Restart Regularly

WindowsStar · 12 May 2010

I would like to discuss is Restarting your computer regularly:

Typically went I setup a machine for myself I do a clean install of the OS and then only install the applications I want to use. I make sure the machine is clean and works well double and triple test. I then make an image for fast recovery. After that I normally leave my machine on 24/7 never rebooting. The only time I reboot is to install Windows Updates that require reboots that is it.

I have found that my machine is very stable and I never have issues however Microsoft recommends (This is a quote from the MS website):

Restart your PC at least once a week, especially if you use it a lot. Restarting a PC is a good way to clear out its memory and ensure that any errant processes and services that started running get shut down.
Restarting closes all the software running on your PC—not only the programs you see running on the taskbar, but also dozens of services that might have been started by various programs and never stopped. Restarting can fix mysterious performance problems when the exact cause is hard to pinpoint.
If you keep so many programs, e‑mail messages, and websites open that you think restarting is a hassle, that's probably a sign you should restart your PC. The more things you have open and the longer you keep them running, the greater the chances your PC will bog down and eventually run low on memory.

What are your thoughts, opinions, experience, ideas, etc.??

acurasd · 12 May 2010

I feel the same way... I think that turning your computer on and off everyday does more harm then keeping your computer on all the time.

Windows is written in C++ and creates stacks so every once in a while you are going to want to reboot the system to clear out the RAM and the only way to do that is kill the electricity to the ram.

Dinesh · 12 May 2010

I use my pc for 2-3 hrs in a day. So I chose the 1st option. BTW, I like the last one. LOL.

WindowsStar · 12 May 2010

Dinesh said:

I use my pc for 2-3 hrs in a day. So I chose the 1st option. BTW, I like the last one. LOL.

Nice! I was going for a laugh.

tw33k · 12 May 2010

I only reboot when necessary. I put it to sleep each night otherwise it's always running.

Zoloft · 12 May 2010

Generally only when necessary for software updates and such, usually works out to be about once every week or two.

solarmystic · 12 May 2010

Only when important updates are pushed, or when doing program maintenance that requires it. Else this baby's on all day long.... When will MS push a new update model does doesn't require rebooting for kernel updates like some distros of Linux?

Bill2 · 12 May 2010

Dont see any major advantage either way. One can argue that all that turning on/off will expand/contract the circuit boards/ components that'll wear them out faster, the temps can be maintained more evenly if some power state is maintained (running/ sleep/ hibernate). But nowadays people change computers every 3-4 years anyway, so it may not matter.

I shutdown if i plan to away on the weekend or if there is a lightening storm in the area. Otherwise never, though updates and troubleshooting do force reboots occasionally.

zzz2496 · 12 May 2010

I don't reboot, even if an update needs a reboot, I don't reboot it unless I other things that needs a reboot. My average uptime is ~30 days now, back in XP, I can go up to 3 months or more, averaging 2.5 months...

zzz2496

strollin · 12 May 2010

I only reboot when forced to. I have machines in my work lab that go months without rebooting.

Restart Regularly

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Restart Regularly