Reboot Regularly

A reboot a week keeps the doctor away

 

Would you like to prevent most of your computer problems with a simple procedure that takes all of 3 minutes once a week?  Would you do it?  It’s as easy as rebooting your computer… in fact, it *IS* rebooting your computer.

To find out why rebooting your computer or other devices is so helpful, please read this article.

Why does rebooting your device make it run better?

RESETS YOUR MEMORY

Your computer allocates temporary memory, RAM, to store data for your apps.  Devices use volatile memory, like RAM, to store temporary data.  When you close the apps, your operating system reclaims those resources… at least in theory.  This clutter and any corruption of the data can lead to slowness and malfunction.  Clearing the RAM starts your apps running fresh.

 

COMPLETES SOFTWARE UPDATES

Your computer tries to automatically update itself when patches are released.  You should keep your eye on the update symbol ()on your taskbar and reboot your computer when you see it.  If you don’t notice it, your computer could be in a “partially updated” state.  This can easily lead to malfunction.  Rebooting your computer allows it to complete the update.

 

TERMINATES ROGUE PROGRAMS

Corrupted programs, or just programs that you are no longer using release their hold on resources when they are terminated.

 

RESETS OTHER RESOURCES

Your computer starts up many background processes as part of the operating system.  Rebooting your computer re-starts them as well.  This includes network connections, hardware drivers, Bluetooth connections… many of the items that frequently malfunction.

 

Restarting your computer sounds like such a cliché, but there’s a reason that it has… it works.  It works to resolve problems, but also to prevent them from happening.

 

 

 

REBOOTING VS WAKING UP

If your computer is configured to go to sleep when you stop using it, then it just copies your RAM information to the hard drive.  Waking it up copies the same data back to RAM.  This allows you to keep working from where you were.  This is *not* the same as rebooting, since it does not clean things up.

 

WHY DOES WINDOWS LEAVE RESOURCES AND FILES BEHIND?

It is not intentional.  Windows is written in millions of lines of code.  Add to that your apps and drivers, and you have a *lot* of code that can hide simple inconsistencies.

 

GIVE ME AN ANALOGY

Imagine the pipes in your home.  Over time they get clogged with waste, calcium buildup and other debris.   Now imagine you could push a button and clean them all out immediately at no cost.  That’s what rebooting can do for your computer.

 

SO, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Pick a specific time each week to reboot your computer, say Thursday at the end of the day.  You don’t have to wait around for it to reboot (not that it takes much time).  At the end of the day, just close all your programs, click Start > Power > Restart and walk away.  On Friday morning, just log in and start your work.

 

♦ IS THIS THE SAME AS RESETTING MY PC ♦

NO!  Resetting your computer reinstalls the operating system (and may or may not keep your files).  Do *not* reset your computer without speaking with HDF (or, if you are not a client, a trusted computer support person).

If you have questions about this, please let us know and we will be happy to assist you.
Take care,