Running a computer 24/7 ?

[Jack]

Hi folks,
A question please.

Is it safe to leave a computer running continuously for 24 hours all day, every day?

Reason I ask is that my wonky computer took me near 4 hours to start today.
I feel it's any awfy waste of my life sitting for hours on end pressing a wee on/off button...
And to think I used to grumble at a few minutes!

Any advice appreciated.
Cheers - Jack

[Bob C]

Hi folks,
A question please.

Is it safe to leave a computer running continuously for 24 hours all day, every day?

Cheers - Jack

Hi Jack,

If you have the capability to disconnect your internet connection then it would be ok. To leave it on and connected to the internet is inviting an attack to try to compromise by a hacker.

Just bear in mind that all things electronic in a computer have a service life and the longer they are left running you are using more of their life.

Without further details, I would say that your might have one of the following problems:

1. Something has worked itself loose inside the computer and is not making a good connection which resolves itself as the computer heats up. This can sometimes be corrected by opening the computer and re-seating all the cable and board connections.

2. Some part of the computer is failing and a backup of all important information and data should be made immediately! This needs to be diagnosed by a computer expert who can advise if it can be fixed and the costs to do so.

Regards,


Bob C

[Jack]

Thanks Bob,
I see what you mean about security, even though i do have Norton AV & Zone Alarm.
I'm on broadband, but i'm unsure if the pc will still run if i disconnect the box.
Perhaps i'd better not try!

Yes, i thought that leaving it on would most likely reduce the life of the computer.
It's 5yrs old and i was hoping that if i did run it 24/7 it might last till i could afford a new one!

When the pc eventually does start it's always in, i think it's called, Safe Mode (basic blue screen).
And says the computer hung for an improper CPU speed, and highlights 1400 (which is what the pc is).
I press F10, and Save & Exit, and then it starts up as normal.

I vaguely remember an Anti-Spyware programme deleting something a good few months back.
And i think it mentioned something about the Registry.
It was around then that the problems began.
Like when it is running i get the Windows Installer trying to open up on certain programmes & CDs (eg the LDS 1881 census).
It goes away eventually, and the programme or CD opens - but not all of them.
Also sometimes says there is no default mail programme - but i have Outlook Express, and it works fine.
The pc used to start in a few minutes, but it's increased to many hours now...
Sore on the fingers pressing that wee on/off button!
I think the slow start up & the problems i get when it is running aren't linked.
But that's just a complete amateur's wild guess!
--
1. Tomorrow i will do as you suggest; ie open it up and check all connections.

I think i've managed to back up onto CDs all the Fam Hist (on Gedcoms), the My Docs Folder (with all old e-mails), and My Favourites.
Those three seem to be the only ones that can't be replaced if the pc completely crashes.

2. You're right that it really needs looked at.
Though i feel there may be too many problems, and that's why i've been saving up for a new pc.
But i don't want Vista (i have XP) as i'm unsure if my old census programmes/CDs will be compatible.
I'd be lost without them!

Much obliged to you for the advice.
Cheers - Jack

[heymarky]

Most firewall software (Zone Alarm in your case) has a way to shut off the internet, so you don't even have to unplug the wire from the back.

Things that want to update from the internet should just wait for you to re-establish the connection. "It should just work"

Best of luck,

Mark

[Bob C]

Thanks Bob,
I see what you mean about security, even though i do have Norton AV & Zone Alarm.
I'm on broadband, but i'm unsure if the pc will still run if i disconnect the box.
Perhaps i'd better not try!

One of the good things about XP is that if you break the connection between your computer and the broadband modem is that when you reconnect XP should detect it and restart the proper software for the connection. This way you can unplug the cable from your pc to the modem and leave the computer running.

Yes, i thought that leaving it on would most likely reduce the life of the computer.
It's 5yrs old and i was hoping that if i did run it 24/7 it might last till i could afford a new one!

