October Tip of the Month

Do I have to turn my computer off at night?

The answer - well, not really.

In the M & M Programming, Inc. offices, it's rare for us to turn our computers completely off, unless we need to open a case to work on it. Most of our computers get restarted once in a while in order to free up resources, but that's about it.

However, because of the weather, etc., it is a good idea to power your computer down and shut it off occasionally. If the computer isn't connected to a UPS backup and you live in an area hit by lots of thunderstorms, you'll want to power the computer down, unplug it from the wall and disconnect the modem line. (Read why here.) If the computer AND modem line are connected to a good UPS, then leaving it on and plugged in shouldn't be a problem. (However, we just lost a computer here in the office that was plugged into a UPS when the local power company crossed some wires and took out the power on our block.)

The advantages to shutting a computer down completely and turning the power off are really quite few:

If the computer isn't connected to a UPS and there is a storm
If you travel for long periods of time and no one will be using the computer
If you need to work on your computer. NEVER try to work on the interior of a computer with plugged in, let alone with the power on.
If the computer feels too hot or the room isn't cooled properly. (Read why here.)

There are some people who claim that there are advantages to leaving a computer on, claming that it harms the computer and its components if they are repeatedly shut down and must go from "Zero to Full Power." While that hasn't really been proved, it is a good point.

Some people use their "power saving" features that come with most new computers. We've found those to be a bit tricky sometimes, and we generally disable those features. When we leave the offices, the monitors get turned off and maybe some tasks running in the background, but nothing further.

Whatever you decide to do, remember to use the "Start" button and "Shut Down" feature of your computer when the computer is being restarted or shut down. The computer really doesn't like it when you cut it off cold.

If you believe that you have a hardware problem and need our help, bring your CPU to M & M Programming, Inc., 110 North Spalding Avenue, Lebanon, KY.

See Previous Tips of the Month!