----- Original Message ----- From: "G.Waleed Kavalec" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "The Hardware List" <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2005 11:57 PM Subject: Re: [H] Electronic Gunk ???
This shows up in nics and modems too, PC's need power off-on now and then.
You pros may want to skip this post as it is mainly for the novices and other non technicians, or perhaps new technicians?
When "Restart" (hardware button restart or software restart) works most of the time, we tend to forget about powering off with the power button (but in most ATX situations the operating system software will send the instructions for a hardware power down.) Often the BIOS fails to perform POST simply because it has not been completely powered down.
Many say turning off the optional switch on the power supply is good enough if you intend to work inside the computer and perhaps change a card or memory etc. Others say go a step further and unplug the power cord. I agree with the others and unplug.
I get a fresh start every day because I power my computer down when I feel I have finished using it for the day. My answer to the age old question, "How often do you turn off your computer?" is to do according to your needs and usage pattern with this in mind:
Moving parts last longer if you power down once daily for the longest period of time your computer will not be in use.
Non-moving parts will last longer if your computer runs 24/7 in the stable power environment a UPS provides.
Windows XP does not need a fresh start near as often as Windows 9x (some 9x users refreshed almost hourly or more often if they were doing resource hogging work such as heavy graphics). Still, I find that Windows XP appreciates a restart from time to time and often once daily fills this need adequately.
Chuck
