Computer on 24/7

[tigerlelly]

I like to run my spyware and anti-virus programmes overnight so that they don't slow up my computer during the day. This means my computer is on 24/7 (but not the monitor). Will this shorten the life of my pc or cause any other probs?
Thanks.

[Buenchico]

When I ran a railway station (which was staffed 24 hours per day) our PCs were booted up on the day after Boxing Day (when we returned from the two day break) and left switched on until the following Christmas Eve. It never seemed to do them any harm (and there's no reason why it should have done).

As long as they're kept properly cooled (by good ventilation and functioning fans) electrical components are probably more likely to 'wear out' quicker if they're subjected to frequent power surges through the PC being repeatedly turned on and off.

Chris

[smith134]

You can on your computer 24/7 even your monitor it will not harm your computer. Only problem you face that you have to pay more energy bill.

[DanAB]

the electricity bill for a computer can be as little as 10p a day, just depends on whats inside them.

only thing i would suggest is that once the computers have done their tasks you put them on energy saving mode, preferably turn the hard disks off as these are the components which are more prone to failure.

[squarebear]

From experience I have found that keeping the hard disks spinning rather than stopping and starting them reduces the risk of a crash.

[ChuckFickens]

Leaving it on 24/7 won't do it any harm but obviously will use electricity.

You don't need to run a scan everyday though, why not just leave it on one or two nights a week to run a full scan.

[johnpol78]

you can start the computer 24*7 its no harm in your computer.

but your electricity bill comes more so if you switched off and on the computer you can save the electricity bill.

one thing is very important if your computer is started always some tracks your computer and hack your data as net banking and many more documents.

so for to save this you can switched off the computer.