Computer Help

**Mr P Cannop** · 29-Jan-05, 23:34

will it be ok for me to leave my computer on all day ?? as i worry incase i burn my computer out

**kwbrown111** · 30-Jan-05, 00:11

they say it is better to leave it on rather than switching off and on especially for the monitor

**Rheghead** · 30-Jan-05, 00:26

I turn mine off after each time I use it, this is because I want to save electricity (approx 200W) and I estimate if there is any damage incurred with turning it off then I will have upgraded anyway.

**EDDIE** · 30-Jan-05, 08:38

The only time i leave my computer on unattended is when i m downloading a big file I dont like doing it and have stopped doing it.I think its ok to leave it on all day if your watching over it but to leave it unattended all day on regular basis i wouldnt

**Rheghead** · 30-Jan-05, 11:22

The other good reason to switch the machine off is that if you have inadvertantly downloaded a 'dialler' virus, then your computer may connect to a premium line without you knowing it. These things only connect when it has been left unattended for some time. I know!!!

**Mr P Cannop** · 30-Jan-05, 11:25

would it not burn it self out if its left on all day ??

**Rheghead** · 30-Jan-05, 11:27

If your fan is working then no

**Mr P Cannop** · 30-Jan-05, 11:31

if the fan stops working that mean i need a new fan ??

thefan is ok just now as i have not left it on all day yet ??

**Rheghead** · 30-Jan-05, 11:40

If you leave it on without using it, then you are wearing the bearings out in the fan needlessly thus increasing the chances of the fan breaking down.

You are best turning the machine off if you are worried about it overheating and using electricity. If you left it on you could be adding upto 50 pounds to your lecky bill, over 3 years that might save you enough cash to buy one of those TFT monitors.

**Mr P Cannop** · 30-Jan-05, 11:45

i have got one of the TFT monitor

i weill turn it off for a short time then go back to it in about 15/20 mins that should be ok ??

**Mr P Cannop** · 30-Jan-05, 12:01

so what ur saying allways turn it off ??

**Julia** · 30-Jan-05, 12:03

I leave my pc on all day everyday (off at night if I remember), but I always switch off my monitor when I leave the pc to save power.

It's perfectly safe to leave it on all day.

**Mr P Cannop** · 30-Jan-05, 12:07

hi julia when do you turn computer on and when do you turn it off ??

**Julia** · 30-Jan-05, 12:22

It goes on about 9am and off really late at night. I never leave my monitor on though when I leave my pc.

Pc's are designed to be left on for long periods of time, servers are on permanently.

**Mr P Cannop** · 30-Jan-05, 12:48

how do i set that up ??

screensaver with powersave ??

**Mr P Cannop** · 30-Jan-05, 13:34

windows xp

**karl** · 30-Jan-05, 13:40

some monitors shut down after ten minutes of in-activity, dont know if yours is one of those.
As for leaving your pc on for long periods, it will be fine, assuming you have not had any heat issues with it before. By heat i mean, no issues with your prosessor getting hot. my machines run 24/7. although they get a reboot every day or so if needed.

jjc · 30-Jan-05, 17:25

I have nearly 100 servers at work that stay on all day, every day. None has ever caught fire and, hopefully, none ever will... but they have built in temperature sensors that will shut them down if they get too hot and the server rooms are well protected by fire suppression systems.

My PC at home doesn't have built in temperature sensors that shut down when it gets too hot and my study has no fire supression system. I have had two PCs 'die' because the fans failed. One of them just stank of burned circuitry, the other actually had flames coming from the back (fortunately I was sitting at it at the time and put it out).

If you’re lucky you can leave your PC on 24/7 and never have a problem. There are things you can do to increase your luck (buying quality hardware, locating the PC sensibly, buying a surge protector, etc.) but there’s still going to be a risk.

Personally, I leave my PC on when I’m likely to use it again soon. If I’m going out of the house I always turn it off. I turn it off when I’m going to bed. If I know I’m not going to use it again for several hours I turn it off.

Aside from the fact it’s simply a sensible precaution – I see no reason to leave my PC on all the time. If you really, genuinely need a PC to be turned on 24/7 there’s a very good chance that what you actually need is a server – so why not just turn it off when you aren’t using it?