What should I do when the power goes out?
If a power outage occurs, your PCs are much more likely to be damaged when power comes back on. This is because power usually comes back on "dirty," since this is the equivalent of everyone in town turning on all their electrical appliances at once. Ever notice how power usually flickers back on? That flicker is voltage fluctuation which can seriously damage electrical components.
We recommend users without a UPS (battery backup) turn their PCs off when power goes out. This way they can be turned on once power is fully restored. If you experience frequent power outages, a UPS can be a lifesaver. Even a small $99 UPS will give you a few minutes to save your work and shut down your PC properly without risk of losing data.
November 1999
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