Comforted when computer control died (8)
I believe the answer is:
consoled
'comforted' is the definition.
(console can mean to comfort or sympathise with)
'computer control died' is the wordplay.
'computer control' becomes 'console' (a console is used to control a computer).
'died' becomes 'd' (abbreviation next to the year of someone's death).
'console'+'d'='CONSOLED'
'when' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for consoled that I've seen before include "Gave comfort to (someone)" , "Cheered" , "Comforted in time of sorrow" .)