When do you shut down your computer, instead of log-off or lock it?
What follows are ChemIT's recommendations for your computer when you leave it for a short time or a long time. Obviously if you have special needs, you may need to adjust what you actually choose to do.
- Even though a computer that is turned off will save energy, it then cannot be backed up or updated.
- The principles below apply to any operating systems.
- Most of the specific instructions below are geared towards Windows computers, but similar capabilities are available on Macs, too.
Recommendation for temporarily leaving your computer (during your work day)
Save your work.
- This protects you from a power glitch turning off your computer.
- Also, saving your work ensures anyone needing to work on the computer doesn't have to guess if there is any unsaved work.
Lock your computer so others can't use it with your account.
- Set your computer to auto-lock after a set amount of inactivity.
- Lock your computer when you leave it by pressing the Windows key and the "L" key (Windows)
Note: The default setting on systems set up by ChemIT is to auto-lock a Windows computer after xx minutes and a MacOS computer after yy minutes.
Recommendation for leaving your computer for the night
Log off of your computer so its files can be backed up completely.and it can safely be rebooted as part of updating.
- Logging off requires that you have saved your work, thus:
- reduces the chance of a problem resulting from a power glitch and the like.
- ensures anyone needing to work on your computer doesn't have to guess if there is any unsaved work, especially if they must reboot it.
- Logging off also makes it
Recommendation for leaving your computer for more than one night, such as a weekend or holiday
Turn off your computer if you won't need to use your computer for more than one night. Save energy, and no shutdown issues if there is a power glitch.
Also, ensures anyone needing to work on the computer doesn't have to guess if there is any unsaved work.