Question: Shutting down computer long term.

[chaska]

I'm going to be away from my computer for 6-10 months. Do I need to do anything to make sure I don't lose data, that it comes back to life when I get back, etc.

Thanks for your help, guys. I couldn't find anything relevant on the web.

[slampoet]

1. That kind of time you might consider backing it all up to DVD or Bluray burned data disk

[City of Mills]

2. Try not to store it somewhere moist

Just put it in a room or closet and don't worry about it, it should be fine. If there's anything life-changing you need to back up, burn a CD with the data, but having the machine off for an extended amount of time shouldn't bother it.

[Turbineguy]

3. Just make sure

you have a way to open the pod-bay door.

[notadmblnd]

4. As long as you shut it down and unplug it, it should be fine

I would expect to do some major updating when you start it back up in the future though. You might want to cover it in plastic too, so it doesn't get dusty.

[suston96]

5. You don't give much info about your equipment.....

But I would back everything up, preferably on an external drive.

[Rex]

6. Don't worry, your data won't start degrading anytime soon.

You can leave it off for as long as you want to, it will come back on like you left for 5 minutes to get some coffee.

[Canuckistanian]

7. Don't forget to take the spark plugs out and spray oil in the cylinders

It'll boot faster when you come back.

[MineralMan]

8. LOL!

Good advice. Also, block it up so the tires aren't under load.

[Edweird]

13. Also drain the gas out of the carb so it doesn't turn to varnish and block up the jets.

[Buzz Clik]

9. I tend not to throw away archaic old computers. I put them in the closet.

Every now and then I will need something on them. They tend to fire up even after months of sitting.

Keep it dry and dust free.

I'd also suggest backing up your data.

[Kennah]

19. I keep my computers out of the closet ...

... and a lot of elected GOPers appreciate it. Them things generate a lot of heat in confined spaces.

[Buzz Clik]

28. Not when they are turned off and in storage.

[sufrommich]

10. My parents unplug their computers for 4 months every

winter and leave them in an unheated house in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The start up every year without fail.

[JackintheGreen]

11. I see most advice agrees, but funnily enough

When I left my computer for a year it didn't work when I got back. Nobody had used it. It hadn't been struck by lightning or dropped from a great height. It was just kaput.

Actually it was just the video and audio cards that got fried somehow (no, it wasn't plugged in). But they just decided to go poof while I was gone.

So by all means, do everything that has been suggested. Certainly back up important data. But know it might all still go bonkers.

Good luck.

[chaska]

12. Thanks to you all. Got it. Put it up on blocks, change the oil....

Spark plugs. I should probably bring it in out of the weather too.

Hey, I'm a luddite. What can I say?

[Canuckistanian]

14. It'll be fine.

Just unplug it from power, networks, etc, in case of lightning or power surges. And cover it to protect from dust.

That's it.

[Occulus]

15. BACKUP.

Backup, backup, backup.

I would recommend one of two things.

Either:

A) Buy an internal or external hard drive larger than the data you wish to save, back up everything, and remove it to a safe location, or

B) Use the Carbonite online backup service to upload your data (using their secure options) to the offsite Carbonite servers.

www.carbonite.com

Either option will cost about the same amount, so you can pretty much take your pick, but the Carbonite service allows for lots of storage- and it's offsite, which is the only truly safe option.

Good luck!

[Rabblevox]

16. How old is your computer? One wild-card is the CMOS battery, which is always on...

The CMOS battery, on the mainboard, is usually rated for about 4 years. If it dies while you're gone, your computer will be unusable until you replace it (not a difficult or expensive job, btw).

Here's some info:
http://murfsgarage.cybertechhelp.com/cmos.htm

So if your computer is 3 years old or less, I'll bet my unemployment check that you'll be fine when you return. If it's older than that, I wouldn't bet my money or your data. (though I'd be happy to make a service call to replace your CMOS!)

And if your computer is more than 4 years old, it's probably time to start saving for a new one anyway. :)

[Sonoman]

17. Just try to get along and you might get an Early Release.

[Wilms]

18. I would send it a post card or two while you're away.

Some folks get upset when you don't.

[slackmaster]

20. Make TWO backup copies of any data that you really care about

CD, DVD, or an external hard drive.

[jtuck004]

21. Two backups, each in a separate, secure, and geographically

separated places.

You could also check our mozy or carbonite (two that come to mind) - do some google search for online backup. It can take days to get a whole hard drive backed up, but for $50 - $100 you can access it from anywhere.

The other backup is just DVD's you copy and store with someone.

Though your machine should be fine, it never hurts to have a secure (from prying eyes)backup.

[Agony]

22. If you are in a lightning prone area don't forget to unplug everything including the network cable

not just the power cord. Lightning probably would not damage your hard drive but it can easily take out your network port or motherboard. I have experienced the joys of lightning damage... Like many others have said already Backup, Backup ,Backup.

Cheers,
Agony

[Warpy]

23. You need to back up anything you don't want to lose

even when you're there and everything is working perfectly.

However, I've had puters stuffed into closets and hauled out when I needed a backup box 2 years later still work. The only thing that you might have to reset is the date and time, although I haven't had to.

[HopeHoops]

24. Depends on how old it is, but not entirely. Be sure to back everything up.

Get a 1TB drive (about $100) and copy EVERYTHING you can find onto it. Store that somewhere other than where the computer is.

As for the machine, just shut the damn thing off. I've had machines sit idle for five, six, or more years and still fire back up. The MAIN problem (more of one with laptops than desktops) is that the system board battery might go dead. It is one of those batteries that looks like a thick quarter. The worst part of that is that the BIOS will give you some weird beeping noises instead of booting the computer. You have to enter the date and time and hit SAVE and it will boot normally. I've got a 486, P90, and a bunch of 233/266ish machines running Win95/98SE that all still fire up even if I have to do the date/time thing. Like I said, laptops are much more likely to bitch at you about the system battery and I'll be damned if I can figure out where they hide the things in a laptop. They're easy to replace on a desktop motherboard.

[Dash87]

25. Computers are pretty damage resistant now. Short of dropping it,

it should be fine.

[TBF]

27. And don't spill your mochachino on it either - I learned that

an extended warranty with damage protection is a good buy ... at least I had $800 to put towards the new laptop.

We've had computers die and the technicians are still able to get the data off and install it on a back-up hard-drive (not too expensive). Better if you learn to back it all up as you go along though. We finally learned and bought a device that does that for only $100.

[The Straight Story]

26. Good luck, hope you get an early parole!

:evilgrin: