I don't turn off my computers at night.* (Sometimes, _I_ don't shut
down at night.) Windows XP does maintenance-type stuff and some
chores at night, if I'm recharging.

I happen to use both Standby and Hibernation modes, anyways. I've
got two laptops, but desktop-PC users certainly benefit, too.

For my short breaks, the laptops are set so that XP will switch off
the monitor after 30 minutes user-inactivity**, but the hard drive
remains un-parked. (Those settings are usually under Power Options
in the Control Panel, when a PC's hardware supports them.)

For my long-term breaks (eg: going out, hobbying, recovering from
lost work, drinking), I close the lid, and that tells XP to go into
Standby mode. My laptops will sit for several hours in Standby mode
before their juice level gets low enough to trigger XP to switch to
Hibernation mode).***

I use Hibernation mode when I transport a laptop. (I don't like it
swinging around while the power is on -- even if I have an
expectation that the hard drive will remain parked.) My laptops can
sit for days in Hibernation mode until the battery becomes too weak
for boot up. (Warning: Don't try this at home!)

I think that both modes are very useful simply by virtue of
substantially shortening the interval that begins with pushing the
power button and ends with the system running almost all of the
applications and work that were in progress at the onset of
hibernation.

Cheers,

~ Mark

PS: I realize that the statistics in this post may vary from other
users'; nobody needs to post their statistics for my benefit.

------------------------
* My computers usually stay on continually knocking on wood as
much as possible; they both eventually need to be turned off
secondary to instability or user error or because I'm experiencing a
premonition. Even in the absence of user error, I believe that
Windows XP will eventually lose it beyond recovery. (I realize that
unsolicited opinions may vary; nobody needs to post theirs for my
benefit, but if you can't help yourself then please e-mail it to
me.) One laptop's gone almost as far as 144 hours before
functionality became too abnormal, while the other has never
survived 72 hours.

**One of my hobbies

***Due to the crappy nature of laptop batteries in general, my
computers wouldn't last more than a few hours away from the juice in
the absence of Standby and Hibernation modes.


end of my post


The following snip from a post in this thread by Wesley Vogel gives
more definition.

...
Standby is a state in which your monitor and hard disks turn off,
so that your computer uses less power. When you want to use the
computer again, it comes out of standby quickly, and your desktop
is restored exactly as you left it. Use standby to save power when
you will be away from the computer for a short time while working.
Because Standby does not save your desktop state to disk, a power
failure while on Standby can cause you to lose unsaved
information.

Hibernation is a state in which your computer shuts down to save
power but first saves everything in memory on your hard disk. When
you restart the computer, your desktop is restored exactly as you
left it. Use hibernation to save power when you will be away from
the computer for an extended time while working.
...