Yes they do and if it needs to reboot it does that and restores the position that was there before going into update. It's seamless
When you shut down and restart, the hard drive goes into operation, and being a mechanical device, restarting would cause wear as the worst case probability but I seriously doubt that will ever happen. On standby everything is just static. Usually I just get up and walk away during the day and it sleeps by itself. I shut everything down at night. These thought are from just an average user.
Yoy have enough worries Scott....leave the computer up and on...unless your going to be gone a few days or your having people over you want to keep off. An electrical storm is another time to shut it off. Otherwise your good to go. Once back on it will Update on its on. Mine stays on and rarley use it anyway, but it's ready for me when I do.
Sometimes I have to refresh my screen after leaving it up with programs open. I can't see a problem with leaving it on for 5 hours-- just save your work though.
Von.. Saving the work isn't a problem.. Its just if I close it, or leave it on in the sleep mode.. According to most on here,...…………………. leave it on in the sleep mode...…… is that right …??? Even if it for several hours like up to 6 or 7 hours unused....
I have forgotten I left my computer on plenty of times, it went into sleep mode. The next day I moved my mouse and everything was there just as I left it. So I don't think it's a problem to leave it on sleep mode. I guess what you would like to know by asking if it is 'right', will it damage your computer. No, it parks the hard drive so any movement (a book or wall falling on the PC will not damage it and the display is shut down so as not to burn images onto the screen similar to what a screensaver does.
Another personal preference answer; either let it go to sleep or shut it down. It doesn't make much difference at all. Like @Al Amoling , I leave my laptop on all the time and it goes to sleep after 15 minutes of inactivity. I reboot it every week or two.
I leave mine on and only had to change the battery once in I don't remember how many years. Actually forgot there was a switch.
OK for the laptop, but how about my desk top.. That is what I was asking about.. My desktop computer..
Thanks everyone for the mouse information... Really helpful... I will tell my wife to leave it on all the time and NOT close the switch..
I shut my Desktop off when retiring, but my Modem stays on constantly, because it's part of the Fiber Optics internet link.