Computer Reset Button Question

[Kilgore Trout]

Let's say you need to restart your computer because a program you use has frozen and the only way to get things going again is to restart the computer.

Is it okay to just hit the reset button on the outside of the PC or will this do long term damage to the hard drive or to XP because XP didn't get the chance to shut down and restart the way it wanted to.

What I normally do is go to start - shut down computer -click restart icon; but I would prefer to just touch the reset button on the outside of the PC because it's quicker; but, I'm worried the computer is not happy with me restarting the machine that way because it's considered barbaric or something.

So, I'm just wondering if hitting the reset button on the PC is okay for restarting a PC or is it better to do the mousing and clicking around thing to do it.
Thanks for any input.

 

[WoodPeckr]

That's called a 'hard shutdown' and is frowned upon for claims it causes excess wear and tear to the HDD.
That said I've also done it many a time, especially with Win 98 which froze frequently due to poor memory management. Those 'hard shutdowns' caused no apparent harm and that 13½ yr old Pent 2, PC and OEM HDD still run BETTER than when it was new today....

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Okay, thanks for that feedback.
I'm going to start hitting the reset button more often.

 

[Anynym]

Two comments: first, a hard shutdown does not give all the programs a full opportunity to shut down cleanly. It is likely that some program will have some file open which doesn't get closed properly, and will require additional effort to recover.

Second: a hard shutdown is usually performed because the computer has stopped responding - some program has gone off somewhere and isn't allowing the system to act properly. In all likelihood, other programs are in a reasonably "stable" condition at that point, so the likelihood of actual damage is reduced.

 

[WoodPeckr]

I'm going to start hitting the reset button more often.

That is not the best option.
It's more of a last resort option when all else fails.

A system freeze is more a result of some app farking up which keeps the PC from responding, as Anynym noted.

On Windows it is better to find out what the offending app is and shut it down.
You can usually do this by right clicking on: bottom taskbar > task manager > Processes

Then look for the offending Process that is probably pegging CPU usage to 100% and shut it down by 'highlighting' it then right click on it and select 'end process'.
This will usually unfreeze your PC and return it back to normal without having to do a hard shutdown.

Get familiar with your task manager readings by right clicking on: taskbar > task manager > Performance.
When you are at idle doing nothing your performance should read: 0-2%.
When your PC freezes this reading will be pegged at 100%.
You then go to Processes to see which offending app is at 100% and shut it down.

Since learning this I very seldom have to do a hard shutdown anymore.....

Linux has a similar feature found in System Monitor that allows you to avoid doing a hard shutdown also.

 

[Asterix]

With windows I've done many a hard shut down with no apparent loss of information. Sometimes the damn thing pisses me off enough that I have to pull the plug. Faster most times oddly enough.

 

[larry]

With windows I've done many a hard shut down with no apparent loss of information. Sometimes the damn thing pisses me off enough that I have to pull the plug. Faster most times oddly enough.

all these anecdotal statements are funny. usually reset is fine. sometimes it won't be. the more you do it the worse your chances become. used-to-be, windows queued writes to hdd. now it looks like they write real quick. but your hdd has a cache too. if you're unlucky, you'll corrupt your fat. then you've got big trouble. i use shutdown/restart whenever i can. naturally, if the machine is "frozen" and even task manager won't come up, you don't have a choice.