Let your PC get some sleep

March 27, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

Q. When I am through using my desktop PC should I shut it down, put it to sleep or leave it on? I have been told by PC people at Hewlett Packard to shut the thing down when I get through using it and never put it to sleep. I often use it once a day, but sometimes I might go for a day or two without using it. What should I do?

A. Sleep is a power-saving state that saves all open documents and programs and allows the computer to quickly resume full-power operation in seconds when you want to start working again. Putting your computer to sleep is like pausing a DVD player, Microsoft’s engineers say; the computer immediately stops what it’s doing and is ready to start again when you want to resume working.

If it’s just for a few hours or even overnight, Microsoft says it’s usually more efficient to put your computer to sleep.

The company gives several advantages to choosing sleep over shutting down:

All your work, including information about the programs you were using, is automatically saved. When you awaken your machine from sleep, you don’t need to restart programs or reopen files as you would if you had shut down the computer.

Though Windows does use some power in sleep mode, it’s very small: about one-tenth as much as it would need if you left the computer running. A mobile PC typically uses 1 percent to 2 percent of battery power per hour in sleep mode.

When Windows is asleep, it can still download and install updates and perform other routine maintenance tasks. For this reason, some companies require employees to put their computers to sleep rather than shut them down when going home for the evening.

However, if you don’t plan to use your computer for several days or more, Microsoft says, you should shut it down.

As to whether you should leave it on to enhance the longevity of your computer, PCguide.com gives arguments for and against that philosophy. Learn more at tinyurl.com/geekspower.

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2011, The News & Observe (Raleigh, N.C.)