Turn computer off or let it sleep ???

2oldman wrote:

TenOC wrote:
My thinking is that even with a surge protector, the campground line voltage is "bad" and turned off the computer gives me more protections.

are you saying your surge protector isn't working?

The 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.

I would turn it off when through using it for the day and also turn off the surge protector/power strip. Also I agree with unplugging it during a storm. Can't hurt.

TenOC wrote:
My thinking is that even with a surge protector, the campground line voltage is "bad" and turned off the computer gives me more protections.

are you saying your surge protector isn't working?

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.

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? . . :h

Yes.

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.

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

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

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.

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.