Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Step by Step
Shutting Down a Windows 7 Computer
Follow these steps to shut down the computer completely and turn
its power off:
1
Click Start, and then click the Shut Down button.
2
If any programs have unsaved files, a prompt appears for them.
Respond to the prompt as needed.
Restarting a Windows 7 Computer
Follow these steps to restart the computer:
1
Click Start, and then click the arrow to the right of the Shut
Down button. A menu appears, as shown in Figure 5.3.
2
Click Restart.
3
If any programs have unsaved files, a prompt appears for them.
Respond to the prompt as needed.
Placing the.PC in.a Low-Power Mode
Windows supports two special modes that you can place the computer
in as an alternative to shutting down completely. In each of these modes,
when the computer resumes operation, the desktop is just as you left it,
including any open programs, windows, and files. This saves you time
because you don't have to wait as long for Windows to start up as you
normally would, and when it does start up, you don't have to reopen the
applications and windows you want to continue working with.
Sleep mode
is a low-power state. It keeps the RAM powered, but shuts
down all other components. RAM doesn't use much memory, so the
computer consumes very little power. On a desktop computer, that means
it uses less electricity. On a battery-powered computer, that means the
battery lasts much longer. Waking up from Sleep mode is very quick—
only a few seconds.
Hibernate mode
is a no-power-needed state. It
copies the contents of RAM to a reserved area on the hard drive, and
then shuts the power down completely. When the computer starts back
up again, instead of booting normally, it reads the stored data back into
memory, so you can pick up where you left off. Hibernate mode takes
more time to wake up from than Sleep mode does (about 30 seconds, on
the average), but that's less time than it would take to start the computer
from being completely shut down.
Sleep mode
A power-saving mode that keeps
RAM powered but turns off everything else to save
power.
Hibernate mode
A power-saving mode that
saves the contents of RAM to the hard drive and
then shuts down all power. When the computer
wakes up, it reads the saved data back into
RAM so the computer does not have to restart
completely.
