Q. My
son is constantly telling me not to shut down our computer at night. He
says it will damage the computer. I still forget and I do it sometimes.
Will it hurt anything if I shut down once or twice a week?
-Meredith, from Baltimore, MD, listens to my national radio show on WBAL 1090 AM.
A. You wouldn't believe how often I receive this question, Meredith. It's been going on for decades. Thank you for giving me a chance to finally put an end to this long-standing debate.
Both sides believe their way is better for a computer's life. The shutdown crowd believes steady power consumption will fry a computer over time. The leave-it-on crew believes that repeated shutdowns do physical damage to a computer's parts.
So, which one really is better for your computer?
In reality, it doesn't matter. Neither is going to change how long your computer lasts. There are advantages and disadvantages to both strategies, though. I'll go into those shortly.
In the old days, it really was a bad idea to shut down your machine too often. Older hard drives and computer parts didn't shut down easily and could damage themselves if they were turned on and off too much.
Plus, electronic components used to wear out quickly. That's why tech experts said you should only shut down if you need to, like when updating software. Things have changed since then, though.
Modern hard drives won't experience the same wear and tear or electrical burnout. They'll die eventually, but shutting down doesn't make the process go any faster. That is, as long as you shut down properly.
That means not unplugging the computer randomly or jamming the power button in the middle of working. Shut down from your computer's on-screen menu whenever you can.
When you shut down this way, Windows often installs new updates. These make your computer faster and safer. Regular shutdowns can save energy, too. Just make sure you follow these tips to make sure your computer doesn't drain any power when turned off.
Turning off your computer also means it won't make any random noises during the night. If your computer is in your - or your son's - bedroom, this is a welcome change.
There are some advantages to leaving your computer on, however. First, it means you don't have to wait for your computer to boot up in the morning. Of course, you can speed up your computer's startup, but it can still be annoying.
If your computer is on all night, it can work all night. While you're sleeping, it can defrag itself and do other routine maintenance. That means it won't hog resources while you're working, but will still stay in tip-top shape.
So, the choice is yours. I like to schedule a few nights where I leave my computer on to run maintenance. The rest of the time, I turn it off to save power.
If you really want the best of both worlds, you can put your computer into Sleep or Hibernate mode. These combine the energy-saving benefits of shutdown with that always-on convenience. I'll tell you more about both and help you decide which is good for you in this tip.
- See more at: http://www.komando.com/toolbox.aspx?mode=print&id=13316#sthash.8gblE0U1.dpuf
-Meredith, from Baltimore, MD, listens to my national radio show on WBAL 1090 AM.
A. You wouldn't believe how often I receive this question, Meredith. It's been going on for decades. Thank you for giving me a chance to finally put an end to this long-standing debate.
Both sides believe their way is better for a computer's life. The shutdown crowd believes steady power consumption will fry a computer over time. The leave-it-on crew believes that repeated shutdowns do physical damage to a computer's parts.
So, which one really is better for your computer?
In reality, it doesn't matter. Neither is going to change how long your computer lasts. There are advantages and disadvantages to both strategies, though. I'll go into those shortly.
In the old days, it really was a bad idea to shut down your machine too often. Older hard drives and computer parts didn't shut down easily and could damage themselves if they were turned on and off too much.
Plus, electronic components used to wear out quickly. That's why tech experts said you should only shut down if you need to, like when updating software. Things have changed since then, though.
Modern hard drives won't experience the same wear and tear or electrical burnout. They'll die eventually, but shutting down doesn't make the process go any faster. That is, as long as you shut down properly.
That means not unplugging the computer randomly or jamming the power button in the middle of working. Shut down from your computer's on-screen menu whenever you can.
When you shut down this way, Windows often installs new updates. These make your computer faster and safer. Regular shutdowns can save energy, too. Just make sure you follow these tips to make sure your computer doesn't drain any power when turned off.
Turning off your computer also means it won't make any random noises during the night. If your computer is in your - or your son's - bedroom, this is a welcome change.
