leave it on, or turn it off?

[smopo24]

i've heard different arguments for both: leave your computer on all the time or turn it on and off when you need it only? what do you say? hard drives wear out faster one way or the other?

[dagosto]

I almost always turn off. Mechanically, this is the way to go in my mind. The only reason that I can see to leave on would be so the computer can complete house keeping tasks like defragging or virus scans while on stand-by. Personally I prefer to perform these tasks myself since the automated task schedualing might use up certain resources. On a personal machine I would leave the automation on, but on a media machine absolutely I would leave them off. So I would say, turn off.

[smopo24]

Originally Posted by dagosto

I almost always turn off. Mechanically, this is the way to go in my mind. The only reason that I can see to leave on would be so the computer can complete house keeping tasks like defragging or virus scans while on stand-by. Personally I prefer to perform these tasks myself since the automated task schedualing might use up certain resources. On a personal machine I would leave the automation on, but on a media machine absolutely I would leave them off. So I would say, turn off.

how often do you defrag? once a month? once a week?

[dolivas]

I would say turn it off. Most computers just use up stupid amounts of energy doing close to nothing when they are left on and they don't or wouldn't gain anything from staying on most of the time other than a 4 or 5 sec program startup time shaved off. I use a a Mac with plenty of memory and speed and i really see no reason to a) spend more money needlessly on a higher electric bill b) have a second source for heating/incandescent lighting.

[dagosto]

Originally Posted by smopo24

how often do you defrag? once a month? once a week?

I run defrag analyze once a month or so to see if it needs defrag. If it does, then I do it.

[Nubus]

I say turn it off. The automatic task are off on my machine too and I just run them every once in a while using the program Cocktail. The only reason I can see to leave it on is if you don't want to run those tasks on your own.

The worst stories I've heard were from people who leave it on always because they were told to, but they also leave themselves logged in as different users and never quit any apps... that is a bad idea. Quit your apps and log out dummies.

[dolivas]

Like Nubus and dagosto said, unless you're doing important tasks like virus scanning, defrag, spyware scan, etc. there really wouldn't be a need to leave it on. To go one step further I would suggest if you're going to have stuff automate such tasks when its neccessary, by all means don't use Windows' own automator. A third-party program wouldn't run in the background while waiting to pop up and do its thing. Likewise I remember in my windows days I had/have Windows XP Pro and it did something called indexing which is on by default and it would be working in the background silently doing nothing but eating resources.

[dagosto]

Originally Posted by dolivas

Like Nubus and dagosto said, unless you're doing important tasks like virus scanning, defrag, spyware scan, etc. there really wouldn't be a need to leave it on. To go one step further I would suggest if you're going to have stuff automate such tasks when its neccessary, by all means don't use Windows' own automator. A third-party program wouldn't run in the background while waiting to pop up and do its thing. Likewise I remember in my windows days I had/have Windows XP Pro and it did something called indexing which is on by default and it would be working in the background silently doing nothing but eating resources.

Yes, definitely turn indexing off. Hibernation as well, that eats up a lot of RAM. if you are running XP you should check out the tweaking tips on MusicXP.com.

[smopo24]

Originally Posted by dagosto

Yes, definitely turn indexing off. Hibernation as well, that eats up a lot of RAM. if you are running XP you should check out the tweaking tips on MusicXP.com.

my boss even told me once that leaving the screensaver on is useless; that it can screw something up with pro tools or logic; but he was paranoid, so i don't know.

[Whoopysnorp]

It is my understanding that SOP for people running extremely expensive computer components is never to cycle power unless absolutely necessary. I guess it's especially hard on hard drives--every time you turn it on, you're spinning it up from a cold state, which is worse for it than leaving it on and active all the time. I say leave it on.