So, you’ve put in a hard day at the computer – time to put it away and join the “real” world. Did you know you have options as to how you turn off the computer? Depending on which method you use, you could greatly reduce the time it takes to turn on the computer next time.
Of course, one option is to simply shut down the computer. This closes all running programs, exits Windows and powers off the computer. When next you turn on the computer, it will power up and start Windows. Windows will then load all necessary drivers, plus any programs that are configured to run at startup. This by far is the slowest method.
Another option is to put the computer to sleep. Sleep mode is a power saving state of the system. When you put the computer to sleep, Windows saves all running programs and then powers down the computer. The system doesn’t completely turn off, but suspends operation, using about 10% of amount of power used by Windows when it’s running. Entering sleep mode can be equated to pausing a DVD – the system is ready to start at a moment’s notice – usually in just a few seconds.
A third option has the advantage of completely shutting down your computer, thus using no power, combined with a fast startup. This mode is called hibernate. When you hibernate, Windows will save all open documents, and then power down the system. However, before the power down, it will save the state of Windows in a temporary file. When the system next starts up, the previous state will be restored, thus eliminating the time-consuming process of loading drivers and startup programs.
So, which should you use? There’s rarely a reason to completely shut down the computer. If energy savings are a concern, then use hibernate. If quick startup is driving factor, then use sleep. If the computer is a portable system and it won’t be plugged in, keep in mind that sleep will continue to drain the battery. So if you’re going to be away from the system for some time, better to use hibernate.
Not all systems support sleep mode. Certain video cards are incompatible with sleep, thus you may not have that option available. You may have to enable hibernate for that option to be available. To enable Hibernate, open the Control Panel, and then select Power Options. Click the Hibernate tab and select Enable hibernation. But with this information, you can make a more intelligent when shutting down your computer; which mode combines the best – for you – combination of power savings and quick startup times.
This article is provided by Steve Smith, The Computer Psychic. All content is protected by applicable copyrights, and may not be reproduced without express consent of the author.
The information in this knowledge base article is provided “as-is” with no warranty, express or implied, as to the suitability or validity of its content. It is up to the reader of this article to determine if the steps outlined herein are appropriate for his or her use. As with all tasks on the computer, be sure to have a current backup of your data before proceeding.
