Windows 7 supports several states for when you’re away from your computer, and they’re not all the same. Some methods help you shut down your computer completely, while others make it appear as if your PC is turned off, but it’s actually ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.
Do NOT Shut Down Your Computer! (Here's Why)
The key to shutting down your Windows 7 computer is in the Start menu. Click the Start button in Windows 7 and you will see, among other items, the Shut Down button in the lower right. There is a triangle next to that button; click the triangle to access the other shutdown options.
If you click the Shut Down button itself, without clicking the triangle and opening the other options, Windows 7 will end all current processes and turn the computer off completely. Normally, you would follow this procedure to turn off your work computer at the end of the day, or your home computer before you go to bed.
The Restart button restarts your computer (sometimes called a "warm boot" or "soft boot"). This means that it saves your information to the hard drive, turns your computer off for a short while, and then turns it back on. This procedure is most often used after troubleshooting a problem, adding a new program, or making a configuration change to Windows that requires a restart. A restart is often necessary in troubleshooting scenarios. In fact, whenever your PC does something unexpected, this should always be your first resort to troubleshooting the problem.
