Computer Rebooting - Proper Steps To Recover Data

Does your computer need rebooting? The science of proper computer rebooting is not that easy - you don’t just shut down your desktop or press the power button to turn off your laptop.

In this series, we’ll continue learning HOW TO FIX COMPUTER PROBLEMS FOR FREE.

To reboot your computer the right way - and to avoid serious operating system foulups and registry errors that could cause longer-term problems, read this article. I’ll provide 5 steps to properly rebooting any PC or Mac computer without damages to the OS.

Sometimes even a slow computer needs rebooting to speed it up! A secret trick.

Step 1. Close and save programs

This is a huge problem with PC computers - lack of proper rebooting scripts.

If your computer isn’t frozen, make sure to close and save all programs and data. When computers reboot, they automatically dump and delete short-term memory. This means that any Microsoft Word document that you were working on will be erased unless you SAVE IT.

Step 2. Make sure there are no running processes

If there are running processes like a hard drive defragment or iTunes is burning a CD for you in the CD drive, these things could be terminated and cause damage to both the software program itself as well as any files associated with them.

Check and see what processes are still running on your laptop. Do a Ctrl-Alt-Delete and look at the services that are hogging processor power. Any open programs? Close them. Any running scripts? End them.

Step 3. Do a “soft reboot” through the Start Menu

i’m talking mostly to Windows PC users now, but the same general logic applies to Apple Mac users as well. Find the Start Menu Shutdown options, and click “Restart”.

This is what’s called a soft reboot. By doing this, your computer will be double safe and make registry and hard drive image backups to ensure that no data is lost and nothing is corrupted during the restart process.

Step 4. If that doesn’t work, do a hard computer reboot

This is when all else fails and your computer is frozen or a soft reboot “Restart” isn’t working. Find your power button, and hold it down. Do not let go! That’s important - hold it down until your monitor turns off (usually in 5-10 seconds).

Your computer has been forced to power down - what’s known as a hard PC reboot. This unfortunately will cause data loss and in the wrong circumstances, corrupt software and operating system files.

However, now your computer is off. You should let the hard drive and fans cool down for at least a minute before you turn the computer back on.

Step 5. Once your computer has restarted/rebooted

Do a thorough check of main programs that load on startup. Often these are the first to get nukked during messy rebooting procedures. Remember, proper rebooting eliminates the need to find computer repair parts!

The end. I hope that helps - remember that computer rebooting should be done carefully to prevent permanent PC damage! Good luck.