How long can a computer be left on for?

Rarri

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
717
Reaction score
84
Location
UK
This no doubt has a really simple answer, but my Google skills have gone phut for today.

How long can a computer be left on without blowing up, starting a fire, etc? Ideally, i'm wondering if it's feasible that a desktop or laptop could be left switched on for three or four weeks? No work would have been done on the machine in that time.

It's not critical to the WIP, but it would be handy.

Many thanks!
 

alleycat

Still around
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Messages
72,873
Reaction score
12,224
Location
Tennessee
We never actually turn the ones off in my office. We log off when we leave; at night there's a backup run.
 

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Nov 6, 2007
Messages
3,415
Reaction score
440
Location
Lewiston, NY
I leave mine on all the time. It goes into 'sleep' mode after it's been idle for several minutes. Windows, God bless MS, takes it upon itself to download updates, install them and reboot my PC, I think about once a month. That's the only reason you need to shut it down, to get it to go through the reboot cycle.
I don't know how much electricity the PC uses in 'sleep' mode, but it isn't much, and it makes for quick access to your programs when you return to work at it.
Another note, for security purposes, you should set your sleep mode to require a password to reactivate. Never leave an unprotected PC unattended.
 

Kathleen42

crushing on fictional characters
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 12, 2008
Messages
7,181
Reaction score
1,275
Location
Canada
We never actually turn the ones off in my office. We log off when we leave; at night there's a backup run.

That's what most of the guys at work do as well.
 

Tsu Dho Nimh

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 2, 2006
Messages
1,534
Reaction score
248
Location
West Enchilada, NM
This no doubt has a really simple answer, but my Google skills have gone phut for today.

How long can a computer be left on without blowing up, starting a fire, etc? Ideally, i'm wondering if it's feasible that a desktop or laptop could be left switched on for three or four weeks? No work would have been done on the machine in that time.

Our household server (the one that gets/sends the mail and stores the files for most of the users) has been running constantly for a couple of years, except when we moved it or had a power blackout.
 

paperbacklove

I eat dinosaurs! >)
Registered
Joined
Feb 28, 2009
Messages
33
Reaction score
5
Location
at an antique roll-top near the window
Our computers at home are on all the time. I suppose if there was nothing you needed to restart for, you could leave it on indefinitely (barring any abnormalities, of course.) Computers don't blow up without outside stimuli, and they'll shut themselves off if they start getting overheated.
 

Jersey Chick

Up all night to get Loki
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 9, 2007
Messages
12,320
Reaction score
4,278
Location
in the state of carefully controlled chaos
Website
www.kimberlynee.com
My laptop is on almost constantly. I shut it down when I go away and that's pretty much the only time it's off.

When I had a desktop, I did the same thing. An electronics guru once told me that computers "like to be left on." (he was spacey, but a frickin' genius.)
 

CACTUSWENDY

An old, sappy, and happy one.
Kind Benefactor
Requiescat In Pace
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
12,860
Reaction score
1,667
Location
Sunny Arizona
My home puter is on all the time. Not always on line....but on.
 

JulieHowe

Spent the night with Jack Daniels
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 26, 2009
Messages
1,560
Reaction score
155
Location
California
I leave my desktop computer on for months at a time without turning it off.
 

cbenoi1

Banned
Joined
Dec 30, 2008
Messages
5,038
Reaction score
977
Location
Canada
> It's not critical to the WIP, but it would be handy.

Desktop computers are DESIGNED to stay on permanently. Some laptops might be problematic, where they could heat up and given a warm enough environment, make the CPU chip to stop working properly.

Depends on what effects you need for the WIP. Can you fill us in on the details?

-cb
 

VeggieChick

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
459
Reaction score
61
Same here. I put my computer to sleep when I go to bed, but it's never technically off. In fact, I don't think it's been off for at least a couple of months now.
 

BenPanced

THE BLUEBERRY QUEEN OF HADES (he/him)
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Nov 5, 2006
Messages
17,865
Reaction score
4,640
Location
dunking doughnuts at Dunkin' Donuts
Huh. The compugeeks at work tell us to shut down each night to lessen the possibility of a virus getting in (though if you log off and aren't running teh intarwebz, I fail to see how that could happen). At home, I power up my computer and just leave it on all day, powering down when I go to bed or during a storm.
 

Rarri

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
717
Reaction score
84
Location
UK
Thank you! :)

I feel a little more enlightened, that's for sure; we always shut off our computers last thing at night, or when we go out, so wasn't sure how long computers could be left on.

The detail wasn't dramatic, a couple of characters come across an abandoned computer that's been left on for a few weeks and as such, find important information but i wasn't sure if that was feasible.

Thank you, again. I really appreciate your help :)
 

Nivarion

Brony level >9000
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 6, 2008
Messages
1,679
Reaction score
151
Location
texas
The last power supply I bought said that it had a 100,000 hour life. That's about 11 years.

So they could run for 11 years with good ventilation and not dust bunnies gumming the fans. So basically until its too obsolete to really matter any more.

Unless your talking about massive super computers here...
 

pink lily

I regret everything
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 31, 2006
Messages
640
Reaction score
121
Age
55
Location
internet
I chat online, and people in the chats often like to brag about their uptime; that is, the amount of time since their last reboot. Those who can achieve 4-6 weeks uptime without a reboot are very proud of it. (Those who are not using Windows machines mock those who have to reboot.)

Like most people, I never shut my computer off, but I do reboot about once every 7-10 days.
 

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2005
Messages
29,138
Reaction score
8,563
Location
Toronto
Website
ktcraig.com
I think my laptop's been on since 2006.
 

Clair Dickson

A dark core to every cloud
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 28, 2008
Messages
2,557
Reaction score
571
Location
SE Michigan
Website
www.bofexler.blogspot.com
Oh, yeah, computers turn off. I keep forgetting that... =)

If you have a battery backup, even a storm won't shut the computer off. If you don't need to restart for Windows updates, the computer can stay on even longer. And if the computer is abandoned, it could, conceivably be on forever.