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Old August 19th 03, 02:23 AM
w_tom
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An old story from early days of computers. New computer
would not work. Tech ran diagnostics all night. Computer
never failed until he left to get coffee. It got so bad that
he would loudly announce his thirst and stomp out of the
room. Then sneak back and peek around the corner. Still
computer would not crash - until he actually came back with
coffee.

Eventually problem was traced to how one elevator was
grounded. Everytime he took that elevator for coffee, it
crashed the computer. Wonder why some people believe in
ghosts? Who would have guessed how important grounding must
be understood?

Chief Thracian wrote:
Thanks for your helpful input...likewise, to everyone else who chimed
in.
I kinda thought this was NOT a problem that could be
software-corrected
(such as add ATH to the modem redial command string). I've gotten a
lot
of years out of this fine modem; and consider myself lucky that my
system
has suffered no other surge/spike damage in any other component.

I live in an OLD building (built 1904) with old circuitry. Spikes are
frequent, due to the elevator (the original!)...and I do use a
Backup-UPS
battery that allows me up to five minutes to shut down.
...