Computer - Leave it always on , or turm it off off sometimes?

N/A ^ | Jan. 3, 2002 | Capt. Tom

[Capt. Tom]

This question could be answered on a computer board somewhere on the Internet, but I value the opinion of Freepers in all matters so I will ask it here,since everyone has a computer and undoubtably an opinion and may be interested in the answers.

I turn my computer off if I am going to be away from it more than 8 hours. Friends of mine leave the computer on 24/7. The reasons I turn mine off is in case of a power surge or outage when I am not using it. I have a Virus program but do not have a fire wall and figure it is less time a hacker has to get into my computer. Also I can hear things running (FAN etc.)inside my computer and figure that it's less wear and tear on the machine.

Since I started turning my PC down each night years ago things may have changed inside computers that we have today. Maybe starting it up each morning is more detrimental to the computer than just letting it run all the time.

There are undoubtably a lot of factors involved since chips like AMD are in common usage today and run hotter than Intel chips thus requiring more cooling. I have an intel chip in a 200 mhz NEC.

Comparing my shutdown method to my friends, it doesn't appear to me to make much of a difference. If it doesn't, I might just get a firewall system in my next computer and leave it on all the time.

[Shurnuff]

It may sound strange.... don't take my word for it. Do a Google search.... or go to these links... which are only a few of the links I found about the problems:

http://www.btinternet.com/~splyons/problems.html
http://www.servenet.com/ipiboard/messages/4171.html
http://www.tek-tips.com/gviewthread.cfm/lev2/67/lev3/74/pid/608/qid/172771
http://www.pcnineoneone.com/reviews/sw/zonealarm5.html
http://pub88.ezboard.com/foffroaderrantpagecomputerproblems.showMessage?topicID=86.topic&index=1

Oh, yes, and I forgot to mention that about a week after I installed Zone Alarm, it began asking me for a password to get Outlook Express..... I had never before had or used a password to get my e-mail..... therefore, I could not get or send mail.....

ZoneAlarm is a strange animal; seems to have a mind of its own.

I hope this helps someone out there.

[chilepepper]

Reboot as often as possible IF RUNNING WINDOWS.

I've run my Linux w/ dual Pentium Pro 200MHz for 180days
and could have gone longer

I don't pay for the electricity and have a UPS though...

[Wm Bach]

This thread is just begging for a little I/O on your part.

[Wm Bach]

take care of some little problems that develope when using the pc such as ram not being released.

I developed some software that will free up ram after you shut down any application.

...not really, but if I did, I bet I'd soon be a millionaire.

[Chemnitz]

I use a UPS - absolutely essential. I reboot often with Windows ME. Have to. But to save power I put my speakers, desk light, and monitor all on a power strip. When I leave the desk for an extended period of time, I turn the switch and all of them go out. I keep the computer going, but it's a Dell that will power down in 15 minutes. The monitor powers down and switches off in time, if I fall asleep during a Rose Bowl game or the Superbowl.

Zone Alarm is great. I had trouble with Black Ice.

I highly recommend Norton Utilities.

[Yeti]

*..This is a funny thread..

Tee hee. I know.

At least someone finally set the power thing straight.

I think my RAM is getting cluttered, I'd better go flush it out.

[BlackbirdSST]

Finally, someone chimes in with "knowledge" over "opinion". Thank you. Blackbird.

[BlackbirdSST]

I developed some software that will free up ram after you shut down any application
Check out Freemem Pro. I use it on WIN98SE, WIN2K Pro, and have used it on NT Boxes. Don't remember the cost, think it was found on ZDNET. Blackbird.

[Capt. Tom]

Thanks for all the information.

I feel like the NFL umpires. I made the call early on to "turn it off overnight." I have reviewed the arguments against that, but have not seen any "incontrovertible"evidence to make me change my mind,at this time. -Tom