What's the difference between restart and shutting down completely then rebooting?

Answer 1

When your computer is completely off, and you turn it on, it first goes through POST (Power On System Test) and loads information from the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). This allows the computer to recognize the processor, memory, and any drives (hard drive, floppy, CD). It will then determine which drive has the information for booting your OS (operating system - usually Windows) and load it.

When you do a "restart" the computer does not redo the POST and BIOS. It begins at the point where it knows the location of the OS and reloads it.

Most of the time, a "restart" is all that is need to fix an issue with a PC or complete the installation of a new software, driver, etc. However, there are times when the computer needs to load the POST and BIOS (such as during the installation of a new hardware device). If that is the case, the instructions will clearly state to Shut Down and then repower the PC.

Answer 2

They are physically different. Reboot takes one action. The other takes two actions. The result is the same.

Add: dewcoons is good, but not completely correct. Maybe he talks about soft reboot (?). Each time my computer is rebooted it does the POST and bios and check everything (hardware). Opps, I am using Linux.

Answer 3

close down is thoroughly shutting down the computing gadget, so once you restart it, it has to conflict by using an entire initiate. Is it seen a chilly initiate. Restart purely shuts down maximum of it, yet leaves a number of it working, so it somewhat is not a "finished" initiate, and is named a heat initiate.

Answer 4

Nothing. Rebooting is just a little quicker, with less physical interaction from the user.

Answer 5

Technically nothing.