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Computer Problems After a Power Outage?

The City of Lake Forest recently experienced a power outage which affected over 700 residences last week.

Computer problems after power outages is not only inconvenient, but they can cause both short and long term damages to electronic components, especially computer systems and printers. Power surges or Spikes can easily damage or destroy internal hardware components, thus causing a series of possible issues such as:

• System lag time (system working slower to complete tasks) – Sign of component damage
• Missing Files – Signs of possible hard drive damage
• System won’t power on – Sign of component damage

These symptoms may be noticed immediately or over a period of a few weeks, depending on how much the system is used and how badly the unit was damaged. If you have noticed immediate changes in the operation or functionality of your system, contact the expert Technical Team at Orange County Computer^® and we will properly diagnose your issue.

How can I prevent these issues from happening in the future?

A reliable power surge solution which will protect your systems from electrical surges and outages is to use an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS). There are several different types to choose from, but typically there are 2 mainstream options depending on the type of components you are planning to protect.

Standby Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)

The Standby UPS is recommended for smaller systems and is a type of battery that is waiting "on standby" until needed. When the Standby UPS senses a power problem, the transfer switch changes to the secondary power source. When line power is restored, the UPS switches back.

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Unit protects your devices against Power Surges associated with scheduled and unscheduled outages

Cons:

• Limited power conditioning
• Recommended Use: This is a cost effective alternative for smaller systems, such as individual desktops, etc.

Continuous Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)

The Continuous UPS is suggested for Network Environments. The Continuous UPS is a type of battery that is plugged into a power source and computer to continuously supply uninterrupted power flow. It is used to keep a system running for a period of time after a power failure allowing for either enough time to properly power a system down or to enable a company network to continue working for a specified period of time.

Pros:

• Battery provides constant power to loads
• Provides Power Conditioning
• Unit protects your devices against Power Surges associated with scheduled and unscheduled outages
• Savings on the replacement of expensive system components, servers, etc.
• Can protect valuable data from potential crashed hard drives

Cons:

• Costly initial investment
• Additional electrical costs incurred

Recommended Use: Provides a layer of disaster prevention for Networks running several processes etc.

For more information about computer problems after power outages and how you can protect your valuable data and hardware investment, contact a member of the Orange County Computer^® Technical Team at 949-699-6619 or visit us online at orangecountycomputer.com