Laptop travel - sleep or hibernate?

[Guest]

I took some time to look around the web, but couldn't find an answer there or
on the Vista help files to a very simple, straightforward question: is it
safe to travel with ones laptop without fully powering it down, i.e., in
sleep rather than hibernated/off? I always understood this to be highly NOT
recommended in XP, but with the improved sleep version for Vista, I wasn't
sure. What is more, the Vista help file says to only turn off when absolutely
necessary (e.g., memory addition), suggesting that sleep is ok for travel.

 

[Chris Blunt]

I took some time to look around the web, but couldn't find an answer there or
on the Vista help files to a very simple, straightforward question: is it
safe to travel with ones laptop without fully powering it down, i.e., in
sleep rather than hibernated/off? I always understood this to be highly NOT
recommended in XP, but with the improved sleep version for Vista, I wasn't
sure. What is more, the Vista help file says to only turn off when absolutely
necessary (e.g., memory addition), suggesting that sleep is ok for travel.

I would only ever use hibernate (or power off) if traveling. I don't
see any benefits of using sleep in that situation, only risks.

Chris

 

[David]

I took some time to look around the web, but couldn't find an answer there or
on the Vista help files to a very simple, straightforward question: is it
safe to travel with ones laptop without fully powering it down, i.e., in
sleep rather than hibernated/off? I always understood this to be highly NOT
recommended in XP, but with the improved sleep version for Vista, I wasn't
sure. What is more, the Vista help file says to only turn off when absolutely
necessary (e.g., memory addition), suggesting that sleep is ok for travel.

sleep will consume battery power, so if you are traveling and therefore
dont have the laptop plugged in, you want to hibernate or shut it off,
rather than put it to sleep.

Dave

 

[Richard G. Harper]

Always hibernate if the PC is being moved or will be unused for a period of
time.

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[Michael]

VISTA sleep mode WITH hybrid sleep enabled allows the battery to be depleted
without damage to the disk contents and will resume where it left off..
If you do not enable hybrid sleep than you have the same possibility of
damage as in XP.
In either case with sleep you will arrive after travel with a battery with
low charge and possibly a depleted battery. By physics you are allotted so
any deep discharges until the battery needs to be replaced.

My recommendation: If it is going to be unplugged for more than a couple of
hours, then hibernate.

Michael

 

[John]

Test both first to be sure you don't end up with a BSOD or frozen computer.

 

[Chris Blunt]

VISTA sleep mode WITH hybrid sleep enabled allows the battery to be depleted
without damage to the disk contents and will resume where it left off..
If you do not enable hybrid sleep than you have the same possibility of
damage as in XP.
In either case with sleep you will arrive after travel with a battery with
low charge and possibly a depleted battery. By physics you are allotted so
any deep discharges until the battery needs to be replaced.

That's an interesting comment. I've always tried to completely
discharge my battery before recharging it to avoid the "memory-effect"
from partly discharging. I know that's not so much of a problem now
with modern batteries, but I didn't realise completely discharging
could cause damage.

Still on this subject, how would people suggest storing a battery
that's not being used while a laptop is being used on mains power? Do
you fully charge it and then remove it from the laptop, or fully
discharge it first?

Chris

 

[Michael]

The older NiCad batteries did have the 'memory' effect and a full discharge
every once in a while would reset them. Newer Lithium Ion and Nickel Metal
Hydride (?) units don't show that effect (computers with them don't seem to
have a 'battery discharge' program anymore).

The effect of deep discharge of newer batteries is very much less than it
used to be, one reason is much better charging units that prevent heavy
currents and high heat. Draining the battery is something to be avoided but
not to panic about. Again modern power units shut down before damage should
occur. Running down a battery 'completely and then storing it for a long
time so that even the residual charge dissipates can result in a battery
that will no longer accept a charge. For that reason batteries should be
fully charged before being removed and stored. They should also be
used/charged at some interval (6 months or so would seem right to me).

The failure mode for many batteries is that one of the cells (in series)
begins to be unable to hold as much charge as the others. During discharge
it runs out before the others and effectvly 'inverts' because the current
running through it from the rest of the string sees a 'resistanc' or
negatinve voltage instead of the positive voltage boost it is supposed to
provide. At this point that cell will begin to overheat, also it may not be
able to accept a charge again if it has spent much time 'inverted'.

Michael

 

[dennis@home]

I took some time to look around the web, but couldn't find an answer there
or
on the Vista help files to a very simple, straightforward question: is it
safe to travel with ones laptop without fully powering it down, i.e., in
sleep rather than hibernated/off? I always understood this to be highly
NOT
recommended in XP, but with the improved sleep version for Vista, I wasn't
sure. What is more, the Vista help file says to only turn off when
absolutely
necessary (e.g., memory addition), suggesting that sleep is ok for travel.

If its something important on your laptop then..

save your work and back it up and keep the backup with you not the laptop (a
usb stick or two is good here)..
then either hibernate or shutdown depending on how long you want to wait for
start up.
sleep is OK if you are not putting the laptop in a planes hold or somewhere
like that but you don't want to take risks for nothing.

 

[AJ Babao]

if your vista powered laptop goes on Sleep mode or hybernate mode make sure
your laptop won't be experiencing nasty bumps or dings while moving around
because once you do.. hard disk failures have been known to happen. your
safest bet, just power the laptop off while moving that way you'll protect
your laptop from imminent damage. use the sleep and hybernate mode while in
your room or hotel. not while on transit.

 

[Guest]

I was just told always to shut my computer down, not use hibernate. If I was
able to be connected quicker to internet, I would not have problem shutting
down. Please let me know. Thank you. I am novice and do appreciate your
help. I keep asking this site does not allow me to ask questions but
obviously I can reply.