Shut down computer while on vacation?

[Carta]

When you go on vacation, do you pull the electrical cord after shutdown?
Thanks

 

[stugy]

I have not, but will in the future. Not sure how it happened but I came home from my 5 week PV vacation to find some computer viruses. Better safe than sorry.
Pat

 

[ace2000]

When you go on vacation, do you pull the electrical cord after shutdown?
Thanks

If your computer is powered down, you don't have to worry about viruses.

If you are going to be gone for a week, then it definitely makes sense to power it down (and you might as well unplug the cord).

If you're only going to be gone for just one day, then most say to shut it down also. However, this is constantly being debated. One side talks about using less energy and the other talks about the initial surge that takes place on the electrical components and the wear and tear that the surge causes. I can find you expert links that take up both sides of this one.

 

[grapevine24]

I unplug

I have a surge suppressor on the power supply of any valuable electronic equipment, I also have one on the internet/cable line, because surges can enter that route as well.

There is also something called "leaking electricity". A small amount of electricity is still drawn even when the item is "off". This does not stop until the item is actually unplugged from the wall.

That said, I unplug my TVs, computers power AND internet connection if I'll be away for more than a few days.

 

["Roger"]

I unplug mine, mostly out of concern over a nearby lightning strike. A surge protectors can help, but would be overwhelmed if the strike were nearby. (For the same reason, I unplug the computer if a lightning storm is going right though the area where I live.)

 

[Htoo0]

^ Same here. And unlike many, I turn off the computer and monitor whenever it's not in use. I've been reading that just like lights, it really does save electricity although maybe only about $100 a year. Not about the money though. Unfortunately, I've found if I shut down my new wireless printer I have to reestablish the connection next time I wish to use it. :annoyed:

 

[abbekit]

I unplug mine, mostly out of concern over a nearby lightning strike. A surge protectors can help, but would be overwhelmed if the strike were nearby. (For the same reason, I unplug the computer if a lightning storm is going right though the area where I live.)

Always pull the plug for both vacation and bad weather for the same reason. We live in an area that is prone to bad thunderstorms so it is just now worth worrying about. Also don't want to waste electricity so unplug some of the kitchen appliances when we leave town also.

Can't easily get to the plugs on the TV and stereo equipment (and we lost an expensive receiver years ago in a lightening storm).

 

[dioxide45]

We shut it down as we do most of the time. Don't pull the plug on the internet connection though as that provides us access to our SlingBox.

 

[Talent312]

Last week, we had a severe storm with many nearby lightening strikes. My computer was turned off, but plugged in... it was fine. My wife's OTOH, was dead to the world. Although the surge-protector had not flipped, I instantly suspected it was fried.

I could not bring it to life, so I pulled up Dell Support on mine and cranked up a multi-step procedure that started with pressing the button to see if it lit up, then if it clicked, then checking the outlet it was plugged into. In each of about 20 or so steps, I would (a) unplug it, (b) remove a component (c) plug it in and (d) try to start it up. I removed power couplings, data drives, memory modules, and finally expansion cards.

I was ready to give up, but the last thing I did brought it back to life... I removed the modem card (not the network card), the old modem. Without the modem, the computer worked fine. With it, nothing worked. All I can figure is that a phone-line surge knocked out the modem. I only wish Dell had put that step up front.

 

[JudyH]

We lost a modem in a desk top once, we had turned off and unplugged, but somehow the modem wired wasn't inthe surge protecter correctly or the phone line or something....and it fried.

Useally we turnoff and unplug computers, tv's, microwave,

I've lost about 10 appliances to lightening strikes over the years, just not the ones I hate (the old toaster oven, the harvest gold stove).

 

[pwrshift]

I don't always remember to unplug my desktop but think it's a good idea. My house chimney got hit by lightning a few years ago and a lot of things that were plugged in were fried - not just my computer. Insurance covered most of it, but it was still a big pain.

Brian

 

[vacationhopeful]

My prefab fireplace/chimney got a direct hit by lightening a few years ago during a bad 6PM thunderstorm. Yes, it took out a few appliances (and burgler alarm, too). Thank the powers to be that we weren't home ... mainly because the storm forced us to eat dinner out before getting back home due to its heavy rain. It blew the main curcuit breaker to the house - my first clue when we got home.

The really scary part was the strike blew apart my fireplace tools. It also sent shards of the slate hearth across the living room (17feet) and foyer (6 feet further) imbedding the shards into the sheetrock between waist and shoulder height. My insurance company sent an adjuster to inspect the "damage" and after seeing the shards, totally approved my claims. Said in 35+ years on the job, he had never seen anything like that and if we had been in the room, we would have definitely been hurt (my TV was in that room).

Yes, I unplug everything including the telephone line from my computer.

