What Are The Hazards Of Improper PC ShutDown?
September 26th, 2013
On a very few occasions, my nephew or sister may just un-plug my PC if no one is using it, do I run the risk of hardware failure due too massive amounts of improper PC stoppage, or would it be just software related?
If anything it would be software related. If your PSU is any good you shouldn’t have any hardware issues.
-paroxysM^ replied: If anything it would be software related. If your PSU is any good you shouldn't have any hardware issues.
So what would be the issues related to a BAD PSU an the topic at hand?
Anyone care to elaborate on this any further?
Improper shutdown means that your harddrives don’t finish closing files and don’t properly spin down. This can cause file corruption and corrupt sectors. There’s no reason not to take 3 seconds to click on Start->Shutdown when you’re done with the computer. That’s probably less time than it takes to reach around and unplug the power cord.
ajcis55 replied: Improper shutdown means that your harddrives don't finish closing files and don't properly spin down. This can cause file corruption and corrupt sectors. There's no reason not to take 3 seconds to click on Start->Shutdown when you're done with the computer. That's probably less time than it takes to reach around and unplug the power cord.
I am not saying I am a advocate of improperly shutting down a PC, I am just speaking in general.
Especially since my P.C. has been shutdown on numerous occasions improperly accidentally, so I just wanted to weight the risks.
Just always have a backup of everything important and that is all you can do.
That’s not even close to all you can do. Simple steps can certainly help mitigate many issues. IE: Shutting down properly, using compressed air to clean vents and fans of dust and hair from the case, unplugging the computer and/or using a proper surge protector during lighting storms, etc.
I can deal more or less with software corruption than hardware corruption.
Ask the guys from countries like maybe India.
They can get power failures frequently.
Apart from loosing something you might have open at the time, you should have very little dramas
yeah… I hate it when someone even LOOKS at my PC…. let alone touches it
I have had to deal with plenty of inproper shutting down… the best way (I have found, out of experience) is when you see someone doing it to one of your (or your households PC) is to punch them, tell them what they did wrong and then threaten them again not to that again… it works very well… first one was when I was 10… took down a 18 year old in one blow xD…. he was soft…. and not a computer guy…
But the most I have lost is 1000GB… my old HDD – when my lil’ sis dropped it
Still haven’t got it working again
I have had to deal with plenty of inproper shutting down... the best way (I have found, out of experience) is when you see someone doing it to one of your (or your households PC) is to punch them, tell them what they did wrong and then threaten them again not to that again
I shall have no argument with that whatsoever
Improper shutdown means that your harddrives don't finish closing files and don't properly spin down.
Spinning down has nothing to do with that.
I’ve had a few experiences with improper shutdown.
The motherboard or the power supply might get glitchy and the system won’t start at all.
I guess the main risk would be corrupt files.
Windows is always running programs / services in the background, and they are all closed correctly when the shutdown button is pressed. So I guess by not closing programs correctly could cause some kind of corruption.
You might be lucky in some cases and not corrupt anything, but you’d certainly kick yourself if one day you were unable to start up Windows, just because of a corrupted system file caused by an improper shutdown.
Also, some Windows Updates are installed when you click shutdown to. So you could be preventing the updates from installing by improper shutdowns.
I guess I would not mind so much, it’s just that on a few occasions I’ve told them that I set the timer on my PC so it shuts off automatically.
Here is a screeny of my shut down app.
Yet they un-plug my joint like it’s a toaster?
I figured I’d fish for a few more comments pertaining to this subject.
Also….. what are the dangers related to prematurely shutting down your USB drive correctly, or just unplugging it without using the usb device shutdown feature in windows?
Regarding USB devices… I guess the same applies – risk of corrupt files.
I dont think I have EVER used the “safe to disconnect usb device” feature or whatever its called… I just make sure that if I am using my USB device to … lets say… save a word document, I always make sure that my device has stopped flashing (saving/working) before I disconnect it.
Found some info on http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Safely-remove-devices-from-your-computer
Safely remove devices from your computer
If you unplug a storage device or removable drive from your computer while it's transferring or saving information, you might risk losing some information. Windows provides a way to help you safely remove such devices.
Most USB devices can safely be unplugged and removed. When unplugging storage devices, such as USB flash drives or external hard drives, make sure that the computer has finished saving any information to the device before removing it. If the device has a small light that shows when it's use, wait a few seconds after the light has finished flashing before unplugging it.
If you see the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the notification area, at the far right of the taskbar, you can use this as an indication that your devices have finished all operations in progress and are ready to be removed. If you don't see the Safely Remove Hardware icon, click the Show hidden icons button to display all icons in the notification area.
The notification area, at the far right of the taskbar
To safely remove a certain device, click the Safely Remove Hardware icon , and then, in the list of devices, click the device that you want to remove. Windows will display a notification telling you it's safe to remove the device.
Note:
You can also safely remove devices from the Computer folder. Click the Start button , click Computer, right-click the device you want to remove, and then click Eject.