Well euhm, I don't know how to say this but I've got a Mac-problem. Frankly said, it comes down to this: My computer just blew up in my face. Litterally!

Just like that:

Question is: how the hell did it happen?

My guess is an overload or something. It was on for about an hour or so. But when I opened some programs, as always I do it at once. MSN, e-mail, music and internet. My MSN went on and than I clicked at e-mail and music at once. Windows Media Player opened up and than it blocked. Tried to unblock it with CTRL ALT and DEL keys. Didn't work, tried it again, didn't work. Then I pushed the on/off button itself. Didn't work either, so I pushed harder, than it went off, than the smoke came and a couple of mini-explosions, more smoke and than it was dead.

So, with me being all alone here (everybody is out of the country), that's a problem. There are computers enough here, but having your own personal computer is still something else. I don't know how the damage is on the inside. If my harddrive isn't damaged it's alright, if it is, I lost everything. Files, photo's, music, stories (most of it is online) except for three pages of Children of the United Nations and a small part I cut out of When The World Changes. And also my favorite websites.

Until the problem is solved (and I don't think a pencil and a piece of lemon will do it) I might be not so much around than usual. Just letting you know.

Ouch. Smoke from a computer is never a good sign.

Hope it's not the motherboard fried.

When I failed at my final year two years ago, it was the exact same thing. So that might be a possibility too but than it wasn't fried it was broken. 3 months without my computer. And I'm not going back to that store, not only it lasted 3 months. Apparently it's been like he's been every where in Belgium before I got it back. That was like whole summer! But also my guarantee has expired, so no more free fixing.

It's either buying something new or waiting for a repair/replacement of some sort. But one thing is for sure I'm without PC for at least two weeks.

Sorry to hear this, MGod, and glad you survived the


I'm not a computer guy but as Rocky said, smoke coming out from a computer is never a good sign. In my hometown there are shops selling PC sets that are assembled by the sellers themselves using parts of different brand names. They are usually cheaper and more powerful than those market brands but of course I would not expect them to last long. If that's your case I suggest you check the wirings and parts to see if they were not installed or assembled properly and crashed just that.

Well when my computer was broken the first time out, I had him for about nine months. There was once something wrong with the feeder and once the motherboard was broken, than I had to survive a whole summer on the other computers here. When I finally got it back, decently fixed it lasted for another two years. Never had a problem with it with exception of the virusses that is. But I do intend to figure some things out. I just hope my harddrive isn't destroyed.

I watched Deathlock last night and the moment I saw the explosion scene of Mrs Chan's PC in the safe house I thought: wow, that's must be the way M'God's PC explosed!

Something like that but my screen is alright!

Hmmmm... smoke is NEVER good. Usually means that something got FRIED for sure. DO you got an UPS system with surge pr5otection for that computer, M'God? At least here in Puerto Rico if you want your electrical equipments to last you need an UPS system.

I hope you get your computer fixed soon.

P.S. You need to do backups!!!! And I recoment a second internal hard drive where to save your file while leaving the main hard disk for the operating system and the programs.

I did my computer back to the store where I bought it. They were going to check it out. If it's my feeder, I just have to replace it, if it's the motherboard I'm screwed. They said if it's the motherboard, don't bother to get it fixed. It's going to cost around the 200 euros and if it'll last long is another question. I'm without it until the beginning of next week. As long it's not for three months, because that was one hell I don't wanna go through again.

What brand was your pc?

And I have had the same problem like you have, but they managed to fix mine... Okay, I had to survive over 4 months without my computer, but in the end it was fixed.
Must warn you; if you can get it fixed; chances are it might happen again to the machine :S

My PC is an Acer.

Don't intend to be without PC for like four months. It lasted three months, last time. Long enough. They said they would call early this week. Didn't receive anything yet, but there still tomorrow and if not, I'm definitely going to check them out on Friday. If it's the motherboard, I just want them to give back my files and everything else of my harddrive. Than I'll buy something else, a laptop or so, in another store because the service of the store where it is now, kinda sucks. Only this time I will not go back every week to hear to come back to week after. Right now still waiting for the diagnose here.

Only one day later after I said I would buy a laptop and today I've got one. Same store though. Apparenty it wasn't only my feeder but also the cooling system was going down the dumps. They said it was hardly worth it to get that fixed. Just like Sheepy said the chances it might happen again to the computer in the upcoming months were very likely. They said they could still use parts of the computer for other repairs. They told me buy a laptop here and get a free harddrive with it. I was sorta persuaded. And I also think it's much healthier to have a laptop instead of a computer, because there was also a lot of dust in my computer. I can still use my screen, I can attach everything to the laptop. Soon I'll be back online again on my laptop, but of course work comes in between and I'm booked till Friday.

Well now, my laptop is installed. Not completely yet, but most things are operational again. I've got most of my programs back but lots of things needs to be installed again and I have to learn to use the new microsoft office. It's still a Vista I have but the are differences with XP. There is is still a lot of work to it. And I'm definitely going to need another mouse. The touchpad is bugging me. Once I have a mouse it's going to get a lot easier in using this thing. I have to reorganise my playlist. Those are like over 5000 tracks of music I got that are now messed up. Not only I got my music back but I've got everything back. Photos, music but most of all my stories! I can attach my old keyboard and screen to it. Lot's of many cool features. Just letting you know, I'm back online and slowly am getting back in the old process of checking the sites out.

Glad to know you have your problem solved finally. Getting a new PC is easy, getting back what you had inside is difficult. The same goes for mobile phones. I once had to get a new sim card installed and it was a painstaking task to get my phone book reorganized.

Anyway congratulation and it's just time for Thanksgiving/Christmas!

Might I suggest that if you don't already, you should get into the habit of making regular back-ups of your files.

Good plan. Anyway I've got a free external hard drive that I can use. So that might come in handy.