Using Power Off to Shut Down

[JD]

I notice that in Power Options there is a setting for what to do when the
power button is touched, and the default is "Turn off computer."
Do I infer correctely that (unlike Windows 95/98) Windows XP can "safely" be
shut down by simply turning off the power?
That is, is this a controlled shutdown--not the equivalent of "pulling the
plug"?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I notice that in Power Options there is a setting for what to do when
the power button is touched, and the default is "Turn off computer."
Do I infer correctely that (unlike Windows 95/98) Windows XP can
"safely" be shut down by simply turning off the power?
That is, is this a controlled shutdown--not the equivalent of
"pulling the plug"?

If your system is new enough to allow this, yes.
When you press the power button (and if it is an electronic - not
mechanical - power switch) it can initiate a shutdown in Windows XP.

 

[JD]

I'm afraid that I don't understand the distinction between an "electronic"
and a "mechanical" power switch. How to tell which one I have?
BTW, the computer is about a year and a half old, and came with XP (SP1)
installed.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I notice that in Power Options there is a setting for what to do
when the power button is touched, and the default is "Turn off
computer." Do I infer correctely that (unlike Windows 95/98)
Windows XP can "safely" be shut down by simply turning off the
power?
That is, is this a controlled shutdown--not the equivalent of
"pulling the plug"?

If your system is new enough to allow this, yes.
When you press the power button (and if it is an electronic - not
mechanical - power switch) it can initiate a shutdown in Windows XP.

I'm afraid that I don't understand the distinction between an
"electronic" and a "mechanical" power switch. How to tell which one I
have?

BTW, the computer is about a year and a half old, and came with XP
(SP1) installed.

Being that new - likely an "electronic" switch.

An electronic switch in a computer power scheme usually consists of a wire
going from the power button to the motherboard, then when the button is
pressed, the motherboard receives a signal and tells the system what to do.

A "mechanical" switch in the computer is much like a light-switch. When on,
a circuit is actually closed - making the proper connections.. When off,
that connection is severed immediately.

 

[Stan Brown]

I'm afraid that I don't understand the distinction between an "electronic"
and a "mechanical" power switch. How to tell which one I have?

A mechanical power switch actually turns off the power; an
electronic one sends a signal to the motherboard (and the OS)
saying that you _want_ to turn off the power.

If your computer is 1.5 years old it's likely got an electronic
switch. One certain way to tell is to boot up but not be running
any programs. Then press the power switch. If the computer
_instantly_ shuts down, it's a mechanical switch; otherwise
electronic. (When you boot back up you may get a nagging message
about programs losing data. Don't worry, but let CHKDSK do its
thing.)

A less drastic test, if you have a tower or desktop unit, is to
look for a SECOND, smaller, power switch. If it exists, probably
it's the mechanical switch and the one you think of as "the" power
switch is the electronic one.

 

[JD]

Thanks to all respondents. It's interesting to learn that there is such a
convenient shutdown method in WinXP.