Relatively young for a computer. Mine is now 12 years old, running Win98, and on about 4 hours a day during the work week and on for 14 hours a day on the weekend. At work we have computers left on 24/7 for over 5 years except when we have a power outage.

When the pc eventually does start it's always in, i think it's called, Safe Mode (basic blue screen).
And says the computer hung for an improper CPU speed, and highlights 1400 (which is what the pc is).
I press F10, and Save & Exit, and then it starts up as normal.

This is an indication that your setup information has been damaged/changed and can be easily corrected. You need to find what the correct settings should be in your documentation or from the manufacturer of your computer. This can be changed when you restart/boot your computer by pressing a key or combination of keys (on my computer it is F10) on others it is sometimes the escape key or F1. Again, your documentation should tell you what the key(s) are.

I vaguely remember an Anti-Spyware programme deleting something a good few months back.
And i think it mentioned something about the Registry.
It was around then that the problems began.

Your Anti-spyware program should have an "un-do" capability so you can back out the changes it made and this may correct the problem.

Like when it is running i get the Windows Installer trying to open up on certain programmes & CDs (eg the LDS 1881 census).
It goes away eventually, and the programme or CD opens - but not all of them.

This is another indication that something in the Registry has been deleted that is needed for the program to run. This can be solved by uninstalling the program and reinstalling it.

Also sometimes says there is no default mail programme - but i have Outlook Express, and it works fine.

You need to find where you tell XP that your default mail program is Outlook Express and make sure it is set properly. I don't have access to an XP system right now but will let you know tomorrow how to change this.
The pc used to start in a few minutes, but it's increased to many hours now...
Sore on the fingers pressing that wee on/off button!
I think the slow start up & the problems i get when it is running aren't linked.
But that's just a complete amateur's wild guess! Your are right!
--
1. Tomorrow i will do as you suggest; ie open it up and check all connections. Not needed now but always safe to do.

I think i've managed to back up onto CDs all the Fam Hist (on Gedcoms), the My Docs Folder (with all old e-mails), and My Favourites.
Those three seem to be the only ones that can't be replaced if the pc completely crashes.

2. You're right that it really needs looked at.
Though i feel there may be too many problems, and that's why i've been saving up for a new pc.

Your existing pc problems can be fixed by investing some time and far fewer pounds than a new pc will cost leaving a few pounds for a pint or a wee dram occasionally as you ponder the meaning of life.

But i don't want Vista (i have XP) as i'm unsure if my old census programmes/CDs will be compatible.
I'd be lost without them!


If you have the BVRI then there are known problems with Vista as well as fixes. Other CDs with built in search software can be handled with the Vista compatibility mode which makes the run as if they were running under XP. What I don't like about Vista is the security which makes it easier for the average user to run without any than try to cope with it. I have gone out and bought a copy of XP to have on hand for the day my computer dies and I have to buy a new one. I will delete Vista and install XP.

Much obliged to you for the advice.
Cheers - Jack

Bob C

[Muriel]

If you're backing stuff up Jack, don't forget your email address book. It's a good time to clear it out & it also saves you having to input what can be (at least in my case) a large number of names.

Muriel

[AnnieMack]

Hello Jack!

It might be worth a visit to your pc manufacturers web site to download drivers for your pc. You will find an asset label on it somewhere - on the back of the tower or pn the bottom if it's a laptop. Take the details from the label and when you go to the web site and find downloads/drivers there will be an option to enter the info and they will list the drivers you need. I think once you have updated the correct drivers you will find it works as it should.

Email if I can clarify what I am wittering about

Annie

[trish1]

Just a couple of things that may/maynot help

If it takes along time to start (after the blue screen etc) I would blame Norton for much of that. There are some tricks to remove some of the disasters that seem to be the latest Norton - if you google around you will find them. It you have broadband, as soon as you turn on the machine Nortons will be off looking for updates, checking everything & anything & generally slowing the computer to a minor walk speed.

