Computer Safety

[bppree]

When I am not using the computer, is it necessary to take the plug of the computer out of the socket, to be perfectly safe ? Or is just turning off the UPS and computer enough and no need to unplug ?

[Guest Reimar]

When I am not using the computer, is it necessary to take the plug of the computer out of the socket, to be perfectly safe ? Or is just turning off the UPS and computer enough and no need to unplug ?

Switch off is ok! But if you leave for a longer period I would take out the powerplug from the Wall as well, just to be 100% sure.

[Daffy D]

Don't forget the phone plug

Daffy

[Crossy]

When I am not using the computer, is it necessary to take the plug of the computer out of the socket, to be perfectly safe ? Or is just turning off the UPS and computer enough and no need to unplug ?

Switch off is ok! But if you leave for a longer period I would take out the powerplug from the Wall as well, just to be 100% sure.

Yep, I'll go along with that.

As a rider, if you have a UPS that you intend leaving powered off for a LONG time (months), get someone to plug it in an turn on every couple of months for 24 hours to prevent battery problems caused by deep discharge.

That said, my machines (5) run 24/365, rarely powered down, only unplugged when in bits for surgery

[astral]

That said, my machines (5) run 24/365, rarely powered down, only unplugged when in bits for surgery

Is that in the UK or Thailand??

Life in Thailand is more precarious.

I lost a cd player once, through a spike on the mains power.

Daffy makes a very good point about the phone line.

Another source of computer killing spikes, especially in thunderstorms.

[astral]

That said, my machines (5) run 24/365, rarely powered down, only unplugged when in bits for surgery

Is that in the UK or Thailand??

Life in Thailand is more precarious.

I lost a cd player once, through a spike on the mains power.

Daffy makes a very good point about the phone line.

Another source of computer killing spikes, especially in thunderstorms.

[stumonster]

as a rider rider - - you should have a UPS in Thailand.

That said my machines and router/modem stay plugged into the UPS and it plugged into the wall when I go away as I like to be able to wake them and access them when I am away from home.

[sbk]

Tell me about it! I lost a fax machine, dsl modem, desktop computer and the printer that was plugged into the desktop in a lightning strike that hit our neighbor's place.

I always unplug the UPS and phone line from the modem when I see lightning coming, unfortunately, that one just came out of the blue

If it is really close, I also unplug the microwave, big fridge and fax machine.

But no, if there is no stormy weather, I don't unplug.

[Guest Reimar]

I had the phone line plugged in the Surgeprotector of the UPS. So if I unplug the UPS the phone line is unplugged as well! And for the other phone lines I using extra Surgeprotector! That's improtand in Thailand!

[Crossy]

That said, my machines (5) run 24/365, rarely powered down, only unplugged when in bits for surgery

Is that in the UK or Thailand??

Yep in Thailand.

APC on-line UPS (Smart-UPS RT 2000VA RM) and a decent phone line surge arrestor (from the UK) provide (hopefully) pretty good protection. UPS runs all the computers and the AV kit.

[Firefoxx]

So far I've only lost a modem (a US Robotics 56k modem) to a lightning strike. Nothing else, and this is even though I pretty much leave every thing on 24/7, since I frequently remote access my computer even when I'm not at home. Of course I turn off the monitor, but that's about it. Only when I'm pretty sure I'll be far away from any net access will I actually shut things down. I only started using a UPS in the last few years, with two decades of not using one (yes, in Thailand).

Of course the power around my place doesn't fluctuate too much. I've seen PSUs on computers fried from bad power lines, and plenty of modems killed too. Just doesn't happen to me.

[Crossy]

Just doesn't happen to me.

Famous last words? Quick find some wood

My UPS cost the best part of 400 pounds, worth every penny

[Firefoxx]

Yep, might just be. Really luck of the draw, but some people get really unlucky. Now if only I could get lucky with my ADSL and get an ISP that actually delivers....

[JSixpack]

Daffy makes a very good point about the phone line.

Another source of computer killing spikes, especially in thunderstorms.

+1