Computer problems...?

Could electrical problems cause startup problems with a computer?

• I recently let my sister borrow a year old Acer that has windows vista. I had a few problems with the computer but used my malwarebyte program to figure out where they were coming from. It turned out that there was problem with Java. I had to uninstall my Java program and reinstall Java. But this time I didn't do the Java update that was attached to the reinstall. I checked online to see if other people where having similar issues with the Java update and there was found to be one. I also scanned the computer completely. Defragmented the computer. I also uninstalled programs that I knew was probably taking up memory. It was working beautifully after I cleaned up the computer better than my brand new HP/Win7 notebook that I just got in June. I gave my sister the Acer because she just lost her job and couldn't afford to rent a new computer. She is giving me back the computer on Friday. She told me that she can open windows but that the windows will shut down suddenly. She has done this with 2 other older Dell computers that she bought from me. I know that my old Latitude/Win XP worked great when I gave it to her. That isn't working. My workhorse of a Dell Inspirion/Win XP worked too when I gave it to her. Her electricity is bad in her apartment. Could an electrical surge have caused damage to any of these computers? I will never let her borrow or give her another one. I told her to make sure that when she was charging the units to use a surge protector. I think she has a regular power strip that she is using. What can I do to repair the Acer once I get it back? I'm thinking that there was damage done to the hardware. Thanks for any help.

• Answer:

  One of the most common problems with bad power source is data corruption. Could be that as simple as data getting corrupted on the hard drive. Do her lights flicker all the time or go really dim?? That could also be very dangerous.