I have read a couple of posts that mention shutting power off there, but what is the reasoning behind that? Aren’t you negating the purpose of the surge protector when you turn your computer power off there?
Thanks
Quasi
I was once told the same thing about the surge protector as an on/off switch. The reasoning was quite simple. If you wear out/break the switch to a $14.00 surge protector, it’s easier to fix than if you break the switch inside your $50.00 power supply unit inside your computer. According to this person, the computer power switch tends to be the first thing that “breaks” on a computer. I don’t know if he was full of b.s. or not, but there may be a modicum of sensibility in this theory.
I worked in tech support for a while, and it’s not clear to me what this guy is talking about. Does he mean the mechanical switch in the front of the computer, the one on the back of the computer, or the power supply itself?
In any event, switching off your computer using the surge protector is capital-B bad. If you have Windows and you turn off your computer using any procedure that doesn’t involve clicking Start -> Shut Down -> Shut Down, you’re inviting trouble. (The exception being newer systems where the power button on the front of the computer actually initates this procedure.)
For one thing, it’s a good way to kill your hard drive, which is far worse than having your power supply go bad.
Also, if you only paid $14 for a surge protector, you wasted your money. All you bought yourself is a false sense of security.
-fh
Oh-oh! I have one of those cheapie surge protectors, so please recommend one that is better.
Thanks
Quasi
hazel-rah, what the heck are you talking about? shutting down the opearting system has nothing to do with where you switch of the power supply. If you can’t tell the difference you really shouldn’t be answering here.
As far as what switch you use: I have installed a general switch under my desk (same function as the surge protector switch or just unplugging the whole thing). The reason for this is convenience ans with one switch I shut off power to everything, computerm, monitor, printer, scanner, printer… In any case, yes, it is easier to replace a “surge protector” (outlet strip) or other external switch than the computer switch.
Quasi, the surge protector part is only needed while the computer is connected so, if the switch is off, then it is not needed. From that point of view you are better off if you use the switch on the strip or unplug it from the wall. This is always a good idea in thunderstorms.
While the computer is connected to the power line, the protector should be doing its job. If the varistor is zapped a number of times it will burn and become useless. Generally you can tell because they turn dark. But you do not even need to buy a new strip, you can get the surge protector simply on a plug. Plug the thing into the wall socket and then plug the cable into that.
Having the OS kill the power (on shutdown) is something that most new computers have but go back to the realm of 450 MHz and less and few had this function. You had to go to start> shutdown get to the 'it’s safe to turn off your computer now they either hit the power button on hte computer or power strip.
I used to shut down the computer w/ the powerstrip as I too was told that a power strip was cheaper to replace then the switch inside the computer.
Then I used to leave it running most of the time. And used the computer switch to shut it down.
Now I let the OS shut it down.
k2dave You realize that as long as your computer is plugged in it is not totally switched off as the circuitry which switches it on is powered. It is still a good idea to unplug the power and phone lines if there is a thunderstorm around and the wires are not buried.
Technically, you’re right. But to most people, especially those using Windows, “switching off the power” and “shutting down the operating system” is the same thing. Spritle, for example, mentioned using the surge protector as an on/off switch for a computer. This to me implies not “shutting down” via the operating system first before cutting power to the computer, and that is not a good idea.
Quasimodem, Ars Technica published a nice UPS and Surge Protection Guide a while back. It’s a good place to start.
-fh