There are some advantages to leaving your computer on, however. First, it means you don't have to wait for your computer to boot up in the morning. Of course, you can speed up your computer's startup, but it can still be annoying.
If your computer is on all night, it can work all night. While you're sleeping, it can defrag itself and do other routine maintenance. That means it won't hog resources while you're working, but will still stay in tip-top shape.
So, the choice is yours. I like to schedule a few nights where I leave my computer on to run maintenance. The rest of the time, I turn it off to save power.
If you really want the best of both worlds, you can put your computer into Sleep or Hibernate mode. These combine the energy-saving benefits of shutdown with that always-on convenience. I'll tell you more about both and help you decide which is good for you in this tip.
- See more at: http://www.komando.com/toolbox.aspx?mode=print&id=13316#sthash.8gblE0U1.dpuf
Q. My
son is constantly telling me not to shut down our computer at night. He
says it will damage the computer. I still forget and I do it sometimes.
Will it hurt anything if I shut down once or twice a week?
-Meredith, from Baltimore, MD, listens to my national radio show on WBAL 1090 AM.
A. You wouldn't believe how often I receive this question, Meredith. It's been going on for decades. Thank you for giving me a chance to finally put an end to this long-standing debate.
Both sides believe their way is better for a computer's life. The shutdown crowd believes steady power consumption will fry a computer over time. The leave-it-on crew believes that repeated shutdowns do physical damage to a computer's parts.
So, which one really is better for your computer?
In reality, it doesn't matter. Neither is going to change how long your computer lasts. There are advantages and disadvantages to both strategies, though. I'll go into those shortly.
In the old days, it really was a bad idea to shut down your machine too often. Older hard drives and computer parts didn't shut down easily and could damage themselves if they were turned on and off too much.
Plus, electronic components used to wear out quickly. That's why tech experts said you should only shut down if you need to, like when updating software. Things have changed since then, though.
Modern hard drives won't experience the same wear and tear or electrical burnout. They'll die eventually, but shutting down doesn't make the process go any faster. That is, as long as you shut down properly.
That means not unplugging the computer randomly or jamming the power button in the middle of working. Shut down from your computer's on-screen menu whenever you can.
When you shut down this way, Windows often installs new updates. These make your computer faster and safer. Regular shutdowns can save energy, too. Just make sure you follow these tips to make sure your computer doesn't drain any power when turned off.
Turning off your computer also means it won't make any random noises during the night. If your computer is in your - or your son's - bedroom, this is a welcome change.
There are some advantages to leaving your computer on, however. First, it means you don't have to wait for your computer to boot up in the morning. Of course, you can speed up your computer's startup, but it can still be annoying.
If your computer is on all night, it can work all night. While you're sleeping, it can defrag itself and do other routine maintenance. That means it won't hog resources while you're working, but will still stay in tip-top shape.
So, the choice is yours. I like to schedule a few nights where I leave my computer on to run maintenance. The rest of the time, I turn it off to save power.
If you really want the best of both worlds, you can put your computer into Sleep or Hibernate mode. These combine the energy-saving benefits of shutdown with that always-on convenience. I'll tell you more about both and help you decide which is good for you in this tip.
- See more at: http://www.komando.com/toolbox.aspx?mode=print&id=13316#sthash.8gblE0U1.dpuf
-Meredith, from Baltimore, MD, listens to my national radio show on WBAL 1090 AM.
A. You wouldn't believe how often I receive this question, Meredith. It's been going on for decades. Thank you for giving me a chance to finally put an end to this long-standing debate.
Both sides believe their way is better for a computer's life. The shutdown crowd believes steady power consumption will fry a computer over time. The leave-it-on crew believes that repeated shutdowns do physical damage to a computer's parts.
So, which one really is better for your computer?
In reality, it doesn't matter. Neither is going to change how long your computer lasts. There are advantages and disadvantages to both strategies, though. I'll go into those shortly.
In the old days, it really was a bad idea to shut down your machine too often. Older hard drives and computer parts didn't shut down easily and could damage themselves if they were turned on and off too much.
