Will turning the computer on/off a lot through the PSU harm anything?

[Xpred]

I guess what I'm talking about is the PSU on/off switch in the back. When first building a computer, I always turn it on and off to check everything, make sure the fans are working and power is activated. Does constantly turning this on and off harm the power or any of the electronic components (shorten its life maybe?) in any way rather than using the regular way of turning it off (just using the "turning off" through your OS)?

I'm just saying turning the PSU on/off ONLY for checking hardware upgrades/first time building computers/etc.... I don't do it all the time as it's not my usual way of turning off computers. But when I install fans or build a brand new computer & such, I do it often to check there and here... wondering if that's alright. If this isn't the best way, what's the preferred method when upgrading hardware and stuff? I usually use the CASE SWITCH to turn the computer on... when I check the hardware/fans are okay, I then use back the PSU switch to turn it to OFF. What should I do instead?

 

[Bozono]

No. Edit. It is, majority of the time, the safest route when tinkering with the innards of your PC.
EDIT again. If still in dos/bios mode it is best to hit reset or power and then flip the switch; if in the OS, of course shut down. As below poster said, the one thing you can mess up cutting the power abruptly is the HD.

 

[Ricemarine]

Its best to turn it off through your OS first, then turning it off through the PSU...

You'll be damaging your hard drives that way if you just turn it off by the psu, and possibly windows installation for not saving properly.

 

[Xpred]

Hmm.. is this acceptable for just checking stuff for first-time build when you have NOTHING in your HD?

What about for just checking fan speeds/intake/exhaust/if they're working? I guess even if you have the OS installed, it's still best to just put everything in... wait until Windows loads, then turn off through Windows?

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: Xpred
Hmm.. is this acceptable for just checking stuff for first-time build when you have NOTHING in your HD?

What about for just checking fan speeds/intake/exhaust/if they're working? I guess even if you have the OS installed, it's still best to just put everything in... wait until Windows loads, then turn off through Windows?

Meh, if its fan speeds, its fine...

But yes, wait until windows fully loads, and then fully turn off through windows.

 

[Mellman]

if you just want to see that fans and what not work, disco the HD's power cable and anything else for that matter you don't want powering up

 

[Xpred]

How damaging is doing this without removing HD/other stuff that you don't powered on or just using the PSU switch? I've done this like all this time for about 6+ years usually when first building a PC and ONLY new hardware installation? I've done it for new and old hardware pieces.... could I just have possibly screwed myself over?

 

[Bozono]

Originally posted by: Xpred
How damaging is doing this without removing HD/other stuff that you don't powered on or just using the PSU switch? I've done this like all this time for about 6+ years usually when first building a PC and ONLY new hardware installation? I've done it for new and old hardware pieces.... could I just have possibly screwed myself over?

My rule of thumb... If Windows or Os of choice hasn't begun to load the kill the power anytime; if windows has begun to load, hit reset and then kill the power IMO. Always worked for me.