Shutting Down And Restarting Computers: What's Changed - Microsoft Windows Vista Manual

14
Part I: Getting to Know Windows Vista

Shutting Down and Restarting Computers: What's Changed

As mentioned earlier, turning off a computer running Windows Vista puts the computer in a
low-power sleep state instead of completely powering down the computer. To completely
power down the computer, you must shut it down. Shutting down the computer ensures that
the power to the computer is turned off.
Because of possible confusion regarding the sleep state and the power-down state, be sure to
unplug a computer running Windows Vista before installing or connecting devices. To shut
down a computer running Windows Vista, use one of the following techniques:
Click Start, click the Options button to the right of the Power and Lock buttons, and
then click Shut Down.
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del. The red (Shut Down) Power button should be displayed in the
lower-right corner of the window. Click the Power button.
Caution
USB/non-FireWire devices without first ensuring that the computer is completely powered
down. If the computer's Power button is red and shows a shield with a line through the middle
of it, the Power button shuts the computer off and completely powers it down. If the com-
puter's Power button is amber and shows a shield with a line through the top of it, the Power
button turns off the computer and puts it in the low-power sleep state.
To shut down and then restart a computer running Windows Visa, you can use either of the
following techniques:
Click Start, click the Options button to the right of the Power and Lock buttons, and
then click Restart.
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del. Click the Options button to the right of the Power button, and then
click Restart.
A restart is sometimes required to complete the installation of programs and automatic
updates. A restart might also be required to finalize a system configuration change.
Do not install hardware inside a computer running Windows Vista or connect non-