Computer newbies: Do you have to use the UPS for computer
UPS
by shipjim - 8/23/08 7:37 AM In reply to: UPS Shutdown by tonyny77I also use the UPS on my rear projection HD TV as well as my wife's expensive computerized sewing machines (some cost $5000!) It has lots of uses not just computers.
thanks much
by gwingee - 8/23/08 2:21 PM In reply to: UPS Shutdown by tonyny77I don't think I even have the software CD...I don't remember it even being in the box...figures...
Check the UPS for USB or Serial port
by albizzia - 8/23/08 4:56 PM In reply to: thanks much by gwingeeSome of the older UPS units didn't include software or a connection for the computer, if the power failed they relied on the operator (that's you!) to manually shut down the computer before the batteries were drained.
Newer units usually include a 9 pin Serial port or a USB port to connect to the computer, and software to control the UPS and automatically perform an orderly shutdown, if needed, before the batteries give out. The software usually monitors the condition of the UPS and batteries, and can warn if battery replacement is needed.
Try looking on the UPS and seeing if it has a serial port, or a USB port (rectangular type A or square type B). If so, you may be able to download the software from the UPS company website, make a cable connection, and you're set.
BTW, the UPS I recently purchased has an unconventional USB port and special cable, it has a plug like a Ethernet port on one end and USB on the other. Go figure.
ups
by wawadave - 8/25/08 5:10 PM In reply to: UPS Shutdown by tonyny77i totally recomend running a ups. its way better that any surge protector.
On ups i have there is a button on the front when power goes out and stays out just hold it in for awhile it will beep(depends on type)let go it should be silent after that.
Word of Advice on UPS
by djFLWB - 8/23/08 5:03 AM In reply to: Do you have to use the UPS for computer by gwingeeFirst you don't have to use a UPS. It is highly recommended. Especially if you live in an area like California or Florida where you may experience power fluctuations (spikes and brown outs)regularly. The UPS will provide the power cleanly to your pc so you won't experience drops in power which would cause you to lose data while in mid process.
When buying a UPS add up the power requirements for all of the components you are planning to plug in. PC, Monitor, External Hard Drive etc. Double it and then use that to determine the size of the UPS. A bigger UPS will give you a longer running time on battery back up. It may be more expensive but it is worth it. (I live in Florida my UPS is my best friend)
Others have already adequately explained how to shut off the beeping.
Keep this in mind about a UPS. The UPS uses an electronic component call a Varistor. The Varistor acts to arrest the surges in power that you may expect. (Spikes). There are different types of varistors used. Varistors can and do wear out. A UPS will not last you forever. Generally just a few years. Check the mfg warranty they also should provide a recommended replacement period in their documentation.
The same goes for surge protectors. People need to be aware that their surge protectors also need to be replaced. If your surge protector is more than three years old you should replace it to be safe. It's like insurance. You may not ever use it, but when you need it you are glad you have it. The old surge protector can still be used as a multiple outlet power strip even if it no longer has surge protection capability.
It's a very good idea
by cadwellm - 8/23/08 8:37 AM In reply to: Do you have to use the UPS for computer by gwingeeI had a UPS on my computer but not on my TV. There was a thunderstorm with a lot of lightning which hit the transformer in my backyard.
Result when the electricity was turned on again?
Computer was fine
UPS was fried
So was the TV
Now they both have UPS. It's worth it!
Surge protectors and power conditioners
by mjd420nova - 8/23/08 9:04 AM In reply to: Do you have to use the UPS for computer by gwingeeI use a Tripplite UPS unit for a home server, cable modem and router. This serves two purposes. The first is to act as a power conditioner in the case of spikes on the line which for me is pretty often, I use an air compressor quite often and the neighbors have some pretty high current air conditioners and I'm on the end of the power line so any disturbance is magnified for me. The second reason is to provide the isolation that is needed to protect my equipment from lightning strikes that can really damage computing equipment. I have also added seperate lightning protectors for the incoming cable line and telephone lines as they can also be a source of incoming spikes that can provide a path into the home for high voltage transients. The battery backup function that provides power during an outage is just an added bonus that allows me a short time to conduct an orderly shutdown before the battery runs out should an extended outage occur. The important part in all this is that the UPS be properly grounded and not just through the wall outlet but a seperate large gauge wire directly to a ground source, be it a nearby water pipe or seperate ground stake outside the home. Using the wall outlet ground can provide a path within the home that can damage more electrical/electronic equipment that what would normally be affected by a simple transient event.
ups
by zothug - 8/23/08 10:17 AM In reply to: Do you have to use the UPS for computer by gwingeewhy should'nt you use ups.ups helps you to matain your data or your current work during power lost.most importantly its maintain the flow of electric current needed by your comp.lastly computer expert wouln'nt make a hardware thats not required by a comp.its better ho have a high ups voltage than a low voltage ups.:-)
no
by GENE8 - 8/23/08 10:53 AM In reply to: Do you have to use the UPS for computer by gwingeeYou don't have to use a UPS unless you're using your PC as a server on a network. A good surge protector is all you need for a typical desktop PC.
