Understanding the difference between “Restart” and “Shut Down” on your Windows computer is crucial for maintaining its performance and security. While shutting down might seem like a complete power-off, it often uses a feature called Fast Startup, which doesn’t fully reset your system. In contrast, restarting your computer ensures a fresh start by properly reloading the operating system. In this article, we’ll explain why it’s important to restart your computer regularly and how it can benefit your device’s health and efficiency.
Shut Down: When you select ‘Shut Down’ on a Windows computer, by default it uses a feature called Fast Startup which is more like putting your computer to sleep than actually shutting down. When you turn the computer on again, it starts faster but effectively continues from when you first Shut Down.
Restart: When you choose ‘Restart’, it allows the computer to perform a proper shutdown and start fresh – reloading the Windows operating system properly instead of just putting it to sleep. We recommend everyone Restart their computer at least weekly to allow the computer to install the latest updates. This will keep your computer current, improve security, and allow you to work more efficiently.
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