Hard Drive Damage??

[Arnie A]

Is it better to boot system each day or leave it on. I hear all kinds of stories as to drive damage. I have three systems (only because I like to put them together) and want to do what is best.

Arnold

[kwai]

people seem to be split pretty evenly on this issue.

one side: leaving the computer on all the time increases your chance of mtbf.

other side: turning on the computer often subjects the system to voltage and current surges.

it more depends on your usage patterns. if you use it throughout the day, i would leave it on. if you only use it during one part of the day, i would turn it off after use.

[DavidX]

Aww! Come on Kwai! Give us uneducated plebs a break. I just HATE those nasty computer/technical acronyms! I actually had to look 'mtbf' up (mean time between failures)

I'm seriously thinking of starting a campaign to stamp out computer acronyms. Hmm. I could call it the 'CTSOCA'. Agh-h-h!!

[Mbarb]

There is also thermal stress from the heating and cooling cycle when turning on and off.. I leave mine on 24/7

[kwai]

you think i want to write out mean time between failure, universal serial bus, small computer system interface, peripheral computer interconnect, etc. when i don't even bother to capitalize, you pleb?!

seriously though, if you don't learn a lot of tech terms, you spend too much time explaining what exactly you are trying to say. bad enough that the industry uses terms selectively for marketing.

"you learn something useless everyday."

[DavidX]

Yeah, I guess you've got a point there, Kwai. Even I would balk at calling a chip a 'random access memory digital-to-analog converter' or an 'electrically erasable programmable read-only memory'.

But it did kinda get me down the other day when I was advising someone how to install an old sound card in a 486. I simply explained that he would have to use an ISA slot instead of PCI, manually configure his IRQ and DMA, use the MIDI for his joystick and don't bother using the onboard IDE. He looked at me as if I had just beamed down from Pluto.

TTFN

[kwai]

yeah, with that kinda case i just say, "i'll do it for x$/hour" cuz its just not worth your time otherwise. if they want to learn, then of course i explain while i'm doing stuff, but otherwise...

[JP]

I don't mean to get on topic, but...( )I leave my system on 24/7. I use it only a fraction of the day, because I am at school most of the day. I have it set to turn the monitor and HD off after 1 hour of idle. I just like the convenience of being able to use my computer whenever I need it without having to boot. For example: when a customer calls me, I like to be able to fire up the database program immediatly and start entering info, whithout having to boot the system up. Technicly, It's hard to say whats better. Both arguments are good.
-JP
http://members.xoom.com/PSComputers

[DavidX]

The topic? . . . ah yes, the topic. Sorry about that.

I normally turn my main home coputer off while I'm away at work or for any long period of absence. I leave it turned on constantly over the weekend. I don't mind watching it boot; I find it reassuring to know for certain that it still can!

I tend to be fairly philosophical about the possibility of failures. After all, as long as computers are treated with the normal degree of care and common sense they are remarkably reliable. I have machines over ten years old which are still running just fine. The touchiest components tend to be the hard drives. I treat them with respect, never subjecting them to jolts and never moving a PC while switched on. If the worst comes to the worst and it fails, they ARE replacable and, if fairly new, should still be under warranty. Just remember to back up, back up, back up . . . !

[Keeping my fingers firmly crossed while holding a rabbit's foot and staying clear of ladders]

David

[This message has been edited by DavidX (edited 03-21-99).]

[kwai]

topic? what topic?

see arnie, told ya people would be split on the issue.