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Because power outages can occur at any time and they can cause havoc to your computer, it’s important to have a back up power option. Power outages can create situations where you lose data. In addition, if the computer is not shut down properly, the operating system and other software can be damaged or corrupted.
You need to have a back up power supply that will allow you to log off of any important sites such as online courses, save your data and power down your system properly. Using an uninterruptible power supply or UPS can provide enough batter power to shut down everything correctly.
A UPS is used in a manner very similar to that of a surge protector or power strip. It is plugged into a power outlet, and then computer components are plugged into the UPS. There are some UPS models that will provide both back up power, as well as surge protection.
The two main components that should be plugged into the UPS are the CPU and the monitor. Because the UPS system is designed to provide enough power for a proper shut down, the monitor needs to be protected and powered as well to allow the user to see that the computer is shutting down properly.
Additionally, some UPS units come with software that can automatically shut down your computer if you don’t happen to be using it at the time of a power outage. If you don’t always shut down your computer when you are not using it, this may be the best option.