Plus, electronic components used to wear out quickly. That's why tech experts said you should only shut down if you need to, like when updating software. Things have changed since then, though.
Modern hard drives won't experience the same wear and tear or electrical burnout. They'll die eventually, but shutting down doesn't make the process go any faster. That is, as long as you shut down properly.
That means not unplugging the computer randomly or jamming the power button in the middle of working. Shut down from your computer's on-screen menu whenever you can.
When you shut down this way, Windows often installs new updates. These make your computer faster and safer. Regular shutdowns can save energy, too. Just make sure you follow these tips to make sure your computer doesn't drain any power when turned off.
Turning off your computer also means it won't make any random noises during the night. If your computer is in your - or your son's - bedroom, this is a welcome change.
There are some advantages to leaving your computer on, however. First, it means you don't have to wait for your computer to boot up in the morning. Of course, you can speed up your computer's startup, but it can still be annoying.
If your computer is on all night, it can work all night. While you're sleeping, it can defrag itself and do other routine maintenance. That means it won't hog resources while you're working, but will still stay in tip-top shape.
So, the choice is yours. I like to schedule a few nights where I leave my computer on to run maintenance. The rest of the time, I turn it off to save power.
If you really want the best of both worlds, you can put your computer into Sleep or Hibernate mode. These combine the energy-saving benefits of shutdown with that always-on convenience. I'll tell you more about both and help you decide which is good for you in this tip.
- See more at: http://www.komando.com/toolbox.aspx?mode=print&id=13316#sthash.8gblE0U1.dpuf
Q. My
son is constantly telling me not to shut down our computer at night. He
says it will damage the computer. I still forget and I do it sometimes.
Will it hurt anything if I shut down once or twice a week?
-Meredith, from Baltimore, MD, listens to my national radio show on WBAL 1090 AM.
A. You wouldn't believe how often I receive this question, Meredith. It's been going on for decades. Thank you for giving me a chance to finally put an end to this long-standing debate.
Both sides believe their way is better for a computer's life. The shutdown crowd believes steady power consumption will fry a computer over time. The leave-it-on crew believes that repeated shutdowns do physical damage to a computer's parts.
So, which one really is better for your computer?
- See more at: http://www.komando.com/toolbox.aspx?mode=print&id=13316#sthash.9CzWZbHb.dpuf
-Meredith, from Baltimore, MD, listens to my national radio show on WBAL 1090 AM.
A. You wouldn't believe how often I receive this question, Meredith. It's been going on for decades. Thank you for giving me a chance to finally put an end to this long-standing debate.
Both sides believe their way is better for a computer's life. The shutdown crowd believes steady power consumption will fry a computer over time. The leave-it-on crew believes that repeated shutdowns do physical damage to a computer's parts.
So, which one really is better for your computer?
- See more at: http://www.komando.com/toolbox.aspx?mode=print&id=13316#sthash.9CzWZbHb.dpuf
Q. My
son is constantly telling me not to shut down our computer at night. He
says it will damage the computer. I still forget and I do it sometimes.
Will it hurt anything if I shut down once or twice a week?
-Meredith, from Baltimore, MD, listens to my national radio show on WBAL 1090 AM.
A. You wouldn't believe how often I receive this question, Meredith. It's been going on for decades. Thank you for giving me a chance to finally put an end to this long-standing debate.
Both sides believe their way is better for a computer's life. The shutdown crowd believes steady power consumption will fry a computer over time. The leave-it-on crew believes that repeated shutdowns do physical damage to a computer's parts.
So, which one really is better for your computer?
- See more at: http://www.komando.com/toolbox.aspx?mode=print&id=13316#sthash.9CzWZbHb.dpuf
-Meredith, from Baltimore, MD, listens to my national radio show on WBAL 1090 AM.
A. You wouldn't believe how often I receive this question, Meredith. It's been going on for decades. Thank you for giving me a chance to finally put an end to this long-standing debate.
