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Help. Is it bad for you computer to shut it down everyday?
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RayB:
14.5 years. Round it up to 15. OK?

Oh and lightbulbs, with their oh so fragile filaments are a poor comparison to computer parts.

I say shut down every night. A computer that runs for only half the day every day will probably last longer than one kept running 24/7.



leapinlew:
The whole argument of "Is it better to shut down a computer when not using it" has been an argument since the beginning of computers.

Do what makes you comfortable.

I don't think there is a clear winner here. You really should do what you think is best. I leave all my computerson all the time. Computers at work are on 24 hours a day and they seem fine, my parents turn their computer off when they don't use it and they seem fine too. I don't see a clear winner. I keep mine on for ease of use - I tend to hop on a computer for a few minutes then hop off. I don't want to wait for it to boot up. Same with my mame cabinet - I'll want to play a quick game and I don't want to boot it up and then shut it down. To each their own.

As for the lightbulb analogy, I think it's pretty close to accurate. There are many fragile components inside computers as well.
Xam:
I've got one computer I leave on all the time and one that I shut down daily...both run well and without problems.

Xam
missioncontrol:
I shut mine down when I'm not using it... it's not broken yet....
dax:

--- Quote from: leapinlew on March 05, 2006, 12:48:07 am ---
--- Quote from: albybum on March 04, 2006, 11:50:19 pm ---
--- Quote from: leapinlew on March 02, 2006, 05:47:07 pm ---
--- Quote from: Howard_Casto on February 28, 2006, 10:16:01 pm ---I've seen 15 year old linux servers chugging away with literally an inch of dust rest on their motherboards. 

--- End quote ---

15 years old? Linux Servers?

I'm all for some exaggeration here and there, but 15 year old linux servers? Your hurting your creditability. I think Linux came out in 94.

inch of dust? I'd believe that before a 15 year old linux box

--- End quote ---

According to Wikipedia:
"The first version of the Linux kernel (0.01) was released to the Internet on September 17, 1991, with the second version following shortly thereafter in October [2]."

It is possible if 15 years was an approximation, but highly unlikely.

--- End quote ---

Ok, if we are being technical, and it looks like you were.

September 17, 1991 is only 14 years ago.

--- End quote ---

As if someone has had Linux 0.01 running continuously!

I actually do have several machines that have been running continuously for 10+ years.  However, they're in clean rooms with special air conditioning.  I have some PCs that are that much older.  The other day I fired up my old TRS-80 Model III... last time I tried it, it was working... not today... oh well.  My Compaq Portable III still works; as does an XT, Compaq 386/16, and some ancient Novell file servers.

I do think turning a computer on and off will add some stress, but as I've said before, temperature and dirt/dust/pet hair and other things are worse.  If you have a hard drive that is starting to squeak, I might be wary about shutting the PC down if you haven't backed it up.  Other than that, I don't see it as being a problem.  If you leave a computer on all the time and it's connected to the Internet, you're more likely to suffer problems as a result of malicious net-related traffic than power cycling.  That's just my opinion.
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