PC Tips: Many times, while shutting down the computer in a hurry, we press the shutdown or restart button, but do you know that this small mistake of yours can have a big impact on the performance of the PC? Not choosing the right option at the right time can cause the system to slow down, hang and updates may not be installed properly. Therefore, it is important to understand what is the difference between shutdown and restart and when is the right button to press.
What does shutdown do to your PC?
When you shut down the PC, the system shuts down completely. All apps, background processes and hardware components stop getting power supply. However, nowadays operating systems like Windows have fast startup feature in which the PC does not start completely fresh. This means that some system files remain the same the next time you restart, which can sometimes cause old problems to persist.
Why is restart considered more effective?
Upon restarting the PC refreshes itself completely. All background processes are closed, RAM is cleared and system files are reloaded. This is the reason why when the PC is running slow, the internet is not working properly or any software is stuck, then it is advisable to restart it first. It can fix minor software bugs immediately.
When is shutdown the right option?
If you are not going to use the PC for a long time, like overnight or for a few days, then it is better to shut it down. This reduces power consumption and also provides rest to the hardware. Shutdown is especially important for laptop users when the battery is low and there is no provision for charging.
Under what circumstances is restart necessary?
After installing Windows updates, during driver updates or when the system experiences sudden slowness, restarting is the best course of action. With this, the updates are fully implemented and the PC starts working smoothly again. Restarting once or twice a week keeps the performance better.
How to prevent PC from slowing down due to bad habits?
Relying on just shutting down every time or not restarting for months can be harmful to the PC. It would be better to take a decision after seeing the actual situation in daily use. Restart when needed and choose the option to shutdown during long breaks.
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