Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (
More info?)
In news:41a4e427$0$27767$8b463f8a@news.nationwide.net,
Malvern <thisis@fak> typed:
>I basically agree with Ken. I have been at this for some seven
> years--old Windows 95- and back then it was advised to turn
> things
> off to permit "housecleaning".
Thanks, Malv. I just want to add one point here: Don't confuse
rebooting (for the reasons you cite) with powering off. You can
reboot and still keep the power on, if you believe that powering
off decreases the life of the components.
--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup
> An additional consideration: Windows XP can get into a real
> mess if
> power fails. If you don't have an uninterruptible power supply
> (UPS)
> obtainable at most electronic stores like Circuit City. There
> is
> provision for setting it up in Control Panel>Power options>UPS
> tab.
>
> Malv
>
> "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message
> news:#in1sGl0EHA.824@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>> In news:j12pd.184547$Np3.7472698@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca,
>> Happy <happy@trial.ca> typed:
>>
>> >I have been using a computer for 20+ years, and have never
>> >really
>> > heard an answer to the question-- it is better to turn it
>> > off
>> > overnight, or when you're not using it, or leave it on?
>>
>>
>>
>> You still won't hear a real answer, because people with
>> opposite
>> points of view are still arguing about it.
>>
>> At the one extreme, there are those who say that the hardest
>> thing on electronic components is thermal shock, resulting
>> from
>> turning it on and off. They never turn it off.
>>
>> At the other extreme are those who claim that parts
>> (especially
>> the mechanical components, like disk drives) wear out by
>> running.
>> They turn it off whenever they are not using it. This group
>> includes the subgroup of those who ignore the actual question
>> asked--what's better for the computer--and advise you to turn
>> it
>> off because you save electricity by doing so).
>>
>> In practice, I think it probably matters very little. Most of
>> the
>> time, you'll replace the computer because it becomes obsolete,
>> not because the components have failed by being left on or
>> turned
>> off. Personally, I take a middle ground. I power on when I get
>> up
>> in the morning and power off when I go to bed. I have it off
>> at
>> night, but keep it on all day--not particularly because it's
>> better for the computer, but because it's convenient for me to
>> do
>> that.
>>
>> By the way, although I answered you, your question really
>> should
>> have been asked in a hardware newsgroup, not a Windows one.
>> It's
>> off-topic here.
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
>> Please reply to the newsgroup