Andy; You are correct.... I WOULD turn off my PC at least once a day IF the scanner problem was fixed. But if the techs at HP can't offer me a solution (disconnecting my scanner before shutting down my PC and hooking up my PC before firing up my PC is not a solution) then I think the reasonable course of action would be to leave the damn PC on 24/7.

As for your analogy .... "By the way, your computer will NOT turn green like the water in your pool if you turn it off!! NO; you are right again Andy.... but the analogy was that I wouldn't be able to enjoy my pool if it turned green because of saving on electricity .... and I wouldn't be able to enjoy my scanner by saving electricity by turning off the damn PC and being unable to locate the scanner again when I turned on my PC the next day .....