Sean,   
      
   SD> DS>   I do have some surge protected power stripes besides the 3 UPS's.   
      
   SD>That is still better than running directly into the wall,   
      
     No kidding.   
      
   SD> DS>   Thunderstorms in Arkansas are prolific lightning producers...and   
      
   SD>You -do- live in Tornado Alley. :D  The US has the most active weather on   
   SD>Earth because of its geographical location.  There is a myth up here amongst   
   SD>the locals about the mountains protecting them from tornadoes...boy, are   
   SD>they wrong...   
      
     Actually, a combination of BOTH Tornado Alley, and Dixie Alley. Most   
   of our severe weather occurs at night...when it's harder to see, and   
   when people are asleep.   
      
   SD> DS> 1) Is 5 miles long   
      
   SD>A lightening bolt can travel along telephone wires for over ten miles from   
   SD>the initial strike...I've found that out the hard way.   
      
     I heard of one case, where an individual was walking down the railroad   
   tracks (which is trespassing, since the tracks are private   
   property)...but lightning struck the rails a long distance away, and   
   traveled down the current to the individual, where they were   
   electrocuted.   
      
   SD> DS>   In short, it's no contest. I'd rather be offline a few hours or days,   
   SD> DS> rather than permanently, from a lightning strike.   
      
   SD>Yep, no contest there.   
      
     Yet, so many want to take their chances.   
      
   SD> DS>   I've always used UPS's from American Power Conversion, even when the   
      
   SD>APC is my preferred brand too, although I have a cheap Cyberpower one that   
   SD>works well to protect the router and such.   
      
     I can't afford to get new UPS's...much less computers.   
      
   SD>To keep this message somewhat on-topic, are you planning on trying out   
   SD>Windows 10 when it's officially released?   
      
     Nope...sticking straight with XP. I've got perfectly good working   
   hardware and software, that I can not see getting rid of, just to   
   satisfy Microsoft's bottom line...never mind I can't afford it.   
      
     Earlier today, the host would not resolve via MTel, or the website, so   
   I decided to reinstall XP. But, I had to jump through a lot of hoops to   
   find various drivers, etc. Thankfully, a combination of Driver Booster   
   from IObit Software, and some search engine work, got me what I needed.   
   Microsoft Update finally woke up, downloading and installing nearly 160   
   updates!! As soon as I get everything installed again (I save the games   
   outside the BBS for last), I'm doing a system backup.   
      
   Daryl   
      
   ---   
    þ OLX 1.53 þ To be arrested without a visa is a borderline infraction.   
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
                                                                                     
   --- Virtual Advanced Ver 2 for DOS    
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS (1:19/33)