Owen - Posted - 12/16/2025:  07:59:57

... staying "logged in" all night. 

When I log-out each night I do a fake log-in with a phony password and then read the message "invalid information ... please try again, etc."   [Heck, sometimes I even read it aloud to my wife, or to nobody in particular.]  Fwiw, I don't "forget" or otherwise screw it up. 

However, two nights of the last three, when I come to log-in next morning, I'm already logged-in.   This seems to go in cycles .... a few times in a week or so, then months behaving properly.* IF I don't go through the fake log-in process, it happens a lot more frequently, though I've not noticed a pattern.  

I've brought this up  a few times in the past, and apparently nobody else's computer does this.

Is my computer possessed??

* similar to, but independent of, how my "subscription notifications" seem to [not] work. 

banjobob36 - Posted - 12/16/2025:  08:41:45

Meanwhile, how's the banjo practice coming along...eh?

Owen - Posted - 12/16/2025:  08:46:37

Kinda in a bit of a funk. 

Edit: However, I'm getting together with a friend [guitar and a bit of tenor banjo] this aft, so maybe there'll be some spare inspiration floating around. 

Edited by - Owen on 12/16/2025 08:52:34

KCJones - Posted - 12/16/2025:  09:00:16

Clear your cookies and cache.

Owen - Posted - 12/16/2025:  09:07:29

Thanks KC, I'll do that.   Why would it go in irregular cycles when the cookies/cache hasn't been cleared?    It seems to me [not "up" on computers, internet, etc.] that once it starts it should continue rather than seeming to self-correct itself for extended periods.

Edited by - Owen on 12/16/2025 09:11:14

Old Hickory - Posted - 12/16/2025:  09:09:41

Reboot your computer every once in a while. It's probably the best way to clear things out and free up memory that applications are holding on to. You'll appreciate the improved performance.

Why keep a computer on overnight?

Owen - Posted - 12/16/2025:  09:21:03

I don't keep it "on" overnight.  After I log-out of BHO and close other sites, I go to: "power >> shut down."    Periodically when go to "shut down" it will prompt me to "reboot"* and shut down"  OR "reboot* and restart."   

* I'm not sure it's reboot.... I'll have to wait until the next time, But whenever it gives me the prompt, I pick "___________ and shut down,"  [Like I said I'm no computer whiz.]

Edit: Just had a flashback (?) .... the ^^ word is "update"   .... "update and restart" OR "update and shut down."

Edited by - Owen on 12/16/2025 09:31:02

KCJones - Posted - 12/16/2025:  09:40:37

Shut down doesn't actually shut down anymore. It stores the state of your computer and the restores it when you turn it back on. They do this to make startup times faster. There's no actual closeout/shutdown, for that you have to restart.



To answer the other question, computers do weird things. Using them is basically a process of perpetual troubleshooting.

Microsoft pushes updates the 2nd Tuesday of every month. So after that happens, you will see 'update and...', to load those updates. 

Edited by - KCJones on 12/16/2025 09:42:08

pinenut - Posted - 12/16/2025:  09:42:57

Hi Owen,

1)  What operating system is being used?  (assuming Windows xx)

2)  Start by deleting the files in this folder "C:\Windows\Temp" and 'skip' the things it doesn't want to delete.

3)  Deleting cookies and browsing history and all that stuff is important maintenance too.