Most likely you have a bad ground since you obviously have power.  Grounds are important on PC equipment in that they help remove stray static electricity.  Check the rest of your house and see if you have the same or if it's just that plug.

If it's the whole house you have a big safety problem.  House wiring (at least for recent codes) need 3 ground points.  The power companies ground, a copper stake in the ground, and a water pipe.  Loss of any of these is a issue, especially since thieves have been stealing the ground wires off the power poles for the copper. 


 
--- 
Wayne Johnson,                         | There are two kinds of people: Those 
3943 Penn Ave. N.          | who say to God, "Thy will be done," 
Minneapolis, MN 55412-1908 | and those to whom God says, "All right, 
(612) 522-7003                         | then,  have it your way." --C.S. Lewis



>________________________________
> From: gregrwm <tclug1 at whitleymott.net>
>To: tclug-list at mn-linux.org 
>Sent: Friday, January 4, 2013 12:21 AM
>Subject: Re: [tclug-list] power
> 
>plugged in a tripp lite.  says "line fault".  arrg.  poor defenseless mobos.
>_______________________________________________
>TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
>tclug-list at mn-linux.org
>http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list
>
>
>
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