Turn my computer off or leave running?

[mattoc66]

Whenever I've finished working on my Computer I've always turned it off.. But now I've been told constant switching on and off can do it damage and to always just logg off and leave it running.. Is this true? I have noticed that the computers at work and in some offices always have them on.. Can someone advise me on what you should do? Thanx

[antiguru]

Companies sometimes ask you to leave a PC on overnight so the server can reach it to upgrade or back-up.

I�ve never heard an argument for this as a home user. And then there�s the environmental issue.

[Ethel]

Years ago hard drives used to 'park' themselves when the pc was switched off. This is not such an issue now.

I turn my monitor off if I'm going to use the computer again within a few hours, but turn it off fully if it's not going to be used for more than 3 hours.

[ianess]

I tend to put it into "hibernate" mode so that it starts up exactly where I left it previously.

[Thunderchild]

for power consumption issues AND WEAR AND TEAR if it's going to be off for al leat 30 minutes then switch it off. yea there are loads of crap stories about it burning out hard disks ecc but you look at it this way what is best to leave a motor running perpertually or stress it occasionally to start it up again considering that by default the disks will power down in 30 mins or less if not used so your just wasting electric and wearing other stuff out.
the pc is not like a car engine and dose not have to be warm infact electronic components especially the processor work best as cold as possible thats why some people go to exessive lenghts to cool the sensitive parts of a computer.
hibernating is a good idea but to leave a pc running uneceserally with whatever exuse is just laziness in not turning it off and then waiting for it to restart. if you realy want to leave it on for great lenght of time the install a program like seti@home at least the pc is not going to waste and anyhow if your just browsing the internet 90 odd % of the cpu pontential is unused.

[oldbob]

Modern computers should suffer no ill effects from being switched off after use, in fact. many programs and device drivers tend to develope faults if left running for long periods of time. Re-starting your computer has the effect of re-juvenating these programs/drivers.I recommend the computer be switched off each night before you retire and the power supply be turned off at the wall plug as even in stand-by mode it is possible that some weirdo will be able to remotely switch your computer back on and leisurely peruse your love letters or dirty pics.