Two ?'s for computer geeks here

[DallasCowpoke]

I need some advice on best laptop use.

I find a moving screensaver distracting, so;

1:Is it better to let your screensaver go to the "blank screen" option or let it turn the screen off using the power settings built into my system when it's idle 20-30 mins?

2:Is it better to put my laptop into hibernate when I'm finished using it for the day or shut it completely down?

Thks in advance for the replies.

[dexternjack]

I am no computer geek but..I have screen saver turned off and rarely turn off the laptop, I just close the lid.

[DallasCowpoke]

Originally Posted by dexternjack

I am no computer geek but..I have screen saver turned off and rarely turn off the laptop, I just close the lid.

Yea but if/when you close the lid it does SOMETHING. Mine defaulted to shutdown option out-of-the-box but I changed both that and the power button to hibernate.

The only way I completely shut it down is manually through the "start" menu.

[dexternjack]

Originally Posted by DallasCowpoke

Yea but if/when you close the lid it does SOMETHING. Mine defaulted to shutdown option out-of-the-box but I changed both that and the power button to hibernate.

The only way I completely shut it down is manually through the "start" menu.

When I close the lid: both plugged in and battery set to (do nothing)
When I press the power button: both set to (shutdown)

If I need to restart, I go the "start" menu

[DallasCowpoke]

Originally Posted by dexternjack

When I close the lid: both plugged in and battery set to (do nothing)
When I press the power button: both set to (shutdown)

If I need to restart, I go the "start" menu

Ahh, gotcha.

[Lodeus]

Id turn it completely off every few days.

[Kangaroo]

If you do not like Screen savers then the monitor sleep mode is the way to go.

Laptop if you are packing it up to go and you are not going to pull it out for a while better to power it down this will increase your battery life on the laptop.

Batteries only have so many recharges and if you do not power it all the way down even in hibernation mode it burns battery and shortens the life of the battery.

[DallasCowpoke]

Originally Posted by Lodeus

Id turn it completely off every few days.

I do that too. When I run a full scan using my virus potect program, usually once a week, I set it to shutdown afterwards.

I just don't like to let it sit, running overnight. Not only for the power usage, but often I may stop using the puter at 8-9:00 pm and not again until noon the next day.

[DallasCowpoke]

Gee, thks for all the help guys. Appreciate it!

[Sam I Am]

Originally Posted by DallasCowpoke

I need some advice on best laptop use.

I find a moving screensaver distracting, so;

1:Is it better to let your screensaver go to the "blank screen" option or let it turn the screen off using the power settings built into my system when it's idle 20-30 mins?

2:Is it better to put my laptop into hibernate when I'm finished using it for the day or shut it completely down?

Thks in advance for the replies.

I set the screen saver to blank after five minutes, and then the PC stop sending signal after 15 minutes.

There is no issue with allowing your computer to go into sleep mode. If you plan on unplugging it for any long amount of time, then shut it down first.

A laptop uses very little electricity when in sleep mode, but it does require electricity. The last thing you want to happen is the battery run all the way down and the computer go down hard.

Two bad things happen. One, running the battery all the way down to nothing damages the cells. Second, you risk damaging the filesystem or even the hard drive allowing all power to be exhausted without powering down first.

[dexternjack]

Originally Posted by Sam I Am

I set the screen saver to blank after five minutes, and then the PC stop sending signal after 15 minutes.

There is no issue with allowing your computer to go into sleep mode. If you plan on unplugging it for any long amount of time, then shut it down first.

A laptop uses very little electricity when in sleep mode, but it does require electricity. The last thing you want to happen is the battery run all the way down and the computer go down hard.

Two bad things happen. One, running the battery all the way down to nothing damages the cells. Second, you risk damaging the filesystem or even the hard drive allowing all power to be exhausted without powering down first.

I leave my laptop plugged into the wall at all times, is that bad on the battery?

I rarely ever use mine w/o it being plugged in

[Sam I Am]

Originally Posted by dexternjack

I leave my laptop plugged into the wall at all times, is that bad on the battery?

I rarely ever use mine w/o it being plugged in

There are some chargers that can do some harm to a battery if it remains plugged in after it's fully charged. That said, I would say mostly phones and the like are probably more susceptible to that. Even then, probably the cheaper phones.

For a laptop, I wouldn't worry about it too much. If you laptop battery takes serious damage from that, then you bought the wrong laptop. (ie, a POS laptop)

I never leave mine unplugged unless it's off unless I'm just moving it from one place to another or am actually on the road using it. I never travel with it in sleep mode. It is always off.

[DallasCowpoke]

Originally Posted by Sam I Am

I set the screen saver to blank after five minutes, and then the PC stop sending signal after 15 minutes.

There is no issue with allowing your computer to go into sleep mode. If you plan on unplugging it for any long amount of time, then shut it down first.

A laptop uses very little electricity when in sleep mode, but it does require electricity. The last thing you want to happen is the battery run all the way down and the computer go down hard.

Two bad things happen. One, running the battery all the way down to nothing damages the cells. Second, you risk damaging the filesystem or even the hard drive allowing all power to be exhausted without powering down first.

Thks Sam. That's a help.

One more question. I have an old laptop I've left unplugged and not used. But my newer puter is in the shop for a period. The battery on the unused one isn't charging, even after being pugged in for 24+ hours. Should I just take the battery out?

[Sam I Am]

Originally Posted by DallasCowpoke

Thks Sam. That's a help.

One more question. I have an old laptop I've left unplugged and not used. But my newer puter is in the shop for a period. The battery on the unused one isn't charging, even after being pugged in for 24+ hours. Should I just take the battery out?

I would just leave it in unless you plan on replacing it. Well, unless you see some type of battery deterioration. Then you would want to properly discard it.

Just plug it in when you need to use it.

[Yeagermeister]

Yeah be careful closing the laptop without shutting down. I had a user that did that and stuck it in his bag. When pulled it out to use it again it had gotten so hot the plastic was warped plus it fried the screen, motherboard and hard drive. Lucky for him I had it covered with an accidental damage warranty. He had a brand new laptop after Dell replaced all the fried parts.