What exactly does a restart do?

[Kardon Coupé]

Dear All,

This question could generate some sarcastic responses, but I'm hoping for
real reasons.

I've been messing around with Domains, which gives me the option to Log-Off,
but doesn't appear to do the same as when I was on a none-domain machine,
with the log-off, it seems to do more (on a domained machine), but here is
my question. By Resetting the machine, what does the machine do or can do,
that a log-off doesn't allow?

More and more I'm having applications/games that don't require a restart,
but there is the odd one or two that does, and that sparked me to ask this
question.

Can anybody quash my dilemma? What exactly does a restart do? I'm wondering
if these applications/games may insert something into a start-up to run and
work on files they may normally be locked to the system, but doesn't a
log-off release these files too?

Regards
Paul.

 

[R. McCarty]

Logging in functions like an additional layer on top of the OS. Even
logged off - the system components are loaded/running. Certain items
such as Services may be dependant on others and must be started in
a specific way that can only be accomplished during a boot so that a
proper ordering ( Service Start modes 0 to 4 ) are handled.

 

[Brian A]

Short end of the stick:

When most applications are installed files are written to the Temp folder. These
files can not run their install routine for which they are intended while in Windows
and require a reboot. Could be a number of reasons from registering the file to
manipulating it into the registry.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[John John]

A logoff does not unload and reload the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SYSTEM
registry key from the %systemroot%\System32\Config\System. That only
happens when the computer is booted. Also, Services or drivers with a
start value of 0x0 are only loaded at startup time as are the User Mode
System Processes and Windows Executive services.

John