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From: jlt@cbnewsc.att.com (jeffrey.r.light)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: TURN COMPUTER OFF OR LEAVE ON?
Message-ID: <1991May24.033650.15836@cbnewsc.att.com>
Date: 24 May 91 03:36:50 GMT
References: <91141.132518U15310@uicvm.uic.edu>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 34

From article <91141.132518U15310@uicvm.uic.edu>, by U15310@uicvm.uic.edu (Tom Ascher - Associate Director - DRIA):
> Does anyone have a definitive answer to the question of whether it's
> best to turn your computer off when not using, or leave it on ... in
> terms of equipment longevity?

I would like to calm the continuing fear of turning computers (electronics)
off when NOT IN USE for extended periods, including OVER NIGHT.

It appears a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, the kind of stress that
occurs to electronic devices during turn on/off cycles and warm up/cool down
periods is insignificant for the typical user.  We do stress testing on our
products that goes way beyond normal to OVER-stress the design and look for
the weaknesses and eliminate them.

Have NO fear, if you are not using your computer for several hours, why not,
turn it off.  Certainly, turn it off for overnight periods, UNLESS it is part
of an active system (NETWORK servers, etc.) and for those systems, you could
turn off the Monitors (if desired) especially if you do not have a screen
saver program (The phosphor on the CRT screen will darken directly proportional
to the time the phosphor is emitting light).

Do you keep your auto engine ON when you are not using it (it also heats UP
and cools down). DO you leave lights ON (if you pay the bills).  etc.

Apply common sense.  Hard drives have mechanical parts that DO wear out
with use.  In additional, a power line spike may damage your unprotected
computer.  Certainly more ON time will increase your risk and reduce the
life of mechanical parts.  Do not forget that many electrical parts also
can wear-out (e.g. electrolytic capacitors).

Therefore, I always advise turning off computers, TVs, VCRS, etc when not
in use.

Jeff  att!ihlpy!jlt