Both sides believe their way is better for a computer's life. The shutdown crowd believes steady power consumption will fry a computer over time. The leave-it-on crew believes that repeated shutdowns do physical damage to a computer's parts.
So, which one really is better for your computer?
- See more at: http://www.komando.com/toolbox.aspx?mode=print&id=13316#sthash.9CzWZbHb.dpuf
Q. My
son is constantly telling me not to shut down our computer at night. He
says it will damage the computer. I still forget and I do it sometimes.
Will it hurt anything if I shut down once or twice a week?
-Meredith, from Baltimore, MD, listens to my national radio show on WBAL 1090 AM.
A. You wouldn't believe how often I receive this question, Meredith. It's been going on for decades. Thank you for giving me a chance to finally put an end to this long-standing debate.
Both sides believe their way is better for a computer's life. The shutdown crowd believes steady power consumption will fry a computer over time. The leave-it-on crew believes that repeated shutdowns do physical damage to a computer's parts.
So, which one really is better for your computer?
- See more at: http://www.komando.com/toolbox.aspx?mode=print&id=13316#sthash.9CzWZbHb.dpuf
-Meredith, from Baltimore, MD, listens to my national radio show on WBAL 1090 AM.
A. You wouldn't believe how often I receive this question, Meredith. It's been going on for decades. Thank you for giving me a chance to finally put an end to this long-standing debate.
Both sides believe their way is better for a computer's life. The shutdown crowd believes steady power consumption will fry a computer over time. The leave-it-on crew believes that repeated shutdowns do physical damage to a computer's parts.
So, which one really is better for your computer?
- See more at: http://www.komando.com/toolbox.aspx?mode=print&id=13316#sthash.9CzWZbHb.dpuf
Q. My
son is constantly telling me not to shut down our computer at night. He
says it will damage the computer. I still forget and I do it sometimes.
Will it hurt anything if I shut down once or twice a week?
-Meredith, from Baltimore, MD, listens to my national radio show on WBAL 1090 AM.
A. You wouldn't believe how often I receive this question, Meredith. It's been going on for decades. Thank you for giving me a chance to finally put an end to this long-standing debate.
Both sides believe their way is better for a computer's life. The shutdown crowd believes steady power consumption will fry a computer over time. The leave-it-on crew believes that repeated shutdowns do physical damage to a computer's parts.
So, which one really is better for your computer?
In reality, it doesn't matter. Neither is going to change how long your computer lasts. There are advantages and disadvantages to both strategies, though. I'll go into those shortly.
In the old days, it really was a bad idea to shut down your machine too often. Older hard drives and computer parts didn't shut down easily and could damage themselves if they were turned on and off too much.
Plus, electronic components used to wear out quickly. That's why tech experts said you should only shut down if you need to, like when updating software. Things have changed since then, though.
Modern hard drives won't experience the same wear and tear or electrical burnout. They'll die eventually, but shutting down doesn't make the process go any faster. That is, as long as you shut down properly.
That means not unplugging the computer randomly or jamming the power button in the middle of working. Shut down from your computer's on-screen menu whenever you can.
When you shut down this way, Windows often installs new updates. These make your computer faster and safer. Regular shutdowns can save energy, too. Just make sure you follow these tips to make sure your computer doesn't drain any power when turned off.
Turning off your computer also means it won't make any random noises during the night. If your computer is in your - or your son's - bedroom, this is a welcome change.
There are some advantages to leaving your computer on, however. First, it means you don't have to wait for your computer to boot up in the morning. Of course, you can speed up your computer's startup, but it can still be annoying.
If your computer is on all night, it can work all night. While you're sleeping, it can defrag itself and do other routine maintenance. That means it won't hog resources while you're working, but will still stay in tip-top shape.
So, the choice is yours. I like to schedule a few nights where I leave my computer on to run maintenance. The rest of the time, I turn it off to save power.
If you really want the best of both worlds, you can put your computer into Sleep or Hibernate mode. These combine the energy-saving benefits of shutdown with that always-on convenience. I'll tell you more about both and help you decide which is good for you in this tip.
