Dell 4700 - hard boot vs. soft boot

[sf]

My last computer had a reset button, this one doesn't. I used the
reset button on my last one whenever ctrl/alt/del failed to soft boot
my computer.

Here is what Dell Chat tells me to do if ctrl/alt/del doesn't work:

Turn off the system from the power button. Remove the plug to the
power supply from the back off the system tower.Then hold the power
button on the tower down for 10 secs ( with the power cord removed).
Reconnect the power cord and then restart the system.This time do a
normal shutdown.

Fortunately, I haven't needed to do it yet... what a PITA!

What on earth was Dell thinking when they eliminated the reset
button???

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Because Windows XP is so stable, and uses the NTFS file system,
chances are highly remote that a restart button would even be necessary.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| My last computer had a reset button, this one doesn't. I used the
| reset button on my last one whenever ctrl/alt/del failed to soft boot
| my computer.
|
| Here is what Dell Chat tells me to do if ctrl/alt/del doesn't work:
|
| Turn off the system from the power button. Remove the plug to the
| power supply from the back off the system tower.Then hold the power
| button on the tower down for 10 secs ( with the power cord removed).
| Reconnect the power cord and then restart the system.This time do a
| normal shutdown.
|
| Fortunately, I haven't needed to do it yet... what a PITA!
|
| What on earth was Dell thinking when they eliminated the reset
| button???


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[sf]

Because Windows XP is so stable, and uses the NTFS file system,
chances are highly remote that a restart button would even be necessary.

Thanks, Carey. My computer will put your theory to the acid test
eventually, because I keep them 5 - 7 years.


sf

 

[Star Fleet Admiral Q]

Note: NT Operating Systems (NT 4.0, 2k and XP) don't use <ALT><CTL><DEL> to
restart the computer - this action brings up the "task manager" which does
have the option to "shutdown" the computer, where you have a choice of
"shutdown", "restart", "hibernate", etc depending on how your computer is
configured, but they are the same options as if you hit the <START><SHUT
DOWN> option on the program menu.

--

Star Fleet Admiral Q @ your Service!

http://www.google.com
Google is your "Friend"

 

[sf]

Note: NT Operating Systems (NT 4.0, 2k and XP) don't use <ALT><CTL><DEL> to
restart the computer - this action brings up the "task manager" which does
have the option to "shutdown" the computer, where you have a choice of
"shutdown", "restart", "hibernate", etc depending on how your computer is
configured, but they are the same options as if you hit the <START><SHUT
DOWN> option on the program menu.

I was thinking ahead to the day when my brand new computer is old and
slower. My last computer had a nasty habit of freezing up
occasionally and I couldn't use anything on screen to shut it down...
so I used the reset button to reboot. Are these new computers like an
IMac - hold in the start button for a few seconds to turn it off?

 

[glee]

I was thinking ahead to the day when my brand new computer is old and
slower. My last computer had a nasty habit of freezing up
occasionally and I couldn't use anything on screen to shut it down...
so I used the reset button to reboot. Are these new computers like an
IMac - hold in the start button for a few seconds to turn it off?

Yes, many or most are like that. The option is often available in the BIOS setup,
for how you want the button to act, but they are usually set to shut down the
computer after about 5 seconds of holding it in. That does not remove ALL power
from the components though, so if you need to open the case and work on anything,
you must follow the procedure Dell Support gave you.

 

[sf]

Yes, many or most are like that. The option is often available in the BIOS setup,
for how you want the button to act, but they are usually set to shut down the
computer after about 5 seconds of holding it in. That does not remove ALL power
from the components though, so if you need to open the case and work on anything,
you must follow the procedure Dell Support gave you.

You know me from another ng, so you know I wouldn't open my computer's
case for any reason - other than to blow out the dust bunnies. LOL!