Is it best to leave on or turn off my computer when I'm finshed at night. What are the basic rules for this.

Answer 1

if you are at work, it depends on what your network administrator or boss tells you to do. especially when you are on a network.

now, i am presuming that nobody else has access to your computer:

on your own non-networked computer, a standalone, the smartest thing to do is to set it up so that your virus scanner, disk defragmentation tool and microsoft updates run automatically at different times when you are asleep. then leave it on.

no harm can come to a computer that runs all day and all night long and hardly energy is used. however, if you do not use a screen saver, at least turn your monitor off.

there are two simple security methods that i'd suggest if anyone else has access to your computer:

1. set yourself up as the windows user administrator using a password (start -> control panel -> user accounts -> add/change user type). then when you are done computing for the day, either log yourself off or else do a "switch user." :

start -> log off -> choose switch user. then your main windows screen comes up with the variety of users that you allow your computer to be used by, and they can log on as limited users unless you want them to be power users (go to microsoft and read about how to do it).

OR OR OR OR OR OR :

2. just set your computer to "standby." start -> turn off -> take the standby mode or else (float your mouse over the word standby):

2b. put the machine into the hibernate mode.

Answer 2

Theoretically, you should turn your computer off periodically. Some programs have a defect called "memory leak"; they mark a segment of memory as used even though they don't really use it. So it's possible for memory leaks to accumulate and slow down your computer.

This said, there may be reasons to keep the computer on overnight. You can set it up to perform maintenance tasks (such as downloading software updates, scanning for malware, or defragmenting the hard drive) during the night.

Answer 3

You can turn off standby mode, I was told the best method is to leave your computer running, it doesn't really cost you anything much more as far as electric and opening and shutting down your monitor will damage your montior over time.

Best bet is to leave it on all the time

Answer 4

You need to turn off your computer during the night or have it use standby mode to conserve power and make your computer last longer.

Answer 5

Leave it on turn it off doesn't really matter anymore. When computers were new(the technology) they used to leave em on because it took so darn long to boot up and turning em on and off shortened their life.
Nowadays it doesn't matter if ya turn em off or leave em on but if you have an always on Internet connection i would turn it off to keep the hackers from using it when your sleeping.

Answer 6

use the comp the way u want it ...
any way at most about 10 yrs later u will not be using this outdated model, which of today is hi tech.
See how fast computer hard & soft wares have evolved.

Answer 7

Um... I don't turn mine off and it seems fine... though... it does go on standby on its own, and... I'm usually on 24/7, I don't sleep much, obviously...

Answer 8

Turn it off, dont use standby on anything .


re the crap ppl have written.

WHAT DO YOU F***ING MEAN LEAVING IT ON STANDBY DOES NO HARM ..ITS DESTROYING THE FU***** PLANET.... WANKERS.