When the incorrect or no default is happening with loading CDs or looking for an email program, this is a setting somewhere that you should be able to fix. Someone smarter than me may be able to tell you where. There are a few programs around that when loaded managed to overwrite some of these defaults.

If you use IE 6, the default email can be found under tools, internet options, programs but I can't remember how you get to the CD defaults - I turn them ALL off & then never see the screen again. I spend most of my setup time with new computers turning everything auto OFF!

Trish

[Currie]

Hello Jack and all,

I turn off my router by an external switch whenever I turn off my computer. I rigged it up that way because when I first got broadband, it seemed like a raging tiger at the door compared to dial-up, but now it just seems like a tired old horse. Routers have a hardware firewall and nothing gets through to the software firewall. If you have a clever nasty inside your machine however it may be quite capable of turning on your computer, bypassing your software firewall and phoning home. Like Trish I turn off everything automatic. I like to think that it’s my computer rather than me being its human.

If you google the improper CPU problem you come up with the usual thousands of people with exactly the same thing happening, the usual great variety of offered solutions but not too many who actually end up indicating that they’ve found and fixed the problem. One thing often blamed was the motherboard battery and that resetting the BIOS would help.

Another I saw replaced the power supply and said that it fixed it. Poor old power supplies get the blame for a lot of things and I would say the manufacturers make a lot of money from selling replacements for perfectly good units. But they do fail, sometimes gradually, sometimes instantly like it did in my 6 year old spare computer recently

The spare computer is a HP. The trouble with those brand name computers is that they don’t want you to fix it they want to sell you a new one. It took me 5 years to find a motherboard manual for what is maybe the one in the HP. That leaves you in a bit of a spot when it comes to sorting out problems with settings etc.

My good computer is also 6 years old, I put it together from mainly second hand parts, it would have been state-of-the-art 6 years ago had it been an entity then. It runs as smooth as silk but the hard drives are filling up so if I can get a $10 case from somewhere I’ll put together another one that would have been state-of-the-art 4 years ago.

Having a 5 year old computer repaired or upgraded at a computer shop can use up a lot of money that could have been spent on a new one. All you end up with is an old computer that’s worth practically nothing and you’re further away from a replacement that’ll be three times as fast for a third of the price you paid for the old one.

A spare computer can be great, you can pull it apart, work out what’s wrong, do the repairs without being too worried about breaking something, throw in second hand parts at little cost and when you get it working you can install alternative free operating systems, such as Linux Ubuntu especially if it has old, unsupported and insecure versions of Windows. You can network it to your new computer and use it to backup your important data.

Anyone worried about security should get rid of IE and OE and try something like Mozilla Firefox and/or Thunderbird. If your system’s being dragged down by juggernaughts like Norton and that Scottish one try AVG and Zone Alarm, they cost nothing and will give you a lot less trouble.

In IE if you want to backup your favourites click on menu item file/export then just work through the wizard and you’ll end up with a html file in your documents folder you can backup elsewhere. You can backup your OE address book via the OE file/export menu as a text file. You can change your OE email storage folder to a folder within your Documents folder i.e. if you want it more under notice for backups etc by going to Tools/Options/Maintenance/Store Folder although I’m not sure whether you will have to manually move your old messages there.

If you want to change CD autoplay properties go to My Computer right click on your CD or DVD drives and click properties. On the autoplay tab select the type of disc i.e. music, pictures etc and select the type of action, play, show or do nothing, work through them clicking apply after each. I hope that’s the one you meant Trish.

Computers are complicated beasts, they get old and tired and there’s often no easy answer when things go wrong and it just becomes a process of trial and error. The state of the Operating System is a cause of a great many computer problems and after years and years of abuse and neglect and general debility it may need to be reinstalled.

Hope there’s something useful in there for someone.

Alan

[annpa]

I know Norton and AVG but what is this "Scottish one" that Alan is talking about??.

by the way, when I want to leave the computer on for some time I disconnect the broadband router from its USB port and everything is OK. It reconnects when I re-insert the USB

i haven't had any problems.

Cheers
Annpa