- See more at: http://www.komando.com/toolbox.aspx?mode=print&id=13316#sthash.9CzWZbHb.dpuf
-Meredith, from Baltimore, MD, listens to my national radio show on WBAL 1090 AM.
A. You wouldn't believe how often I receive this question, Meredith. It's been going on for decades. Thank you for giving me a chance to finally put an end to this long-standing debate.
Both sides believe their way is better for a computer's life. The shutdown crowd believes steady power consumption will fry a computer over time. The leave-it-on crew believes that repeated shutdowns do physical damage to a computer's parts.
So, which one really is better for your computer?
In reality, it doesn't matter. Neither is going to change how long your computer lasts. There are advantages and disadvantages to both strategies, though. I'll go into those shortly.
In the old days, it really was a bad idea to shut down your machine too often. Older hard drives and computer parts didn't shut down easily and could damage themselves if they were turned on and off too much.
Plus, electronic components used to wear out quickly. That's why tech experts said you should only shut down if you need to, like when updating software. Things have changed since then, though.
Modern hard drives won't experience the same wear and tear or electrical burnout. They'll die eventually, but shutting down doesn't make the process go any faster. That is, as long as you shut down properly.
That means not unplugging the computer randomly or jamming the power button in the middle of working. Shut down from your computer's on-screen menu whenever you can.
When you shut down this way, Windows often installs new updates. These make your computer faster and safer. Regular shutdowns can save energy, too. Just make sure you follow these tips to make sure your computer doesn't drain any power when turned off.
Turning off your computer also means it won't make any random noises during the night. If your computer is in your - or your son's - bedroom, this is a welcome change.
There are some advantages to leaving your computer on, however. First, it means you don't have to wait for your computer to boot up in the morning. Of course, you can speed up your computer's startup, but it can still be annoying.
If your computer is on all night, it can work all night. While you're sleeping, it can defrag itself and do other routine maintenance. That means it won't hog resources while you're working, but will still stay in tip-top shape.
So, the choice is yours. I like to schedule a few nights where I leave my computer on to run maintenance. The rest of the time, I turn it off to save power.
If you really want the best of both worlds, you can put your computer into Sleep or Hibernate mode. These combine the energy-saving benefits of shutdown with that always-on convenience. I'll tell you more about both and help you decide which is good for you in this tip.
- See more at: http://www.komando.com/toolbox.aspx?mode=print&id=13316#sthash.9CzWZbHb.dpuf
Q. My
son is constantly telling me not to shut down our computer at night. He
says it will damage the computer. I still forget and I do it sometimes.
Will it hurt anything if I shut down once or twice a week?
-Meredith, from Baltimore, MD, listens to my national radio show on WBAL 1090 AM.
A. You wouldn't believe how often I receive this question, Meredith. It's been going on for decades. Thank you for giving me a chance to finally put an end to this long-standing debate.
Both sides believe their way is better for a computer's life. The shutdown crowd believes steady power consumption will fry a computer over time. The leave-it-on crew believes that repeated shutdowns do physical damage to a computer's parts.
So, which one really is better for your computer?
In reality, it doesn't matter. Neither is going to change how long your computer lasts. There are advantages and disadvantages to both strategies, though. I'll go into those shortly.
In the old days, it really was a bad idea to shut down your machine too often. Older hard drives and computer parts didn't shut down easily and could damage themselves if they were turned on and off too much.
Plus, electronic components used to wear out quickly. That's why tech experts said you should only shut down if you need to, like when updating software. Things have changed since then, though.
Modern hard drives won't experience the same wear and tear or electrical burnout. They'll die eventually, but shutting down doesn't make the process go any faster. That is, as long as you shut down properly.
That means not unplugging the computer randomly or jamming the power button in the middle of working. Shut down from your computer's on-screen menu whenever you can.
When you shut down this way, Windows often installs new updates. These make your computer faster and safer. Regular shutdowns can save energy, too. Just make sure you follow these tips to make sure your computer doesn't drain any power when turned off.
