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HDD - to shut down or not to shut down

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by Christer, 2005/04/07.

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  1. 2005/04/07
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Hello all!

    In the briefing room at our flying club we have a computer available to the members. It is supposed to be on 24/7 and I have set the screensaver to 10 minutes, shut down of the monitor to 20 minutes and shut down of the harddisk to "never ".

    Most activities are during the weekends and during weekdays only a few members use the computer. I know that leaving a harddisk running is better than setting it to shut down after 30 minutes which would result in several restarts each day but what about those days when no one uses the computer? Would it be wize, setting it to shut down after 3 hours? That would prevent restarts during days of frequent activities but it would shut down during the night and stay shut down if nothing happens for a long period of time (a day or two).

    What is Your experience?

    Thanks for Your time,
    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  2. 2005/04/07
    Chuck_W

    Chuck_W Inactive

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    My answer, FWIW, is its probably better to leave it going all the time. It would be the heat the drive creates that can shorten its life. Would it be better to set up a RAID?
     
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  4. 2005/04/07
    BillyBob Lifetime Subscription

    BillyBob Inactive

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    I have one machine that has an 8gig HD that started out with Win95 ( or maybe even Dos/Win3.11 ) and gets shut down every night. But once it is on it stays on till bedtime.

    Unless the grandkids are here. Then it can get restarted several times a day.

    BillyBob
     
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  5. 2005/04/07
    charlesvar

    charlesvar Inactive Alumni

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    Hi Christer,

    That's what I would do and that's how I run during the day. Like BB's, my system gets shut down overnight.

    Regards - Charles
     
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  6. 2005/04/07
    BillyBob Lifetime Subscription

    BillyBob Inactive

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    Seing as how this post is about shutting down the CP I will add this so it can be commented on.

    I was advised YEARS ago Not to use the main Power source to shutdown the unit.

    I used to use the switch on the surge protector until I was advised againt it.

    I was told that using the 110 volt AC side would create a momentary surge of excess power to both the PC AND the Monitor when turned back on. Plus any other device plugged in.

    PLus I believe shutting down the AC side has some effect on the Battery life.

    BillyBob
     
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  7. 2005/04/07
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Thanks guys, for Your input!

    RAID is not an option. It is a "handed down" computer and we don't want to spend too much money since it is likely that the computer will get nicked ...... :mad: ...... sooner or later.

    The plan is not to shut the computer off since it is locked up to increase the TBGN (Time Between Getting Nicked). Only the keyboard, mouse and monitor are accessible to the members and regedits have been made to prevent them from shutting down the computer.

    What I'm discussing is the option in Control panel > Power management, to shut down the harddisk after a user set time. If it is worthwhile to do that or if the harddisk is better off running.

    Christer
     
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  8. 2005/04/07
    BillyBob Lifetime Subscription

    BillyBob Inactive

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    I myself do not even have ( on any machine ) any from of Power management loaded.

    That is OK. BUT It is NO HELP in teaching responsibility

    I have very few things passworded or set in anyway to stop others from doing things.

    If they do get into things they do not belong in NO COMPUTER USE FOR 1 Week

    I believe more in settings RULES. And making other obey them or STAY OUT.

    And MY WIFE backs me up. The kids go crying to her and get NO sympathy at all.

    BillyBob
     
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  9. 2005/04/07
    charlesvar

    charlesvar Inactive Alumni

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    Hi Christer,

    What I'm discussing is the option in Control panel > Power management, to shut down the harddisk after a user set time. If it is worthwhile to do that or if the harddisk is better off running.
    That's what I'm addressing, and agree with shut down after 3 hours of non use.

    How hot does it get in the Summer there? Or in the environment of the tower?

    Regards - Charles
     
    charlesvar,
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  10. 2005/04/07
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    BillyBob,
    I don't have the time to babysit 250 members an "slap their behinds" when they have been bad ...... ;) ...... and I assume that You haven't got 250 grandkids ...... :eek: ...... !

    The thing is that people shut down that computer like they do at home when finished, without thinking. After the registry was edited to only allow administrators to shut down and others to log off only, some of them manage to shut it down after having logged off. The log on dialog box has an "options button" which reveals the option to shut down from there ...... :rolleyes: ...... nothing is fool proof!

    Charles,
    I misunderstood Your post, thanks for the clarification!

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  11. 2005/04/07
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Charles, I forgot:

    Sweden is rather cool-ish and temperatures rarely rise into the thirties, low to mid twenties are more common. (Centigrade, that is!)

    We don't have a tower ...... :eek: ...... it would only complicate things ...... :cool: ...... !

    Christer
     
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  12. 2005/04/07
    BillyBob Lifetime Subscription

    BillyBob Inactive

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    One thing about shutting down the PC that is tuff in the HDs.

    That is shutting down and restarting too quickly before the HDs have a chance to stop. A family member of mine insisted that that would not hurt anything. So he used the power button to restart the machine. And did not wait for a bit to repower and did tear up a HD.

    BillyBob
     
    Last edited: 2005/04/07
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  13. 2005/04/07
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    Hi Christer,

    I have my HDD set to power down after one hour. It seems to work fine. It only takes a few seconds for the drive to spin back up again.

    Suggest you don't make any settings the same, so don't have a combination of screensaver, shut down monitor or shut down harddrive at the same time or you may find the computer crashes.

    Don't use "standby ", my computer crashes when it is set (I think it is only supposed to be for laptops).

    Do some trials to make sure it does not crash. It would be hard for members if the computer froze and they were unable to use the power or reset buttons to restart it.

    Matt
     
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  14. 2005/04/08
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Hi Matt!

    I have removed all power saving settings but "Home and Office" (monitor - 20 min, HDD - never) and "Always on" (monitor - never, HDD - never). The former is for normal use and the latter when working with stuff that don't like being "disturbed ". When using the former, I also use the screensaver - 10 min setting.

    I agree that the same setting shouldn't be used for several "items" and I believe You when You say that it could cause crashes. About resetting a computer that is locked away from the user, well, that may be tricky and a call to someone who has a key to the lock may be necessary. Maybe a remote reset switch - only two wires through a wall and a button ...... :p ...... is the solution.

    I've got to go. I'm heading north towards our capital Stockholm to give a flight safety seminar. "See You" next week!

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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