Do you ALWAYS turn off the computer when a thunderstorm starts?  

i dont, i feel protected with my avr and surge protector

If it's really bad I try to turn off the computer. From time to time the lights will go out and that will cut everything off in the house. Sometimes it will flash and come back on but if then sometimes it might stay off. I don't have the guts like you to keep things on through a storm.

i turn off my computer if the weather gets really seriously ... i do this because i have previously experience with this ... once my modem is dead, that was no problem, them are so cheap to buy ... but once my motherboard was dead, this things are really expensive ... so now i am cause with this things

why do you have to turn off your computer when a thunderstorm starts since all i use is a laptop and i have a laptop but i removed the screen because the brightness did not want to go up so when i use it i use an external monitor.

Yes I leave mine on; even during the worst storms. There was one night I was on my computer when lightning struck, and my computer flashed on and off. Lucky nothing happen to it. I didn't want to risk something happening the next time it storms so I went out and bought surge protector.

If it gets really bad...high winds etc then I do turn it off. But just a storm passing through I don't heed the experts.....I just keep on using it! LOL

no. that was also my worries when i had my internet connection hooked. one time, there were thunderstorm so i worry too much. then i called the wifi company and asked them if it is ok not to turn off the computer when there are thunderstorm. i was afraid thunder might hit the cable, since it is connected to the computer it might cause fire... you know, am kind a paranoid sometimes :D

the wifi company assured me, it is alright not to turn off computer even there's thunderstorm. and if the power fluctuate, computer is still safe. computers are manually operated... :)

Here's the deal. Your information is backed up which is excellent. If you have a decent UPS (uninterruptable power supply) and/or surge protector even better. Especially one that will protect not only your ac plug but your phone line (if dialup or dsl) or coax (for cable). Only then would i not be concerned with thunderstorms affecting my computer.

Yet your average user does not have these things. Most have a generic powerstrip bought from Wal-Mart in hopes it will protect their system. It will not.

i still get computers brought in that are damaged during thunderstorms. Usually it's the powersupply which is only a twenty dollar part. Not a big deal. Sometimes though the motherboard will be fried. Still not a very expensive FRU (field replaceable unit) usually costing no more than a hundred dollars. Not so long ago i got one in that was completely toast except for the hard drive (none of my diagnostic scans found problems but it could still have been damaged).

Do i shutdown my computer during an intense thunderstorm? Only if i think the power could completely shut off. Only out of habit.

Well I guess I am the odd one out. I do as my computer is kinda close to a window. I was struck by lightning on my bike at 14 years old. I had to have a filling in a tooth replaced with a crown because I got a radio station on it at night and could not sleep. But I still love a good storm.

I've been a fool for about 10 years now. (Actually, my friends swear its been longer than 10 years.) It's got to get really bad before I shut mine down. I usually think about it until the power goes off. Then I go thru DTs until the power comes back on. I guess I've just been lucky, but I've never lost one to a thunderstorm.