Hibernate vs. Shut Down?

Question

What is the difference between shutting down your computer & having it hibernate? The advantages & disadvantages to both? The programs still running while merely "hibrnating"?

Answer 1

Do you mean Hibernate and Standby?

Hibernate - Copies everything in RAM to your hard drive and then loads it all back into ram on boot. COMPLETE POWER OFF
- Saves Battery
- More Reliable

Standby - Turns off all power except the power to your ram. Allows it to stay in ram for a quick boot.
-Quicker Return


Reccomendation - Hibernate, you'll never lose ur data if power runs out. :-)

-------
JT

Answer 2

There is also Standby which I have used for the last month or so. It works but sometimes it freezes and I have to hold in the power button to turn it off. The best thing I think is to shut it down.

I've seen some of hibernate problems too in the past. It may be better now.

But it all depends on your lifestyle and work style on how to use these options that will make you productive and save you time and give you convenience. As long as you save your work before the laptop goes into hibernate or standby you should be OK.

Answer 3

When you hibernate your computer saves all the settings, such as what you have open and that sort of thing, and then powers down. When you shut down your computer it closes everything and then powers down. When you start your computer again, after hibernating, it will take a little longer than if you had sut it down, but everything will be the way it was when you went into hibernation. When you start your computer again after shutting it down, it will start slightly quicker than if you had hibernated, but anything you had open, and had not saved will be lost.

Answer 4

Hey,


When your computer goes into Hibernation it writes what is in memory to the hard drive and only uses 90% EPA power standards and (suppose to) boot(s) much faster.

Shutting down does just that. Turns off almost completely with very little power draw from the electric company.

Answer 5

hibernate is when ur computer saves what is currently being viewed on the screen, then shuts down. when u turn it back on, it will take less time to get back to where u were. its a great thing if u dont want to waste battery life on ur laptop, but if u dont care, i would say turn off computer is a much safer way to go. if not, y would a computer even have that option?

Answer 6

When your computer is set to hibernate it stores all of your running applications in memory then shuts off parts of the computer. when you wake the computer it draws from the memory and powers your CPU. It saves power but some software applications dont respond well I would just shut down.

Answer 7

Hibernating will not allow programs to fully integrate like a reboot/shut down will.