Better news

[liebchen127]

Thanks from me and my computer for your kind wishes. Yesterday we managed to keep the PC running. The circumstances were very strange indeed as we (a friend and I) completely pulled the PC apart and together again, started it and - nothing happened. My friend thought the PC was copletely crashed for it smelled badly burned. We were siting down and

Comments

[drfidelius]

Given that the modem is fried, it's very likely the lightning struck through the phoneline, and basically your modem acted as a somewhat expensive Sicherung (somehow the english word eludes me at the moment). It's a small price to pay though compared to when the entire PC would have been lost!
You might want to invest in some kind of anti-surge protection for your PC.

[liebchen127]

It's a small price to pay though compared to when the entire PC would have been lost! --> Yes it is. I really had a lot of luck and I am grateful.

You might want to invest in some kind of anti-surge protection for your PC. --> Yes, I think I really will (though I was told these things can't protect you from a lightning stroke that directly hits your PC, only from a sudden and minor change of voltage). But I'll certainly sign a household contents insurance now (!!!).