Turning off computers for the night...

[JuanLagarto]

If you're not using it shut it down. Make it for the planet ; )

 

[merryweather20]

I know my Win 7 PC will automatically shut down and restart if there are updates that need to be applied with no intervention by me.

PCs are not that different from servers which run 24/7, they really don't need to be shut down or restarted all that often, again with the exception of patches and updates which if they are operating system related and you're running on a newer platform, will happen automatically anyway.

I'm happy to keep charging the people that call me Your computer does indeed need to be shut down periodically.

 

[HonnyDipp]

every now and then I will turn it completely off before bed. Looks like I need to do it more often.

 

[bicker]

Your computer does indeed need to be shut down periodically.

Actually, your computer needs to be rebooted periodically.

The essential aspect of that happens when you boot up (because there aren't handles on critical files), not when you shut down.

 

[Klismania]

I not only shut it down when I'm not using it, I pull the DSL cable from the port so no one can get into it and power it up.

But I'm paranoid like that.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I not only shut it down when I'm not using it, I pull the DSL cable from the port so no one can get into it and power it up.

But I'm paranoid like that.

Paranoid for nothing. If the PC is in sleep, you can "wake-up on LAN", but there is no way to remote power up a PC that is in a power off state, the LAN port is completely inactive.

I'm happy to keep charging the people that call me Your computer does indeed need to be shut down periodically.

There is a difference between having a software glitch (which can happen on any machine, but most often not directly related to the operating system) that will clear itself on a restart (not shut down) and a general need to reboot/restart/shut down periodically. I cannot tell you the last time I've shut down my desktop outside of the auto-restarts it performs when patches and software updates are auto installed. There's just no reason to any more.

 

[Klismania]

Paranoid for nothing. If the PC is in sleep, you can "wake-up on LAN", but there is no way to remote power up a PC that is in a power off state, the LAN port is completely inactive.

Yeeeaaah, that's exactly what they want us to believe, which is why I remove the cable when I'm not on the computer.

And stop asking me who "they" are. It's part of the delusion and I'm not going to tell you.

My other delusion is that the government can track our wherabouts via our cell phones so mine's typically turned off. People tell me that even if it's off they can still do GPS on the card inside, but I selectively sift that information out of the delusion.

Shhh! Don't tell anyone. If the government knew they'd come after us both. Just turn off your computer when you're not using it, unplug the DSL cable and make sure your cell phone is off when you're mobile. You'll thank me later.

 

[wdwgirl03]

We always shut ours off at night. Is it really that hard to do? The tech person in the school district I work for sent out an interesting email after winter break about computers, unplugging stuff when you're not using it, etc. I've always shut down my computer anyway but now after that I'm just going to keep doing it.

 

[Bonnie151]

I wish someone would tell my DH that it is *possible* to switch off our computer/his laptop/any electrical appliance in our house! We'd save a fortune on our electric bill! He seems to think that not only does his laptop need to be on 24 hours a day, but so does the TV, even when he's gone off to, oh, mow the lawn/take a shower/eat dinner in another room...

 

[bicker]

We always shut ours off at night. Is it really that hard to do?

Now you have me confused. Did I miss some messages, from folks saying it was difficult to shut down computers? I thought this discussion was about whether it was necessary, advisable, and/or acceptable to do so.

The tech person in the school district I work for sent out an interesting email after winter break about computers, unplugging stuff when you're not using it, etc. I've always shut down my computer anyway but now after that I'm just going to keep doing it.

Uh, if the tech person did say "unplugging stuff" then taking that advice would mean not just shutting down the computer, but truly unplugging it from the wall. That does make a lot of sense, providing substantial benefits that just shutting down the computer does not provide, as mentioned earlier, perhaps enough to make it worthwhile doing so, based on a broader set of criteria.

 

[bellebud]

Now you have me confused. Did I miss some messages, from folks saying it was difficult to shut down computers? I thought this discussion was about whether it was necessary, advisable, and/or acceptable to do so.

Uh, if the tech person did say "unplugging stuff" then taking that advice would mean not just shutting down the computer, but truly unplugging it from the wall. That does make a lot of sense, providing substantial benefits that just shutting down the computer does not provide, as mentioned earlier, perhaps enough to make it worthwhile doing so, based on a broader set of criteria.

yes, like Bicker said, it's not whether it's difficult... it's not. It's whether it should be done for your computers sake.

So Bicker, do you mean about the unplugging it from the wall (which I do whether I just shut the lid or actually shut it down) is better so the low flow of electricity isn't happening, etc?

 

[bicker]

So Bicker, do you mean about the unplugging it from the wall (which I do whether I just shut the lid or actually shut it down) is better so the low flow of electricity isn't happening, etc?

Unplugging from the wall makes all the difference, I believe. It cuts off the damage that would stem from a power surge coming through the power lines. It also means that the power adapter is powered down, thereby it is consuming no power. For laptops, in addition to the power used by the power adapter whenever it is plugged in, there is also some power continually being used by the power supply inside the laptop, managing recharging of the battery.

