Windows said modem worked fine. That unmistakable scorched electronics smell suggested otherwise

Windows reported the modem was functioning perfectly fine, but the unmistakable smell of burnt electronics suggested otherwise. Lachlan, the reader who shared this story, was a tech support professional for a senior executive who made a side income by writing essays for Japanese university students attending UK universities. The executive faced an issue with sending and receiving emails, causing a significant disruption to his side hustle.

Lachlan began troubleshooting by verifying network settings, cables, and line dial tone. He then checked the device's compatibility in Windows Device Manager, where Windows confirmed the modem was in excellent condition. Despite finding no evident issues, Lachlan decided to replace the modem as he discovered a distinct burnt smell.

Upon inspecting the modem, he noticed a black soot mark near the voltage regulator chip, responsible for protecting the device from the BT line voltage. This chip had been vaporized, indicating an extreme overvoltage situation. Lachlan asked the executive when his email had stopped working, and if he could recall any recent electrical storms.

The executive revealed his email had ceased functioning during a particularly impressive lightning display. Lachlan concluded that the voltage regulator chip had sacrificed itself to protect the modem, highlighting the power of lightning in this situation.