presario vs. phoenix

[phobarbenix]

we are going away for most of august and we don't want to cool the house any more than necessary while the local temperature gets to triple digits....meaning we don't want to fry the computer.    just how much heat can the computer stand without damage to circuits and gizmos??

[JJ 3000]

Do you mean while they are running or while they're turned off?

[phobarbenix]

i will turn the 'puter off just the same as overnight.   the router and cable modem would still be on, though, unless an expert tells me that's the wrong thing to do.   and maybe even pull the plug out of the strip.   but, god, i'd hate to do all that.    it'd take me a year to figure how to turn everything back on.   i'm a helpless little old lady, and this machine is pretty scary sometimes.

[truenorth]

Normal ambient house temperature--including triple digits will not hurt your computer.If your desires are to minimize the household draw on the power grid (and coincidentally lower your power usage costs) then unplug all items that draw power and are not necessary. As an example if no one is home and your computer is not going to be used you can unplug your router and cable modem as well. There are methods to minimize the frustration and complication level with a small investment. Purchase a multi outlet power bar and plug in all devices associated with the computer to it.Then once you have shut down properly (IE: the computer) you can then turn the power bar off by it's own on/off switch and ALL your devices will then be turned off. When you want to reactivate them just turn the power bar back on and Bob's your uncle--your back in business. Other members may come forth and promote power surge security concerns as well. That is a discussion that may ensue.Something i do along those lines is all my devices are on a power bar. If thunderstorms are threatening or I'm to be away for a prolonged period i just unplug the power bar from it's wall outlet for the duration of the event. truenorth

[soybean]

i will turn the 'puter off just the same as overnight.   the router and cable modem would still be on, though, unless an expert tells me that's the wrong thing to do.   and maybe even pull the plug out of the strip.   but, god, i'd hate to do all that.    it'd take me a year to figure how to turn everything back on.   i'm a helpless little old lady, and this machine is pretty scary sometimes.

How can it be so difficult?  Just unplug the router and cable modem from the electrical outlet.  When you return, plug them back in.  Plug in the modem first and wait until the normal lights have lit on it's display panel. Then, plug in the router.  Finally, turn on your computer.

I agree with truenorth's suggestions about using a "multi outlet power bar".  It's an easy and efficient way to remove several devices from the power source at the same time.

[phobarbenix]

thank you everyone.   it all sounds easy enough.....even for me

[rthompson80819]

Phoenix in August.  It's not just the computer you need to worry about.  I assume you are going to set the AC for 80 to 90 degrees.  If you turn off the AC entirely you will have a lot of other problems.  Unplug the electronics, and you should be fine.

My parents used to live in the desert in Southern California with a climate a lot like Phoenix and half of their neighbors were Canadians who spent the summer's in Canada and the winters in California.  So during the summers the AC in their California home was turned off and most of them learned what would survive the summer temperatures and what wouldn't.  Among other things candles don't.  All of them took their computers with them to Canada.

A good surge protector power strip (and good  ones are not the $19.95 ones) is a minimum for a computer and the associated electronics, I prefer a good battery back up power strip, which can also turn off everything with one switch or a single unplug.