I use my desktop computer each day, but only about 100 hours a month. When not in use I turn the computer off. I do not put it in sleep mode. My thinking is that even with a surge protector, the campground line voltage is "bad" and turned off the computer gives me more protections.The start up time is not an issue for me since I am retired. I simply get a cup of coffee while the computer is starting up.Am I doing the correct thing? . . :h

I believe that as long as your computer is connected to the power supply, i.e. Plugged in, it is still vulnerable to a power supply coming through that connection. Particularly during a thunderstorm.. For true 'protection', I think you need to disconnect from the power source, not simply turn off.

summerhouse wrote:I believe that as long as your computer is connected to the power supply, i.e. Plugged in, it is still vulnerable to a power supply coming through that connection. Particularly during a thunderstorm.. For true 'protection', I think you need to disconnect from the power source, not simply turn off.That's also my understanding. We always unplug the computer during a thunder boomer.

Turning it off likely helps, but if you get a big enough surge, it won't really matter.

like most electronics now days the computer is never really OFF while its plugged in. The power supply is always on and a lot of desk tops also have the Network card turned on so it can be be booted/accessed remotely. I use a power strip with surge protector and after I shut the computer down I trip the on/off on the power strip.Dave

TenOC wrote:I use my desktop computer each day, but only about 100 hours a month. When not in use I turn the computer off. I do not put it in sleep mode. My thinking is that even with a surge protector, the campground line voltage is "bad" and turned off the computer gives me more protections.The start up time is not an issue for me since I am retired. I simply get a cup of coffee while the computer is starting up.Am I doing the correct thing? . . :hYes.There are many reasons for shutting down versus "Sleep or Always on".Good computers will self check on start-up.The computer needs to restart to finish reconfiguring memory after any installed updates. None of this gets done using "sleep" mode. Main problem here is that any updates being delayed get added in with later updates. Better chance of failure on an update doing this.For laptops, etc., there is some battery drain doing this. Not much of a problem for desk-tops.

Turn computer off or let it sleep ??? | Good Sam Community

1775
Explorer
Dec 03, 2015
I learned the hard way to turn off completely and then unplug. I have all of my computer components on the same surge box with my computer. When I turn off the computer I pull the surge box plug completely taking everything off the grid. No danger of damage if everything is unplugged. One plug puts it all back the next time. It is worth the few minutes for the system to boot each time.
AllegroD
Nomad
Dec 03, 2015
If you are protecting it, turn it off and unplug. As long as it is connected to a grid, there is a possibility of bleed through on a spike. Turning off power strip does not eliminate all risk.
MarkTwain
Explorer
Dec 03, 2015
JoeTampa wrote:
There is little difference between sleep mode and shutting down from a day-to-day perspective, but OS updates get installed on shut down or reboot.

My recommendation would be:

Sleep mode when you will use the computer again soon.

Shut down when you won't.

Shut down/unplug during thunderstorms and during travel.

X1, With my Apple desktop this is the procedure I have followed for 25 yrs. and have not had any issues.
mlts22
Explorer
Dec 02, 2015
There is also the hibernate option, which can be turned on in Windows by typing:

powercfg /hibernate on

This will allow you to shut the machine down completely, but have it spring to back to where it was.

Another reason I like shutting down when away for an extended time is because it ensures that the disk encryption is active.

To ensure a machine is shut down, I use a power strip. Once the switch on that is turned off, I'm sure all the computers are off.
Mountain_Mama
Explorer
Dec 02, 2015
2oldman wrote:
fj12ryder wrote:
surge protector would help if there were spikes in voltage, but it wouldn't give much protection against a steady low or high voltage, which could be damaging. Also I agree with unplugging it during a storm. Can't hurt.
There's also a power supply in the line, right?

I unplug everything (shore cord) in a storm.

We unplug from power source AND phone line during storms or if we're out of town for extended periods of time.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Dec 02, 2015
Gotcha, I had forgotten that some computers do have those inline transformers.
2oldman
Explorer II
Dec 02, 2015
fj12ryder wrote:
I don't understand about the "power supply in the line".
A 'wall wart' or a stand-alone ac->dc power supply in line from the 120v source to the computer's power input.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Dec 02, 2015
2oldman wrote:
fj12ryder wrote:
surge protector would help if there were spikes in voltage, but it wouldn't give much protection against a steady low or high voltage, which could be damaging. Also I agree with unplugging it during a storm. Can't hurt.
There's also a power supply in the line, right?

I unplug everything (shore cord) in a storm.
I don't understand about the "power supply in the line". Or are you referring to a switched power strip?
Campfire_Time
Explorer
Dec 02, 2015
Keep it simple. If your current habit is to shut it off, just keep doing that. And unplug it during a storm.
2oldman
Explorer II
Dec 02, 2015
fj12ryder wrote:
surge protector would help if there were spikes in voltage, but it wouldn't give much protection against a steady low or high voltage, which could be damaging. Also I agree with unplugging it during a storm. Can't hurt.
There's also a power supply in the line, right?

I unplug everything (shore cord) in a storm.

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Turn computer off or let it sleep ???

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