Leaving laptop on all the time (Lenovo)

beyondthegrave · 11-20-2007, 08:12 AM

Is it bad to leave your laptop on all the time? I basically don't turn it off or reboot for weeks at a time.

Recently I got a RAM upgrade from Best Buy, then when I did a reboot, it wouldn't restart. It just paused with a black screen.

Eventually, I let it stay off overnight, then tried turning it on, and it turned on successfully. Then whenever I try to do a restart (when it was already on), then it would get that black screen again. But leaving it off for at least 15-20 mins so far has been the recipe for starting up successfully.

I don't know whether this problem was caused by the RAM upgrade, or me always leaving my laptop on for so long. Since I hadn't rebooted for weeks before the RAM upgrade, it's entirely possible that it was my fault for not turning off, and isn't related to the RAM upgrade.

Btw, it's a low-end Lenovo C100 (cheapest one they have), that's about 2 years old.

Any opinions?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

**TheMatt** · 11-21-2007, 08:05 AM

I would start by removing the new RAM module that was installed.

Leaving a computer on all the time isn't bad - in fact some would even recommend leaving it on all the time as opposed to turning it off (to prevent heat cycling) although I generally recommend turning it off at night and on again in the morning as any electronic device presents a fire hazard.

beyondthegrave · 11-22-2007, 07:28 AM

Hmm, I've never removed RAM before. Does it just pull out upwards? Do I use bare hands, or need a screwdriver?

**sobeit** · 11-22-2007, 08:13 AM

see the following link for instructions on how to remove or add ram.

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs...41w7534_01.pdf

Does your computer sound like its turning on as normal, all lights blinking as normal. The only thing thats different is no screen? If so, then maybe the ram is not properly installed. Maybe you just need to give a little push of the ram into the slot to make sure its seated properly.

beyondthegrave · 11-23-2007, 11:11 AM

Yeah I think the RAM was loose. I removed and put it back and it worked. I didn't try another reboot though, I'm assuming it will work from now on.

Thanks.

**TheMatt** · 11-23-2007, 02:34 PM

Post back if you have any more problems with the laptop.

11-20-2007, 08:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
beyondthegrave Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 10 OS: Windows XP	Leaving laptop on all the time (Lenovo) Is it bad to leave your laptop on all the time? I basically don't turn it off or reboot for weeks at a time. Recently I got a RAM upgrade from Best Buy, then when I did a reboot, it wouldn't restart. It just paused with a black screen. Eventually, I let it stay off overnight, then tried turning it on, and it turned on successfully. Then whenever I try to do a restart (when it was already on), then it would get that black screen again. But leaving it off for at least 15-20 mins so far has been the recipe for starting up successfully. I don't know whether this problem was caused by the RAM upgrade, or me always leaving my laptop on for so long. Since I hadn't rebooted for weeks before the RAM upgrade, it's entirely possible that it was my fault for not turning off, and isn't related to the RAM upgrade. Btw, it's a low-end Lenovo C100 (cheapest one they have), that's about 2 years old. Any opinions? Thanks for any help you can offer.

11-21-2007, 08:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Leaving laptop on all the time (Lenovo) I would start by removing the new RAM module that was installed. Leaving a computer on all the time isn't bad - in fact some would even recommend leaving it on all the time as opposed to turning it off (to prevent heat cycling) although I generally recommend turning it off at night and on again in the morning as any electronic device presents a fire hazard. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

11-22-2007, 07:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
beyondthegrave Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 10 OS: Windows XP	Re: Leaving laptop on all the time (Lenovo) Hmm, I've never removed RAM before. Does it just pull out upwards? Do I use bare hands, or need a screwdriver?

11-22-2007, 08:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,433 OS: windows/linux	Re: Leaving laptop on all the time (Lenovo) see the following link for instructions on how to remove or add ram. ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs...41w7534_01.pdf Does your computer sound like its turning on as normal, all lights blinking as normal. The only thing thats different is no screen? If so, then maybe the ram is not properly installed. Maybe you just need to give a little push of the ram into the slot to make sure its seated properly.

11-23-2007, 11:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
beyondthegrave Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 10 OS: Windows XP	Re: Leaving laptop on all the time (Lenovo) Yeah I think the RAM was loose. I removed and put it back and it worked. I didn't try another reboot though, I'm assuming it will work from now on. Thanks.

11-23-2007, 02:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Leaving laptop on all the time (Lenovo) Post back if you have any more problems with the laptop. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides