Applies to: Tablets, Mobiles & Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP (although if you’re still using Windows 7, Vista or XP, you shouldn’t be using them on the internet!)
Shutdown, an option I click on my computer every day, but do I actually know the difference between Shutdown, Sleep and Restart (other than the obvious)? Spoiler alert: I didn’t know, but now I do, and you can too.
The Problem:
Earlier this week I popped to my parents and used my Mum’s laptop to check the weather. Now I know some scientists will disagree with me, but the sun should be round. Not a strange oval shape…
However, on my Mum’s laptop, it looks more like the sun on the right (kind of a stretched oval) than the one on the left (a nice round sun).
The laptop is running Windows 10, not with the anniversary update.
‘Fixes’ I tried:
- I looked at the screen resolution, it was set right, so I changed it to the wrong one, and set it back again
This didn’t fix it - Turned off the computer (shutdown) and back on again
This didn’t fix it - Restarted the computer (using the restart option from the power menu on the start menu)
This fixed it!
Now, because I had no idea why restarting it worked, but turning it off and on again didn’t, I did a little bit of detective work…
Here is what I found:
Restart
Restart is a full clean system start, this is the same as turning your computer off and back on again when Fast Startup is OFF. This fully applies Windows updates and any other changes which require a restart. If you disconnect the power while it is restarting this can cause problems.
Tablets & Smartphones: This is when you press and hold the power button (in general) and tap on “Restart”
Sleep
The computer is still turned on, but only using a small amount of power. This will not apply any Windows updates but will mean when you next need your computer it will be up and running really quickly. It stores any open programs, documents and settings in memory. If you disconnect the power while it is in sleep mode it can cause problems.
Tablets & Smartphones: This is when you just tap the on/off button and the screen goes on / off instantly.
Fast Shutdown / Fast Startup (Windows 10, 8.1* & 8)
Often the default on Windows 10, 8.1 & 8. This is not a full shutdown, it is a combination of Shutdown & hibernation (kind of like sleep), which means some things are stored on the hard disk to help Windows start up quickly. It does not install (some) Windows updates. It does not start up Windows from a “Clean” start. This means some left over settings/problems might persist over multiple sessions.
You can disconnect the power when your PC has finished shutting down.
Shutdown / Startup (Windows 7, Vista, XP, Tablets & Smartphones. Windows 10, 8.1 with Fast Startup turned off)
This is essentially the same as the Restart option apart from the computer powers down, and it is safe to unplug and remove the power from the device once it is shut down. Everything is fully shut down and Windows or your operating system starts from a clean starting point. As I summed up in my “Have you turned it off and on again” post… It resets the system to a known, good initial state.
One last thing…
I have set my mum’s laptop to NOT use “Fast Startup”, this adds a few seconds onto the time it takes to load Windows, but it should stop strange things like this happening in the future.
[Update: blog post now published]… How-To: Turn off Fast Startup.
So many restart options, I do wonder why it is not simpler…
Mike =)
*It is called ‘Fast Boot’ in Windows 8.1 & 8
December 29, 2016 at 12:34 pm
I agree with Mike, why so many restart options ???
January 3, 2017 at 11:14 am
Just so many! It’s crazy!
Also I just learnt a new one today. On some versions of Android selecting “restart” doesn’t always close open programs. So I might have to come back to these posts and tweak that slightly!
🙂
October 12, 2016 at 6:33 pm
A quick scan through the handy little ‘intro’ book, there is no info there about anything else than Windows! I have MAC PC, and an Apple Air1 iiPad as well as variou kindle tablets, So am hoping your assistance covers these as well – do hope so, can you confirm, or have I misunderstood the aim of the “Inner Circle” – by the way I’m a bit ancient (94 going on 95!) so make allowances please!
Do hope all the help I might want, is avaiable, Best Regards John Crabbe
October 13, 2016 at 12:06 pm
Hi John
I am afraid we don’t cover MACs, but you can always ask a question and we (or someone else on here) might know or be able to find the answer. We just don’t have one in the office so we can’t test anything before giving advice.
We do cover help with tablets iPad and Android.
You can cancel your membership and get a full refund anytime in the first month, then cancel at any time after that (we don’t tie you into any contract). So give us a go for a couple of weeks and if we can’t help you enough with Mac questions then you haven’t lost any money if you cancel.
The best way to cancel is to give us a ring, contact details can be found here https://www.pcinnercircle.co.uk/index.php/new-start-here/contact-us/
I am so sorry if our information was not clear enough.
Thank you for getting in touch, just pop another comment on here if you have any questions you would like us to have a go at answering.
Mike