Abnormal shutdowns

[Richard Fangnail]

If you shutdown Windows abnormally it may not start right the next
time. Does that mean if there is a power failure, you might not be
able to boot the next time?

Isn't that poor design? Since abnormal shutdowns are going to happen
eventually.

I once had an abnormal shutdown and the next 3-4 times, it started and
worked normally. Then there was a startup problem. Could that have
been from the abnormal shutdown but a delayed reaction?

 

[Richard Urban]

Is it a poor design? Is it a poor design that a car crunches when it hits a
tree?

There are some things that you are supposed to try to prevent against.
Abnormal shutdowns and car crashes are among them.

I'm sure you know why the computer shut down abnormally. Do what you must to
protect against it, including using a UPS battery backup system.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[R. McCarty]

It depends, any abrupt shutdown prevents the disk drive from flushing
or writing it's data held in the Write Cache. It's the data corruption
that exists that may cause issues. If NTFS, it uses journaling so it can
complete data transactions not written to the drive. Just as dangerous
as outages/shutoffs are momentary brown outs. These can cause spikes
in the line voltage that can damage modems, ... A simple Surge type
protector isn't enough.

These days most everyone with a PC needs to have a UPS (Universal
Power Supply). You can now get a small unit in a Power Strip style
casing for ~$25.00. They connect via USB and provide a monitoring
app that will shut down the PC when battery power becomes low.
Usually, a UPS of that type can keep a PC/Monitor running for 6-10
Minutes.

 

[jonah]

If you shutdown Windows abnormally it may not start right the next
time. Does that mean if there is a power failure, you might not be
able to boot the next time?

Yes but generally Windows XP is pretty robust and can normally restart
OK you may lose any open docs though. You may be unlucky and have a
power failure at exactly the wrong moment in which case XP has many
ways of getting a working desktop back assuming all the hardware is
OK. Windows 95 & 98 used to be a fingers crossed job every time you
shut them down normally; XP is bullet proof by comparison.

Isn't that poor design? Since abnormal shutdowns are going to happen
eventually.

Oh FFS grow up, the warnings there to stop morons from switching their
PCs off by pulling the mains cord out then whining to some lawyer when
their own stupidity ****s up their PC and they want somebody else to
pay them for the loss of their priceless porn collection.

I once had an abnormal shutdown and the next 3-4 times, it started and
worked normally. Then there was a startup problem. Could that have
been from the abnormal shutdown but a delayed reaction?

What do you think? Take your time.

Jonah

 

[Plato]

If you shutdown Windows abnormally it may not start right the next
time. Does that mean if there is a power failure, you might not be
able to boot the next time?

Isn't that poor design? Since abnormal shutdowns are going to happen
eventually.

Yes, it's poor design.

 

[Bob I]

The system is designed to be quite robust, BUT, IF you try hard enough
and long enough you can hose the system. Is it a bad design? NO, not for
the intended purpose. Like they say, it is impossible to make anything
idiotproof, they are just too determined.

 

[Guest]

It's no biggie McC but the UPS is actually Uninteruptable Power Supply.