By contrast, the most significant thing that shutting down does is turning off the screen (at least for a laptop - for a desktop you have to, and can always, do that separately) and stopping the hard drive from spinning, but even those things can be arranged with the computer still running, through power options. With a computer's power options properly configured, it can reduce its power consumption and heat generation to practically nothing, while still be available to be used without waiting for it to reboot, and while its resources remain available to the rest of the network.

Another option is to have the computer on a power strip, with an on/off switch. Switching off the power strip is similar to (though not the same as, at least in terms of power surges, depending on the power strip) unplugging all the devices attached to it.

 

[bellebud]

Unplugging from the wall makes all the difference, I believe. It cuts off the damage that would stem from a power surge coming through the power lines. It also means that the power adapter is powered down, thereby it is consuming no power. For laptops, there is also some power continually being used by the power supply inside the laptop, managing recharging of the battery.

By contrast, the most significant thing that shutting down does is turning off the screen (at least for a laptop - for a desktop you have to, and can always, do that separately) and stopping the hard drive from spinning, but even those things can be arranged with the computer still running, through power options. With a computer's power options properly configured, it can reduce its power consumption and heat generation to practically nothing, while still be available to be used without waiting for it to reboot.

Another option is to have the computer on a power strip, with an on/off switch. Switching off the power strip is similar to (though not the same as, at least in terms of power surges, depending on the power strip) unplugging all the devices attached to it.

thank you! I get it now. I have to say, I usually need a few cups of coffee before I can read your posts (and then I still have trouble), but that's just me and my tiny brain.

I don't mind waiting for the morning 'warm of' of the computer, so I'll turn it off (and i've always unplugged it anyway). Thanks again

 

[bicker]

I don't mind waiting for the morning 'warm of' of the computer, so I'll turn it off (and i've always unplugged it anyway). Thanks again

I just realized a few other things that matter (to us), and updated my earlier message. Most notably, while a computer is running, its resources are available to other devices on the network. For us, that means that we can access photos one one computer from any of the other computers in our home, for example. Obviously, if you're a one-computer home, that sort of thing doesn't matter much.

 

[Minnesota!]

laptop is shut down everytime we are done using it. I can wait the 1 minute to bring it up when I need it next. Only plugged in, charging, when I am using it. Paranoid about a fire.

Desktop is shut down after every use, too.

 

[momto2inKC]

I just shut my laptop when i'm done using it, hardly ever actually turn it off. The desktop is usually left on 24/7. Its quite old and takes a REALLY long time to boot up which aggravates the kids and husband So they leave it on.

 

[GeorgeG]

I have three laptops, but two are used for specific purposes and only need to be on on occasionally, so they stay off most of the time. I do turn the other one off when I go to bed, more out of habit than any technical knowedge of scary things that occur during the wee hours. I'm okay with that so I see no pressing need to change.

Regarding unplugging and/or turning off power strips to avoid damage from surges, especially during electrical storms, I do have this to suggest: Unless you have a very good power strip/surge protector, the safest thing is to unplug electrical applainces during an electrical storm. The switch may or may not disconnect both lines feeding into it and will not disconnect the ground. Even if it does, a surge from lightning or high voltage accident will likely jump such a minimal gap any switch will provide. Electrical surges can occur on any conductor coming into your home. Utility wires often get tangled together when the come down and the utility's breakers and fuses do not always operate fast enough to protect everything, sometime not at all. So, high voltage surges can enter your home via even telephone and cable TV wires or even the ground if close enough to your house. Lightning can do the same and often hits the ground and travels through grounding systems.

While there's no need to lie awake at night worrying, if you really want to protect your appliances from surges while not in use, unplug them.

 

[momrek06]

So last night we bought an IMac as DH & I had older pc's and it was time to move on from them.

I asked the Apple rep about shutting down the IMac as I shut both our pc's off whenever they are not in use. He said just putting the IMac to sleep is absolutely fine. I was inquiring about the saving of electricity. DH & I used to leave our pc's on 24/7, never ever shutting them off (just the monitor) and when I went to shutting them down when not in use (both during the day and every night) I did indeed notice a savings in my electric bill.

He then said really you will not notice your electric bill going up if you just put your IMac to sleep. So I guess we will just use sleep mode and if away from it for any length of time, then we will turn it off completely.

Now shifting gears my son came home for winter break from college and took his '08 Macbook to Apple for a maintenance check, the genius bar told him
that it is all fine but that it appeared to them that he leaves his Mac on all the time....he agreed that he did....they said to shut it off when not using it!

Soooo, one tech says to leave it in sleep and another tech says to shut it off completely....ugh.

One interesting thing the tech said for those with laptops...the industry is getting away from calling them LAPtops because you should not use them on your lap as the NOTEbook will get too hot.