How long should i leave PC on without a restart?

Callumpy · 20-03-2008, 18:50

How long, or does it not need one at all unless it crashes of course?

Xaccers · 20-03-2008, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callumpy

How long, or does it not need one at all unless it crashes of course?

You can leave them til they crash, which can be months.
Course that would mean you're not installing any patches/hotfixes during that time.

Callumpy · 20-03-2008, 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaccers

You can leave them til they crash, which can be months.
Course that would mean you're not installing any patches/hotfixes during that time.

Excellent, my current time is: 1 week and 3 days

nffc · 20-03-2008, 18:58

I left my laptop on 3 weeks before. Server usually stays on unless I install something or windows updates need a restart.

20-03-2008, 18:59

often if its a used machine things will start to slow needing a restart so my answer would be until it needs one

Druchii · 20-03-2008, 19:18

Uptime record IIRC was around 1 and a half months. Then it took an age to open firefox one day, so i restarted.

So yeah, until whenever they need em

I've heard of Linux servers being up for over a year before needing a reboot.

Wicked_and_Crazy · 20-03-2008, 19:19

Turn it off when your not using it!!

Halcyon · 20-03-2008, 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

Turn it off when your not using it!!

I agree.
Unless it is being used when you are not using it, turn it off.
You'l be wearing out your hard drives too if they keep spinning for no reason.

dev · 20-03-2008, 20:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

I agree.
Unless it is being used when you are not using it, turn it off.
You'l be wearing out your hard drives too if they keep spinning for no reason.

my desktop is currently reaching 20 weeks without a restart and the only times its not been running over the past 4 years add up to less than 6 hours and i've never had a problem with a hard drive

Xaccers · 20-03-2008, 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

I agree.
Unless it is being used when you are not using it, turn it off.
You'l be wearing out your hard drives too if they keep spinning for no reason.

I think google released some stats on their hard drives.
Basically if your drive doesn't die in the first year of use, it's going to live to a ripe old age if you leave it on constantly.
On and off reduces lifespan very slightly.

AbyssUnderground · 20-03-2008, 21:19

I had a windows sever that got 329 days uptime before I rebooted it (a reboot it didn't even need). It was running fine and had no issues. Shows how long it can be left on.

Oh, and this server has never been updated, it runs with its firewall off, and its never been hacked.

Obviously I'm not going to tell you the address of it!

My production servers usually get a reboot every 2 weeks for some reason or another. The longest any of my production servers have been online for is 60 days before a reboot.

greencreeper · 21-03-2008, 02:46

PC has been up 32 days with a reboot - working fine. Reboot when something stops working, or the PC begins behaving oddly, otherwise leave it.

dev · 21-03-2008, 06:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaccers

I think google released some stats on their hard drives.
Basically if your drive doesn't die in the first year of use, it's going to live to a ripe old age if you leave it on constantly.
On and off reduces lifespan very slightly.

i believe that is for most electronics, if it has a manufacturering fault then it'll die early, otherwise, as long as you don't hit it with a hammer etc it'll be fine for many years of constant usage

alferret · 21-03-2008, 12:19

You can set your HDD's to spin down in the power settings on XP Screensaver\power.

My external drive spins down after 15 mins no activity.

As for power-up time if the PC isnt being used for a long time to save your parents a bit of money and make your carbon footprint that little bit smaller turn it off.

21-03-2008, 14:54

I leave mine on for around 2 days normally