   why shutdown?
  What is the point of shutting down your computer properly?whay happens if you just press the power button every time?[edited by - jakarta on November 12, 2003 11:21:46 PM]
  For one, if the system is cacheing writes to the harddisk for some reason, they won't be written if you immediatly power down. Also if it is actualy writing to the disk, it can be an even bigger problem.Although, some hardware will actualy send the OS a "shutdown" command when you press the power button (and will actualy power down when you hold the button for a few seconds).Generaly, it's A Good Idea™Free Game:   Yet Another Falling Block Game [edited by - Andrew Russell on November 12, 2003 11:42:35 PM];  Modern OS''es tend to have a large number of files open at all times, they also tend to buffer and cache disk writes to speed things up.  There is also the possibilty a program you are running (not just the OS itself) has a file open for editing.The filesystem itself can also be in a state of being modified.When you shut down the computer all disk writes are commited and all files are closed.But if you just cut the power any files which are in the middle of having data written to them, or need data written to them are no longer in the expected state and are most likely corrupt.  The same goes with the filesystem itself, if it was being changed at the time it can become corrupted.In other words...If you just cut the power you loose stuff, and your computer doesn''t know whats good and whats not, so you can end up loosing even more stuff.  To make matters worse, there is a chance your computer will loose the stuff that tells it where it''s storing your stuff, which will make you loose all your stuff.So if you want to keep stuff, shutdown properly.  Loosing stuff is bad.   Drakonite[Insert Witty Signature Here] ;  When I want to shutdown, I just shuffle my feet on the carpet and grab the motherboard.  Then, when I want to start her up again, I call the manufacturer.    Sycophancy is a disease. ;quote:Original post by fisheyel83l  When I want to shutdown, I just shuffle my feet on the carpet and grab the motherboard.  Then, when I want to start her up again, I call the manufacturer.    Sycophancy is a disease.   nice My computer overheats somewhat often, and it has caused problems for me in the past.  (when it overheats it restarts, better than frying the chip but  still) ;In other words...If you just cut the power you loose stuff, and your computer doesn''t know whats good and whats not, so you can end up loosing even more stuff. To make matters worse, there is a chance your computer will loose the stuff that tells it where it''s storing your stuff, which will make you loose all your stuff.So if you want to keep stuff, shutdown properly. Loosing stuff is bad. What is it with not being able to spell LOSE? Loose <> Lose...GAAARGHHHH! ;  The registry gets saved when you shutdown. The system periodically updates a backup copy of the registry to the disk every hour or so (you can tell by hearing the computer grind every once in awhile for no reason), so if you just shutdown or drop power, the system will need to read from the backup file since it would be newer then the main file. There are safeguards in place so it might not be a problem, but I dont see why its a big deal to take the 5 seconds to shutdown.  I''d suggest doing it. ;quote:Original post by JoeyBlow2  ... but I dont see why its a big deal to take the 5 seconds to shutdown.  I''d suggest doing it.   Make that 1-2 minutes if you run win2k;quote:Original post by Jesper T  quote:Original post by JoeyBlow2   ... but I dont see why its a big deal to take the 5 seconds to shutdown.  I''d suggest doing it.   Make that 1-2 minutes if you run win2k I don''t know which Win2k you''re running. The Win2k I run takes about 5 seconds to shutdown. ;quote:Original post by Andrew Russell  For one, if the system is cacheing writes to the harddisk for some reason, they won''t be written if you immediatly power down. Also if it is actualy writing to the disk, it can be an even bigger problem.Although, some hardware will actualy send the OS a "shutdown" command when you press the power button (and will actualy power down when you hold the button for a few seconds).Generaly, it''s A Good Idea™Free Game:    Yet Another Falling Block Game [edited by - Andrew Russell on November 12, 2003 11:42:35 PM]We do that at school a lot! "Generaly, it''s A Good Idea™"Just like: When its ready™ (forums)   Toolbar: [  | My Journal | nMagic | My Profile ]"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man how to fish and he will eat for a life time."-Chinese Proverb