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Just Reboot  - or

Rebooting is a Problem Resolution Shortcut

category: hardware, software

Computer advice for dummies? No, "just reboot" is sound, timesaving, and in some cases disaster saving advice for anyone. In fact, when something really weird happens, it's the computer savvy user who tends to get into the most trouble and waste the most time. Sophisticated fixes like expanding the size of virtual memory, tweaking the registry, or altering some application's .ini file are seldom necessary and are always dangerous. The dummies, on the other hand, will just give up in despair.

The best advice is this; if your system is stable (recently problem free), and you haven't just added hardware or software, 99 percent of any problems that are "really weird" will correct themselves when you reboot. Rebooting initializes everything, and drags in fresh copies of system software from your hard drive into memory. Nowadays, with power management and an up-to-date operating system, you can typically go for weeks without rebooting, so when the unexplainable happens, don't give it a second thought. Just drop that puppy and cross your fingers. If it won't shut down normally, hit the reset key, if you have one, and if you don't, just power off and give it 10 seconds or so to reset itself. You will probably be right back in business.

She said on 03.22.05 @ 01:56 PM CST