RS> The cable would be interesting to pursue. Its unusual to have one
RS> wire alone blown off in a cable in that situation. Corse its always
RS> possible that the cable was flakey, the physical act of disconnecting
RS> it during the storm just had the wire come off the pin. Is it a molded
RS> cable or one where you can open the connector shell ?

PM> From memory it's a molded connector. It does sound unlikely that the storm 
PM> damaged it. Lets just blame Xiayi for it. After all, she broke the TV set 
PM> as well.

I suppose it is unreasonable to suggest that the zap when up
through the computer, out through the serial port, and then
melted the cable, or alternatively through the modem and 
out the other side to melt the cable.  However, I shall be
giving my 2400 bps modem plus dud cable to my brother-in-law,
where it shouldn't matter if CTS is inactive.  I have written
on the cable "CTS line broken" as part of my duty to the
wider public.  However, in the end, I think your suggestion of
blaming Xiayi is the most obvious.  BFN.  Paul.
@EOT:

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