Turning off your computer also means it won't make any random noises during the night. If your computer is in your - or your son's - bedroom, this is a welcome change.
There are some advantages to leaving your computer on, however. First, it means you don't have to wait for your computer to boot up in the morning. Of course, you can speed up your computer's startup, but it can still be annoying.
If your computer is on all night, it can work all night. While you're sleeping, it can defrag itself and do other routine maintenance. That means it won't hog resources while you're working, but will still stay in tip-top shape.
So, the choice is yours. I like to schedule a few nights where I leave my computer on to run maintenance. The rest of the time, I turn it off to save power.
If you really want the best of both worlds, you can put your computer into Sleep or Hibernate mode. These combine the energy-saving benefits of shutdown with that always-on convenience. I'll tell you more about both and help you decide which is good for you in this tip.
- See more at: http://www.komando.com/toolbox.aspx?mode=print&id=13316#sthash.9CzWZbHb.dpuf
-Meredith, from Baltimore, MD, listens to my national radio show on WBAL 1090 AM.
A. You wouldn't believe how often I receive this question, Meredith. It's been going on for decades. Thank you for giving me a chance to finally put an end to this long-standing debate.
Both sides believe their way is better for a computer's life. The shutdown crowd believes steady power consumption will fry a computer over time. The leave-it-on crew believes that repeated shutdowns do physical damage to a computer's parts.
So, which one really is better for your computer?
In reality, it doesn't matter. Neither is going to change how long your computer lasts. There are advantages and disadvantages to both strategies, though. I'll go into those shortly.
In the old days, it really was a bad idea to shut down your machine too often. Older hard drives and computer parts didn't shut down easily and could damage themselves if they were turned on and off too much.
Plus, electronic components used to wear out quickly. That's why tech experts said you should only shut down if you need to, like when updating software. Things have changed since then, though.
Modern hard drives won't experience the same wear and tear or electrical burnout. They'll die eventually, but shutting down doesn't make the process go any faster. That is, as long as you shut down properly.
That means not unplugging the computer randomly or jamming the power button in the middle of working. Shut down from your computer's on-screen menu whenever you can.
When you shut down this way, Windows often installs new updates. These make your computer faster and safer. Regular shutdowns can save energy, too. Just make sure you follow these tips to make sure your computer doesn't drain any power when turned off.
Turning off your computer also means it won't make any random noises during the night. If your computer is in your - or your son's - bedroom, this is a welcome change.
There are some advantages to leaving your computer on, however. First, it means you don't have to wait for your computer to boot up in the morning. Of course, you can speed up your computer's startup, but it can still be annoying.
If your computer is on all night, it can work all night. While you're sleeping, it can defrag itself and do other routine maintenance. That means it won't hog resources while you're working, but will still stay in tip-top shape.
So, the choice is yours. I like to schedule a few nights where I leave my computer on to run maintenance. The rest of the time, I turn it off to save power.
If you really want the best of both worlds, you can put your computer into Sleep or Hibernate mode. These combine the energy-saving benefits of shutdown with that always-on convenience. I'll tell you more about both and help you decide which is good for you in this tip.
- See more at: http://www.komando.com/toolbox.aspx?mode=print&id=13316#sthash.9CzWZbHb.dpuf
Q. My
son is constantly telling me not to shut down our computer at night. He
says it will damage the computer. I still forget and I do it sometimes.
Will it hurt anything if I shut down once or twice a week?
-Meredith, from Baltimore, MD, listens to my national radio show on WBAL 1090 AM.
A. You wouldn't believe how often I receive this question, Meredith. It's been going on for decades. Thank you for giving me a chance to finally put an end to this long-standing debate.
Both sides believe their way is better for a computer's life. The shutdown crowd believes steady power consumption will fry a computer over time. The leave-it-on crew believes that repeated shutdowns do physical damage to a computer's parts.
So, which one really is better for your computer?
In reality, it doesn't matter. Neither is going to change how long your computer lasts. There are advantages and disadvantages to both strategies, though. I'll go into those shortly.