Back up the data
by GENE8 - 8/23/08 11:30 PM In reply to: That's questionable advice... by glenn30Backing up all your data on a daily or weekly basis is the best way to protect your data. The main purpose of a UPS or surge protector is to protect your computer, not your data. Backing up is the only way to really protect your data, regardless of what protection measures you're using for your PC. The best way to save important data and not risk losing it (because of a power surge) is to put it on an external drive, instead of on your internal drive, and then disconnect the external drive from the PC whenever you're not using it.
Well... yes and no...
by glenn30 - 8/24/08 7:36 AM In reply to: Back up the data by GENE8"The main purpose of a UPS or surge protector is to protect your computer, not your data."
Both are useful to protect the computer: acknowledged and agreed. However main purpose of UPS is not only to protect the computer but to allow time to shut down in the event of a power failure. This prevents loss of anything presently being worked on and lessens risk of system damage. That is my only point! A surge protector offers no protection other than from the surge... gives no opportunity for a normal shutdown in unexpected loss of power.
I know about regular backups and make it a regular practice which is somewhat unrelated to the subject of UPS and surge protectors under discussion.
Hope this helps.
Glenn
Apparently, You Haven't Seen What I've Seen..
by Grif Thomas
- 8/24/08 11:45 AM
In reply to: Back up the data by GENE8
In a corporate enterprise, UPS systems are extremely important for protecting data AND the computer....and most importantly, time and money. (It's not much different on home computers either, by the way.) Corporate systems and some home computers are working all the time and a power outage can be catastrophic. Too many times, I've seen power outages occur when large amounts of data were being copied to and from networked computers, or in some cases, simply being copied from the computer to a flash drive.. Although not always the case, on those machines where there was no UPS battery backup, the computer sometimes needed a a complete reformat and reinstall because of corrupted files which resulted from the quick removal of power.. I recently had to format a flash drive for a customer because the owner's husband flicked off the main circuit-breaker to the house. Instant power loss. Most of the files being copied over were corrupt on the flash drive and it also seemed to damage the ability to copy anything else correctly as well. The formatting of the flash drive helped the situation but a UPS system would have prevented such a thing from happening..
The point is, if your computer just sits there doing nothing, sure, a power loss "USUALLY" will cause no damage.. But removing power during copying/saving/pasting, etc. cause cause issue.. Although it's important to make backups of your important files.. that's not the point here. Forget about how to backup files.. It's the time and expense of recovering the system that is helped by using a UPS. (By the way, what happens when your backup "external drive" dies?? If your data is important, make a backup of the backup.. If you buy one external drive, buy two.. and make two backups.)
Hope this helps.
Grif
Having Backups Makes You Less Likely to Need an UPS?
by tonyny77 - 8/24/08 2:56 PM In reply to: Apparently, You Haven't Seen What I've Seen.. by Grif Thomas
As Grif and some others mentioned, backups are always essential, whether you've protected your system(s) with an UPS or not. But thinking you don't need an UPS because your system is saved is unwise, I feel.
Even in some of the “professional” IT organizations I've worked, I've seen people make way too many bad decisions. For one, re-using the same media over and over to do a new backup is plain foolish. If you over-write your previous backup with the new backup you just started, what do you do if your system goes belly-up right in the middle of your save? Your previous backup has already been over-written and the new backup that just failed didn't successfully finish either. Translation: You've got nothin’.
Okay, so let's use the external hard drive backup method. You might date your backups, perhaps, and keep several older versions too. That may sound great because if the last backup dies for any reason, you've still got the older saves. Right? No, not exactly. You've still got a "single point of failure" situation because any power line anomaly that can kill your system can do the same to your external hard drive, too. Thinking that only the last backup set will be damaged is wishful thinking of the highest order.
Therefore, the way I see it, at the VERY LEAST, someone concerned about protecting their systems should do one or both of the following:
• As Grif suggested, have two external drives and alternate use of them. If one backup dies, the other drive will still have one or more earlier saves.
• Put your system and your external hard drive(s) on an UPS to protect them from all but the worst power line problems.
However, note that there are some cautiously-minded people (such as another well-known CNet Forum moderator) who'd scowl at just about any backup solution that involves use of hard drives, external or otherwise. To a certain extent, I have to agree. For some peoples’ taste, a hard drive is entirely too volatile to be used as a backup medium. To suit some “backup fanatics” (I mean that in a complimentary way), several layers of redundancy as well as having your backups stored at multiple off-site locations are the only backup solutions they’d ever accept.
Furthermore, if you’ve got a carefully crafted malicious script on your system, it’s just ACHING for more hard drives and networked devices to be attached to your system just so your saves can be destroyed too ... just like an underwater croc waiting for a thirsty animal to come to the water’s edge for a drink.
Yes, I know that off-site backups and extra redundancy seems to be going way over-board for the average home computer enthusiast, but it all depends on how willing you are to risk your data ... your tax returns, irreplaceable photos, music, videos, important documents, and who knows what else.
Good luck!
multiple back sources
by mementh - 8/24/08 5:13 PM In reply to: Having Backups Makes You Less Likely to Need an UPS? by tonyny77I would recomend a multi source backup method.
I backup my main drive to a Secondary drive incase I ever need to suddenly do a reformat/reinstall. The first one is quite smaller (320 gigs and i use abotu 80 gigs) but then I have *EVERYTHING* backed up to mozy (I have alot of movies and tv shows i spent time ripping and since i have space..... ) so i have a 427 gig backup to mozy... and if i loose everything i know i can order DVD's of the big stuff and download the rest.
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