Bizarre Slugfest Fixing My Computer!
*Note: The following article may contain graphic images and references that some may find disturbing. Read at your own risk!
Thank Goodness, as of 7pm last evening my computer was no longer sleeping and became alive and well once more. My Computer is now awake and had been fixed!
Yayy!
But in the end, the root cause of the problem was bizarre, highly improbable, freakish, and unexpected.
This turned in to a Bizarre Slugfest Fixing My Computer. Thankfully I have my computer back!
Once Asleep, Now Fixed!
When the computer service repairman first arrived, he immediately could see the computer was OFF but the monitor light was ON but "asleep" and went through the usual process checks to see why the computer itself wouldn't turn on.
Power strip to power source. Check xxx
On/Off Button engaged disengaged. Check xxx
All computer cables non-defective, working and plugged in properly. Check xxx
Computer monitor light is on. Check xxx
The computer monitor button light was ON constantly gold-orange in color and never turned Blue. However, no matter how many attempts he made, the CPU tower wouldn't turn on.
That's when he decided it was time to open the CPU tower, and to inspect its inner contents. When he did and exposed the motherboard, the source of the problem was quickly revealed.
This is where things get real "sticky."
*Warning: For those who are frail of heart and queasy of stomach, you may close this Post now. Turn back and head to base camp or forever hold your peace! The rest of the brave community will give you the highlight reel later.
However, IF you are still morbidly fascinated or even mildly curious, continue reading.
Our Bizarre Slugfest Begins
A common Slug - basically a shell-less slimy creature related to a snail- found its way into the interior of my CPU tower and apparently was "drawn" to the motherboard. Slugs are common occasional critters even in large cosmopolitan cities, and occasionally find their way into homes and dwellings through the pipes under your sink and even from your shower and bathtub. They thrive in moist areas. There are some people who even care for slugs as pets!
Gardeners would be pleased to know that when a slug makes contact between two terminals of a control board, it allows voltage to pass through it, "frying the critter" similar to the effect of an electric chair!
This is exactly what happened to our little friend, and caused my computer to go blank!
The fact that a slug is damp or slimy helps the process. And evidently aided its imminent electrocution. They can squeeze into tiny openings of your CPU casings easily. You can see here, this is what happened - and not only "fried the slug to a slimy toast" but it killed my computer!
Fortunately I invested in the 36 month All Parts and Service Warranty, and even this policy covered the 100% Replacement Cost and Service for the New Motherboard board and its installation was all-inclusive of "slug damage."
Everything I ever created I had thankfully backed up on another drive. By the following day, the serviceman returned and the motherboard was replaced and installed, and all was well in Kaju-land once again!
Reduce Chances of Slugs in Your Computer
This was a freakish occurrence as slugs are only occasional city dwelling visitors and would even much less be likely to get into the interior of your computer.
But that’s what happened! And it was "beddy-bye" time for my computer.
Nothing can provide 100% protection, but here are 2 ways to reduce the chances of slugs and other earthly critters from getting into your computer.
- Install a panel inside a smaller box, and then fit this panel inside the larger control cabinet
- Use fitted rubber grommets around the wires that pass through the cabinet to seal the holes Well, I'm back blogging on my computer again.
So happy to get rid of using my cumbersome smartphone especially for images where I dreaded creating blog posts.
Hopefully you haven't RUN away or fallen asleep?
Are you still there?
If so, please feel free to "slug out" some comments here!
Cheers.
Kaju
Recent Comments
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Wow. When you said slug fest you weren't kidding. I've always been dumbfounded as to why slugs always crawl to a place of their peril, sidewalks, hot pavement and in this case a motherboard.
Brad
That's right Brad, they seem to be masochistic little creatures! Thanks for that comment!
kaju
Good afternoon Kaju,
This is an unbelievable story. If you had no photos to prove this tale I would put it down to fake news.
I am really happy you got this issue solved. Am feeling somehow sorry for the fried critter, perhaps they taste good?
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
I would never touch that 'lil "fried critter" with a 10 foot chop stick, Taetske, or even an 11 foot fork! Although
i definitely feel sorry for it!
Have a Great Day,
Kaju
Now, that's a new one on me, Kaju!
Who'd uv thought it?
It gives new meaning to occasionally cleaning my computer tower inside and out. Never know what we will find lurking in there.
The last time I removed debris from my tower was so long ago that I can't remember when it was.
I guess that makes me a bit of a "sluggard", huh?
Oh well, time for another "slug" of my favorite brew! And, I don't swallow at a "snail's pace."
:-o
Jim
Might as well take a Humongous "Slug" of that brew and enjoy that quench, Jim - this is definitely one for the Books and the Ages! I will join you:)
Nothing will ever surprise me again after what I had seen when that serviceman opened my tower!!:)
Thanks,
Kaju
I would've never guessed either Linda! Crazy 1950's horror-film material!! Poor 'lil sluggie!
That's so freaky, Kaju, have never heard anything like it! I have to say, your grilled little chap looks quite disgusting, wouldn't use him in a stirfry.
There is still the question: why the hell did it crawl in there? Was it looking for your hidden CJ?
Well, at least your computer was insured against slug damage!
That's a great point Sammy, it MUST be the allure of the remnants of the CJ that attracted it to crawl into those "little crevices."
What a Freak Show, I agree I wouldn't even use him as fish bait (poor Fish!), but I felt it was important to show him for historical reference.
Thank Goodness for the warranty!!
Thinking about that - it would have been weird if the failure had been down to one of the ordinary boring reasons. Woudnt' have matched your character, Kaju...
Here Slimy Sluggie... Come to Momma!!!
Talk about the Mother of Motherboard stories!!!
Glad it's fixed, my friend.
Have a fabulous day.
Wendi :)
Hey, this is NO joking matter Wendi!! (LOL!!!)
That poor Slimy-Sluggie Never had a Chance! Couldn't even give it a proper burial :(
Now that IS the Mother of Motheropard Stories so far!
Oh, Kaju. I know this is NO joke. It's a very serious matter.
I can't help but wonder what that slimy-Sluggie was thinking as he slithered mysteriously into your CPU thinking to find possibly some valuable information, only to find that Special Somewhere created for Silly Slimy Sluggies. May he rest in slimy sluggie splendor. 0:)
Your caring friend,
Wendi
I was JOKING when I said this was "no joking matter" Wendi - LOL! Of course, to me this is hilarious! I thought you caught that!
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Hi friend, I couldn't believe what I was reading earlier when I saw your blog. That is something you would never even think about, I know I wouldn't have even given something like that a thought and I can imagine you would have been the same.
I bet you and your computer repair man did not expect that when he opened up the CPU tower. Would that not have had a horrible smell coming from it or was there nothing.
At least it was repairable and you didn't need to get a new one and thankfully you had backed everything up before it had happened.
Pleased for you that you don't need to use your phone again to work on your website. xxx
Yep C, working on the phone was a fate almost as horrifying as our little critter friend's (which btw, didn't have a noticeable odor, but it did not have much time to "waft" n the air!).
Glad I'm back on my computer!
I know what you mean as I find that I don't answer comments on my phone unless they are going to be short and there is definitely no way I could do a blog or a post using my phone.
I am so glad that there was no odour as that could have been worse if you were having to work out where an odour was coming from as it could have taken you ages to work out what it was.
You will be friend. xxx
Thank God no odor, agreed!