Turning the PC off

This is "HistoryFan" using a different computer. For some reason, AOL does
not list my earlier post on this subject. AOL newsgroups are pathetic.
Anyway, I called Dell and spoke to their tech department. As expected, I spoke
to an Indian fellow who I could barely understand. From what I could make out,
he said it was harmful to leave the computer on all the time because the
processor gets really hot and can damage the system. I asked him what power
options I should use, but I couldn't understand his response.

"MovieFan3093" wrote in message
...
This is "HistoryFan" using a different computer. For some reason, AOL
does
not list my earlier post on this subject. AOL newsgroups are pathetic.
Anyway, I called Dell and spoke to their tech department. As expected, I
spoke
to an Indian fellow who I could barely understand. From what I could make
out,
he said it was harmful to leave the computer on all the time because the
processor gets really hot and can damage the system. I asked him what
power
options I should use, but I couldn't understand his response.


Leave your PC on as long as you wish. If you're running a Win 9X OS, you'll
probably want to reboot it every day or two just to keep it from slogging
down. Running WinXP or Win2K, leave it up and going.

Processor heat is a non-issue unless the system is located in Hades.


Stew

I hope it's not an issue. I've had mine on non-stop since 2002, other than
vacations the occassional reboot, etc.

Chris


"S.Lewis" wrote in message
...

"MovieFan3093" wrote in message
...
This is "HistoryFan" using a different computer. For some reason,
AOL
does
not list my earlier post on this subject. AOL newsgroups are pathetic.
Anyway, I called Dell and spoke to their tech department. As expected,
I
spoke
to an Indian fellow who I could barely understand. From what I could
make
out,
he said it was harmful to leave the computer on all the time because the
processor gets really hot and can damage the system. I asked him what
power
options I should use, but I couldn't understand his response.


Leave your PC on as long as you wish. If you're running a Win 9X OS,
you'll
probably want to reboot it every day or two just to keep it from slogging
down. Running WinXP or Win2K, leave it up and going.

Processor heat is a non-issue unless the system is located in Hades.


Stew

MovieFan3093 wrote:
to an Indian fellow who I could barely understand. From what I could make out,
he said it was harmful to leave the computer on all the time because the
processor gets really hot and can damage the system. I asked him what power
options I should use, but I couldn't understand his response.

Anyone else notice power supply fans fail right after power outtages
and long uptimes?

I've seen it happen to a handful of machines out of hundreds when rebooting
data centers. So it's rare. But I've gotten into the habit of making sure
we have swappable PSUs on site.

No, Stew, only tech support is located in Hades :-)

"S.Lewis" wrote in message
...

"MovieFan3093" wrote in message
...
This is "HistoryFan" using a different computer. For some reason,
AOL
does
not list my earlier post on this subject. AOL newsgroups are
pathetic.
Anyway, I called Dell and spoke to their tech department. As
expected, I
spoke
to an Indian fellow who I could barely understand. From what I could
make
out,
he said it was harmful to leave the computer on all the time because
the
processor gets really hot and can damage the system. I asked him what
power
options I should use, but I couldn't understand his response.


Leave your PC on as long as you wish. If you're running a Win 9X OS,
you'll
probably want to reboot it every day or two just to keep it from
slogging
down. Running WinXP or Win2K, leave it up and going.

Processor heat is a non-issue unless the system is located in Hades.


Stew

In article ,
"S.Lewis" wrote:
[snip}

Leave your PC on as long as you wish. If you're running a Win 9X OS, you'll
probably want to reboot it every day or two just to keep it from slogging
down. Running WinXP or Win2K, leave it up and going.

Processor heat is a non-issue unless the system is located in Hades.

Maybe that's where I am. :-)

The environment specs for this 4100 say max ambient operating
temperature is 35 C. "Today" (i.e. strictly yesterday now) my
"computer room" peaked at 37 C. At the moment (1:15 a.m.) it's still
28 C.

I turn off for most of the day and use after about 10 or 11 p.m. for
most of October through March at least.


Cheers, Phred.

--
LID

MovieFan3093 wrote:

This is "HistoryFan" using a different computer. For some reason, AOL
does
not list my earlier post on this subject. AOL newsgroups are pathetic.
Anyway, I called Dell and spoke to their tech department. As expected, I
spoke
to an Indian fellow who I could barely understand. From what I could make
out, he said it was harmful to leave the computer on all the time because
the
processor gets really hot and can damage the system. I asked him what
power options I should use, but I couldn't understand his response.




Baloney. Occasionally you may want to vacuum out the system
to get dust off of the CPU cooler and out of the PS fan, but
its not uncommon for servers to runs years at a time with no harm
if you don't let dust cover everything.

I have two systems here that have not been turned off since
I added hard disks and a new CDRW some months ago.
Linux users like to brag about 200+ day uptimes.

If you have overheating problems add a better CPU cooler.
And vacuum out the dust bunnies.

Hard disks usually shut down after 15 minutes inactivity.
That's why sometimes things are sluggish if you wander off and come back an
hour later and start again, It takes a few seconds for the HD to spin up
again. Leaving the system on full time or for extended times isn't harmful.

If you really want to do something that helps your computer, get a
UPS. These kill voltage spikes, brownouts, voltage sags and other uglies.
These things can do harm to a computer over time.

The biggest problem over time, (besides dust) is fan bearings going out.
Cheapy fans on CPU coolers should be watched. Usually though,
a system will shut down when the fan quits. Whe nthey start squeaking,
replace them, but that is rare. I lost one fan on a $10.00 CPU cooler.
The only hardware failure I have had. The fan lasted three years.

I have a PII 450 mhz machine here that has been running almost continuously
for four years. I only shut it down to add hardware or during particularly
brutal storms with mucho lightning.
I have a newer machine that has run continously for about a year except
minor shutdowns to add hardware.

I am a STRONG believer in UPSs.
And backup, backup, backup. Eventually, all hard disks die.
Though I haven't lost any, I preventively upgrade about every two years
anyway.

Computers are not really fragile. If you have a UPS.
--
Bush! Chimp or chump?

Cheerful Charlie

Brian wrote:

MovieFan3093 wrote:
to an Indian fellow who I could barely understand. From what I could
make out, he said it was harmful to leave the computer on all the time
because the
processor gets really hot and can damage the system. I asked him what
power options I should use, but I couldn't understand his response.

Anyone else notice power supply fans fail right after power outtages
and long uptimes?

I've seen it happen to a handful of machines out of hundreds when
rebooting
data centers. So it's rare. But I've gotten into the habit of making
sure we have swappable PSUs on site.

The other old classic was some SCSI hard disks that ran for two
years, but when the machine was stopped to upgrade software,
wouldn't start again. Old timer Sysadmins developed a long set of
ways of getting these things to boot, including gently heating them with
hair dryers, which apparently often work. Some touted tapping hard disks
sharply with pencils.

Another problem years ago seemed to be CDroms that if not used
regularly seemed to die. Theory was the grease in the bearings congealed
over long periods of time if not occasionaly used on a regular basis.


--
Bush! Chimp or chump?

Cheerful Charlie