obviously connected events. Maybe it was, but I would just start debugging the computer issues. If you have a clicking then run the thing with the case panel off and listen for it. If it's the hard disk get a new one. Hard disk + clicking always == bad. If the video card is malfunctioning make sure the fan is working (looks like it isn't from your last message, maybe that was the clicking). Mid-range video cards are pretty cheap. Run memtest to make sure that the ram isn't damaged. If the board is booting I seriously doubt that the power event damaged anything at chipset level, or in the voltage circuits. Check the BIOS settings, and if possible reset CMOS and reconfigure. I suppose it's possible that something got scrambled.

 

[whubbard]

Since it seems as though parts of your computer are now blowing up...I recomend you just stop using it. Unless it is a top of the line machine...you might want to sell it (parts or just how it is)
If you want a new top of the line machine...I can help you with parts.
If you want a lower end machine...get a dell.

Ok...and now please...no matter how irrelevant...what was in the paperbag? It could have to your problem. Depending on what it was, it could have cause a fuse to blow amung other things.

 

[Dethfrumbelo]

Maybe there was some tin foil in the bag.

Anyway, it sounds like these events are very much related. Using a microwave on the same circuit as the computer is a bad idea in general - two devices with very high power draw. Obviously the circuit got overloaded, there was a voltage spike, the breakers tripped and his computer got damaged, end of story. Most likely, your PSU is damaged now and it sounds like it has already affected other components. You'll need to test everything on a different PSU first and see if the problems persist.

 

[Jtardiou]

I got a chipotlel burrito, REMOVED the foil, and since we were out of paper plates, I thought using the paper bag as a plate would be fine (since paper plates work?). I placed the burrito ON the bag with no foil/naything in the bag.

Can you not do that? I'm still not even sure..

 

[CurseTheSky]

Originally posted by: Jtardiou
OK today the Video Card fan blew out and just flew out. Makes no sense. Looks like I have to buy a new PC.

You mean, the fan on the video card just stopped working, or it actually BLEW OUT, as in, the fan shot out sparks, threw plastic shards all over your case, etc? If it's the latter, I highly suggest you stop using the computer, because there's OBVIOUSLY a problem, and you never know when something could (literally) set on fire.

Microwaving some food on top of a paper bag should be no problem. It sounds like you're certain that there were no metal or foreign objects in the microwave at the time - and now that we know you were heating up a burrito on top of a brown paper bag, I think the notions of "poor little kitty cat" or "dangerous chemical substance" in the microwave have pretty much gone away. Was the microwave old? Is the circuitry in the house old, damaged, wet, or improperly strung? Do you have extension cables running all over the rooms, or fifty million devices plugged in to the same outlet?

Since your PC still turns on and boots up after the incident, I would assume it's still at least somewhat useable. If it's an older PC, you can save yourself some trouble by buying yourself an early Christmas present, but if it's anything up-to-date, troubleshooting would be your best option.

Originally posted by: JtardiouCan anyone recommend me the best CPU/Mobo bundle that you can get for a cheap/reasonable price. Also what is the best video card for about 200$? Maybe also a a cheap noose?

Here are my suggestions:
Core 2 Duo E6300 - $183
ASUS P5B, P965 Express - $135
Sapphire X1950Pro - $200

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: Jtardiou
I got a chipotlel burrito, REMOVED the foil, and since we were out of paper plates, I thought using the paper bag as a plate would be fine (since paper plates work?). I placed the burrito ON the bag with no foil/naything in the bag.

Can you not do that? I'm still not even sure..

Yes you can, I do it all the time. Just be careful with the extra spicy ones.

 

[benplaut]

You can sell it... "Microwave tested computer!" maybe Microwave Safe?

anyway, all the best