Electronics

[pickleslarue]

I'm not sure hibernate is even an option any more. How do you set your power options?

I have a new PC (Win 7) and am getting around to this setting. The default was to turn off the HD after 15 mins. The first time it happened threw me because just moving the mouse didn't wake it. I remember a tech telling me years ago to never set to hibernate and my old PC wasn't set to turn off the HD, just turn off the monitor and sleep. So, now I'm wondering what the current advice is. Online search was mixed about letting the HD shut off re: affecting longevity.

Thanks.

[ChynnaBlue]

I always set that to "never" or whatever the option to never automatically hibernate/sleep is labeled.

For my home desktop computer, I turn it off when it is not in use. It doesn't take long to boot up and saves power when it's off.

For my laptop work computer, it depends. It's also set to never hibernate on its own, but I sometimes put it into hibernation manually. I use hibernation when the system is not plugged in and I'm stepping away for a time, sometimes overnight. More often, I just lock the screen and walk away, leaving the computer on and running. I try to shut down completely or restart it before I leave for the night, because it runs more smoothly if I reboot more often and clear the memory cache.

[sfnative]

I ran this by my tech-savvy husband who offered the following: most things bad that happen to computers occur when the computer is being turned on - a change of state. So, if you're turning your computer on and off several times a day or even once or twice, there is actual mechanical wear occuring which would not occur if the unit had remained on.

On my side of things, I worked for the military for 13 years and we were not allowed to turn our computers off unless instructed to do so command-wide. They constantly ran diagnostics and add-ons and I now know that there was far less wear due to not turning them on and off several times day.

As I type this answer on my laptop, which is almost 6 years old (that's ancient!), I'll admit to shutting it down twice a week, so that I can pick up Windows, Adobe and other updates. Most nights, I just back out of whatever program I'm using and close my laptop, so I suppose it's sleeping during the night. We also keep it defragged, which helps. Knock on wood: I haven't had any issues with my ACER laptop, which I got on sale for $325 at Fry's.

Good luck with your PC!

[beach-mom]

I think you will get mixed replies. I always put mine in sleep mode, until we started having problems. The tech who fixed it said to always shut it down completely at night, so that's what I'm doing now. I'll be anxious to see what others here have said, including the two previous posters' replies!

[chickenbutt]

I don't use sleep or hibernate either! When I got my first laptop I had some problems with that (like getting stuck) so, ever since, I also put 'never' on all those choices.

I just turn computers off when not in use and unplug them. Back when I used a desktop it was different, of course, but I think computers now are designed more to be turned off when not in use, especially laptops.

Some folks don't even use a laptop stand so if they left laptops on all the time there would be too much heat generated over that long a period. At least on a laptop stand (all of mine are on stainless steel stands that are perforated and don't cover the sides for good air circulation) I can have it on for many hours and it doesn't even get warm. Overheating is one thing that can kill a laptop. As you can see, I did a lot of research when I started with laptops.

[glb613]

I've turned my computers off everyday and I've only had 1 hard drive failure. I've owned over 10 computers since 1995 and turning them on and off hasn't caused any problems for me. There may have been a time when this practice "wore out the hardware" but, those days are long gone.

[pickleslarue]

Thanks for all the replies. Pretty much all over the place, just like elsewhere online

I'm probably over-thinking it but the sound of it restarting made me wonder about it. I don't think this was the default setting on any other PC I've had. Shutting down each day is OK but the HD restarting several times a day might be much.

[Lynnj]

I turn my PC computers off daily. The only PC I am currently using now is a work HP, and every time I left it on overnight it was always hot later the following day. Plus I always had things loading slower and other strange problems the next day. Finally connected the dots to my leaving it on overnight. For my personal computer I use a Mac now. I really only use it on the weekends, so fri-sun night I leave it on, then shutdown until Friday. I found the Mac ran better/faster when left on, maybe because of the way it stores and uses memory. If this were the only computer I used daily, I would mainly leave it on, then do a restart weekly to help clear catches and stuff. I do find that when I leave the Mac on for a week or longer it starts to slow down until I do a restart.

[Nightowlz]

We don't turn our computers off. We just log off & turn off the monitor on the desktop & DH logs off on the laptop. We have another laptop that does not get used as much so just turn it on or off when we use it. I did turn off the desktop when we went to Fl for Christmas since we were gone a couple of weeks. We have only had a hard drive problem once years ago & replaced it & no more problems.

[Perkup]

DH and I both use Apple desktops. I put mine on sleep at night. No problems ever. He turns his off at the back button - has issues at least two or three times a week. Loses programs in the dock, fails to get email messages, can't use his password to get into his bank account - they go on and on. A grandson who was once an Apple Tech tells me to do what I'm doing and there will be fewer issues. So far it has worked for me for at least five years, through two omputers.