It's probably worth adding this here.
I've been using the BIOS start-up and scheduled shutdown method for a while now with good effect.
I might graduate to a VPS sometime but for now this serves me well.
See post #7942
http://www.trade2win.com/boards/for...t-trap-trades-discussion-993.html#post1437586
You will have to make a separate schedule to shut down mt4 a few minutes before the PC or use the latest v9 in which Spin has added some child-proofing for hard shutdowns of the platform.
I've used your idea at the moment (but not bios, i hibernate my pc with MT4 loaded already and in comes on when i schedule the calc.exe to wake from hibernation at 0615). But, when on holiday (or away) i would have to leave my pc on as well as the router wi-fi.
I have a Real-Time Energy Monitor at home and did some energy test. I found that whilst the pc is on (even with the laptop closed {change power settings to stay on when closed} and so the screen is off, I would be using around £20 a month (if not more depending on size and power consumption of pc/laptop). I was surprised how much the wi-fi internet router costs me every month if it was on all the time. I now shut it off after trading and off to work but, needs to stay on over night (just in case i dont wake up... which hasn't happened yet).
When away from home you can't monitor you pc remotely unless you have the necessary package or online subscription (another cost). In addition, its wear n tare damage to the pc being on all the time.
For me personally... I wake up at 0620... PC should be on by then (which it always has done to date, thanks to AlexM), check everything is ok, read msgs on T2W, after 0630, get ready for work, sort the kids out for school etc etc, get about a few min to check what going on around 0740 whilst having my cerial, make packed lunch for everyone which should be heading towards the 0800 time. At this point I would adjust SL to BE on IGIndex.... Now i need to leave home for my rounds of dropping the kids to school and head to work. For IGIndex I can terminate orders off my smartphone by 0830 (cant do this at work as it blocks IGIndex as its classed as a betting website). I would have closed my order at 0830 whilst i'm still in the car at the carpark at work.
Now the home pc running MT4 sometimes switches of and odd times it doesn't (and what a waste of electricity if it doesn't).
The cost and the hassle (for me at least) makes it worth having VPS. Especially with 1&1 servers (mentioned above already) who i know are reliable and i can monitor it using my smartphone anywhere in the world. For £20 a month.... its worth it.... i could prob'y do the tedious long backtests (or optimization) on there and leave it running on Alpari demo (which is what i use it for). Probably cost the same (or even less) in electrical cost but without the hassles (note, i have kids around with sticky and curious fingers too).
I'm going to test this out when i go live with SLM in July 2011 to monitor how the VPS is working for me, and then we will be on Hols for 2weeks at the end of July.
Will keep you posted on how that goes nearer to the time.