In the old days, it really was a bad idea to shut down your machine too often. Older hard drives and computer parts didn't shut down easily and could damage themselves if they were turned on and off too much.
Plus, electronic components used to wear out quickly. That's why tech experts said you should only shut down if you need to, like when updating software. Things have changed since then, though.
Modern hard drives won't experience the same wear and tear or electrical burnout. They'll die eventually, but shutting down doesn't make the process go any faster. That is, as long as you shut down properly.
That means not unplugging the computer randomly or jamming the power button in the middle of working. Shut down from your computer's on-screen menu whenever you can.
When you shut down this way, Windows often installs new updates. These make your computer faster and safer. Regular shutdowns can save energy, too. Just make sure you follow these tips to make sure your computer doesn't drain any power when turned off.
Turning off your computer also means it won't make any random noises during the night. If your computer is in your - or your son's - bedroom, this is a welcome change.
There are some advantages to leaving your computer on, however. First, it means you don't have to wait for your computer to boot up in the morning. Of course, you can speed up your computer's startup, but it can still be annoying.
If your computer is on all night, it can work all night. While you're sleeping, it can defrag itself and do other routine maintenance. That means it won't hog resources while you're working, but will still stay in tip-top shape.
So, the choice is yours. I like to schedule a few nights where I leave my computer on to run maintenance. The rest of the time, I turn it off to save power.
If you really want the best of both worlds, you can put your computer into Sleep or Hibernate mode. These combine the energy-saving benefits of shutdown with that always-on convenience. I'll tell you more about both and help you decide which is good for you in this tip.
- See more at: http://www.komando.com/toolbox.aspx?mode=print&id=13316#sthash.9CzWZbHb.dpuf
-Meredith, from Baltimore, MD, listens to my national radio show on WBAL 1090 AM.
A. You wouldn't believe how often I receive this question, Meredith. It's been going on for decades. Thank you for giving me a chance to finally put an end to this long-standing debate.
Both sides believe their way is better for a computer's life. The shutdown crowd believes steady power consumption will fry a computer over time. The leave-it-on crew believes that repeated shutdowns do physical damage to a computer's parts.
So, which one really is better for your computer?
In reality, it doesn't matter. Neither is going to change how long your computer lasts. There are advantages and disadvantages to both strategies, though. I'll go into those shortly.
In the old days, it really was a bad idea to shut down your machine too often. Older hard drives and computer parts didn't shut down easily and could damage themselves if they were turned on and off too much.
Plus, electronic components used to wear out quickly. That's why tech experts said you should only shut down if you need to, like when updating software. Things have changed since then, though.
Modern hard drives won't experience the same wear and tear or electrical burnout. They'll die eventually, but shutting down doesn't make the process go any faster. That is, as long as you shut down properly.
That means not unplugging the computer randomly or jamming the power button in the middle of working. Shut down from your computer's on-screen menu whenever you can.
When you shut down this way, Windows often installs new updates. These make your computer faster and safer. Regular shutdowns can save energy, too. Just make sure you follow these tips to make sure your computer doesn't drain any power when turned off.
Turning off your computer also means it won't make any random noises during the night. If your computer is in your - or your son's - bedroom, this is a welcome change.
There are some advantages to leaving your computer on, however. First, it means you don't have to wait for your computer to boot up in the morning. Of course, you can speed up your computer's startup, but it can still be annoying.
If your computer is on all night, it can work all night. While you're sleeping, it can defrag itself and do other routine maintenance. That means it won't hog resources while you're working, but will still stay in tip-top shape.
So, the choice is yours. I like to schedule a few nights where I leave my computer on to run maintenance. The rest of the time, I turn it off to save power.
If you really want the best of both worlds, you can put your computer into Sleep or Hibernate mode. These combine the energy-saving benefits of shutdown with that always-on convenience. I'll tell you more about both and help you decide which is good for you in this tip.
- See more at: http://www.komando.com/toolbox.aspx?mode=print&id=13316#sthash.9CzWZbHb.dpuf
Should you shut down your computer at night?
No comments:
Post a Comment