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Should I be using standby or hibernate?

A

archcommus

Diamond Member
I leave my computer on 24/7, and when I walk away from it I hit Switch User to prevent unauthorized usage but at the same time so my programs can keep running (if I'm downloading something, for example).

Should I be using something like standby or hibernation, though? Are either of them a nuissance? Could something like a download continue to run in either mode?
 
No, both of those are a low-power state. Your downloads, etc will not continue in that state. It's just faster to wake a sleeping computer rather than cold boot it.
 
Both of those basically turn the computer off. There's nothing you can do other than turn your monitor off, and turn off your hard drive if you desire.
 
So for the nights I'm not downloading, which mode would be preferable? Or is it really worth using either at all....
 
If you're concerned with saving power on the nights you're not downloading, just Suspend (sleep) the computer (if you want, that is). I leave mine running 24/7 even if it's idle.
 
Hibernate > stand-by. But remember it's not a true shutdown so you still need to reboot every once in a while.
 
Standby will resume a bit faster, but make sure you have a UPS because whatever is in memory will be lost if the power goes out.
 
Might as well just turn the darn thing off. Only takes a minute to boot back up most of the time these days.

I just turn off my monitor when I'm not using it for a while. Or you can at least go into the Power settings and set the monitor to go off after 10 minutes or something like that. And instead of doing Switch User, you could just lock the workstation.
 
Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Might as well just turn the darn thing off. Only takes a minute to boot back up most of the time these days.

I just turn off my monitor when I'm not using it for a while. Or you can at least go into the Power settings and set the monitor to go off after 10 minutes or something like that. And instead of doing Switch User, you could just lock the workstation.
Click to expand...
How is that done?
 
Windows Key + L doesn't "lock" it, it's just a shortcut for Switch User, like what I was already doing. Is "locking" it different?
 
I'm not sure about XP, but with all other NT versions when you lock it only that user or an administrator can unlock it.

They could reboot but then they'll still need to login after that.
 
hibernate actually shuts off the computer. standby only shuts down the HD, monitor, etc, and enters a very low power-usage state. standby comes back on faster, but obviously still uses a little power while it is on, and as someone mentioned, if the power goes out, you loose your session and whatever you were working on. hibernate is not effected by power loss since the computer turns off anyway.

i prefer standby for when i am staying home, hibernate for when i take my lappy on the road.
 
Originally posted by: archcommus
Windows Key + L doesn't "lock" it, it's just a shortcut for Switch User, like what I was already doing. Is "locking" it different?
Click to expand...

Oh right, it locks for me because I only have one user.
 
Hibernate and Standby are designed for and tested on laptop equipment. Desktop equipment is rarely tested in either mode. Thus, it is often incompatable. I'd guess that roughly 50% of desktops fail when coming out of hibernation/standby. This failure (often the video card) when you want to resume used to be the #1 post on forums (but I haven't seen it much in the last year). So try it once. If it works, be happy and you can use it. If it won't wake back up, forget about it.

I personally just shut the thing off if I'm leaving for long periods.
 
Originally posted by: archcommus
Windows Key + L doesn't "lock" it, it's just a shortcut for Switch User, like what I was already doing. Is "locking" it different?
Click to expand...

you have fast user switching on, and maybe that goofy winxp user menu thing, so you can't lock.
 
I only use hibernate on my laptop (heating + battery issues).

on my desktop, it's either off or on. my startup time is only about 15 - 20 seconds.
 
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