 

["Roger"]

.... All I can figure is that a phone-line surge knocked out the modem....

That is almost certainly what happened.

 

[Cathyb]

Gosh reading all these events makes me wonder. We live in San Diego, have very rare lightning activity, etc. Should we also unplug computer, printer when gone for a week or two? (We do have a surge protector)

 

[Teresa]

I unplug - then take it with me - grin!

I take my laptop with me. I'm in the vacation rental business and no one wants to wait a week to hear back from someone about a vacation rental. I've found if I even put off returning inquiries for even a day or two they've often booked something else.

I like having my computer with me on vacation too. I can surf the net at my leisure for fun rather than mostly work (I hardly have any time to do that at home). Am I tied to it? Who's to say? I don't consider taking my computer any different than someone taking their Ipod with them.

BUT if I was going to leave home without it, it would be unplugged (if I remember to do that).

 

[Carta]

I called Apple and Verizon DSL..They both recommended that i unplug..My biggest concern was; coming home and having to go through a bunch of BS tying to re-connect when i get home.. They both said: no problem.

 

[Htoo0]

I once used one of those outlet/jacks which had both my phone and antenna next to each other. Lightning hit the phone line somewhere out there and it blew the connection box off of the pole, killed the modem and phones and jumped at the outlet to the antenna wire which scrambled our brand new TV. Fortunately, I was able to repair the TV with a magnetic coil, I replaced the modem and phones and the phone company replaced the box. Now, even with surge protectors I disconnect. (But then, I shut the water off as well.)

 

[thecypher]

I have 4 computers in my house that are always on. I don't switch off the computers unless I am leaving on vacation for 3 to 4 weeks. And I switch them off because I won't be using them for 4 weeks. Power Savings I can understand but lightning strike/power surge can happen anytime. Doesn't have to happen when you are on vacation for a week. So you are not really protecting yourself from a lighting strike/power surge by switching them off while on vacation . Always connect your computers to a surge protector and that is the best you can do. In the last 12 years I have had computers at home I have always left them on all the time and I have never had a power surge or lighting issue. And unless you physically disconnect the power cable from the wall even if your computer is off it will still get fried if you have a lighting strike. I only switch the monitor on/off never the CPU. Switching on/off the CPU all the time I think reduces the life of some of the components compared to just leaving it running all the time.

 

[laura1957]

I have 4 computers in my house that are always on. I don't switch off the computers unless I am leaving on vacation for 3 to 4 weeks. And I switch them off because I won't be using them for 4 weeks. Power Savings I can understand but lightning strike/power surge can happen anytime. Doesn't have to happen when you are on vacation for a week. So you are not really protecting yourself from a lighting strike/power surge by switching them off while on vacation . Always connect your computers to a surge protector and that is the best you can do. In the last 12 years I have had computers at home I have always left them on all the time and I have never had a power surge or lighting issue. And unless you physically disconnect the power cable from the wall even if your computer is off it will still get fried if you have a lighting strike. I only switch the monitor on/off never the CPU. Switching on/off the CPU all the time I think reduces the life of some of the components compared to just leaving it running all the time.

Of course lightning strikes can happen anytime. But if I am home and my computer is plugged in - when I hear the thunder, see lightning, listen to the weather forecast... THEN I can unplug the computer. That is hard to do when I am in Mexico, or even Massanutten for the week.

 

[Htoo0]

^Same here!

 

[rlblack]

I unplug everything, including all my tv.'s, computer equipment, and any other power-using items that are reasonable to unplug- except my freezer and refrigerator. We turn off at the breaker my water heater. There is no need to "power" use the power, how little it might be. None of the items are a big user (except water heater)- but, every little savings of money and/or resouces can make for a bigger savings in the long run. rlb

 

[M. Henley]

Turn Off

I always turn off the computer but have never unplugged it. Being on cable I think it may not be as susceptible to power surges taking out the modem, but I guess the surge protector for the computer might be overpowered by a lightening strike.
I always take my laptop with me, even while flying, as I have to keep up with e-mails, etc.

 

[pammex]

We get a lot of surges and spikes in Mexico so everything is on a surge protector, we also get a lot of lightening in rainy season. I do not unplug my desktop while on vacation as son keeps it updated for me or anyone else who watches dog and house etc.

Not feasible to keep on all the time in Mexico as electricity is outrageous in price....

My desktop is on surge protector for computers and also back up ( UPS)...

I think if no one was going to be in house, I would unplug everything...

 

[Don]

Yes, and I also unplug the telephone cord to my ethernet modem.

 

[McFail]

Assuming a PC uses 150W average power and electricity is $.15 /KWH the annual bill for that is almost $200.

For typical home use I suggest that the money saved by turning it off will far outstrip any savings you may have by avoiding a failure by turning it off and on.