Why should I shut down my computer when I can just unplug it?

Question

I know it's a bit silly question but I never could find a satisfeid answer. I also didn't notice any diffrence after I turned back on. So an even better question: What's the diffrence between shutting down and unplugging the computer?

Answer 1

Shutting down allows the computer to correctly close all running processes and update the registry and temp files/cache and any data files attached to programs.

If the computer suddenly loses power and writing to the hard disk(s) is interrupted without resolving those files and the data is LOST--not recoverable, and any read/write operations in progress may not be complete or recoverable through normal means. There is no backup RAM function and all RAM will clear without power, this is to say also that some operations may become corrupted (damaged or even ruined) by the data lost). When a Windows OS performs "Scandisk" or whatever it may be called now it looks to see where data does not correlate anymore (an error) and can try to repair based on a checksum value (tells the computer if it's the same of not based on a mathematical formula) and sets to correct and errors. Sometimes the errors will be so large and off base the computer could report non-recoverable error or bad sectors. Sectors can be damaged during the mechanical phase of improper shutdown. They are not as likely and maybe not because of the bad shutdown as much as the age and condition of the drive and the improper shutdown can make them worse.

Years ago a patch was put out by Microsoft to delay shutdown under normal circumstances to prevent the caching from being interrupted on newer systems where the CPU bacame faster than the bus for the
system and sometimes data would be lost, or as if the CPU pulled the plug before the drive was done. This is the first thing you need to compare to.

When Windows 95 was introduced, the START button was included because the complexity of the OS was so much greater than that of Windows 3.1 and 3.1 only required an exit command and you could use MSDOS or continue with another shell, or just turn it off, which leaves many confused to this day. Windows evolved from 8 to 16-bit and then a 32-bit system over this time and acquired many new features such as Internet Explorer, digital video, Word and the Office family, all of which had root directories (folders) whether installed or not. Windows 95 also took 30-60 minutes to install after FDISK and FORMAT for at least C drive as the CD-ROM of the day were about 4-16X and you had to install CD-ROM files to use CDs of 95 (I don't think MSCDEX was standard for their bootdisks until 98 First Edition). Many were still installing by diskettes but 95 was so large that diskettes couldn't be reasonably used (2-300 MB worth?) and so the CD-ROM came of age.

To sum, a lot more junk to mess up and it's reliant on many other files too. That's why you try to do it correctly always if you can. If not, it gets reloaded or repaired more often. Vista, by itself takes several times the space of XP, and authentication adds to the potential for pains, so keeping your OS running happily is an even bigger deal! The OS can only repair so many things, no matter how sophisicated it is.

Answer 2

Here is an analogy I came up with recently when someone I know was doing this.

When you go to bed at night, would you rather go through a routine that winds you down and gets you ready for bed (brush teeth, put on PJs, wash up, turn off the lights, etc) or would you rather have someone punch your head and knock you out, every night?

I'm guessing you would prefer the first option. But what you are doing to your computer is just as bad as the second option. Your computer needs to be told to shut down, so it can wrap things up, and set system files the way they should be. If you unplug it, some files will be left in bad condition, and over time your operating system will start to fail. Eventually you will have so many corrupted files that you will have to reinstall your operating system, after wiping the hard drive completely clean. If you have never had to do this before, you must know that it is a serious pain in the ***.

Answer 3

Technically speaking:

It is actually the computer SYSTEM that is important to get shut down properly.

Simply turning the power off with the power switch (or like your way of just unplugging the computer) can cause serious FILESYSTEM damage. While the system is on, files are in use even if you aren't doing anything. Remember that there are many processes running in the background all the time. These processes are managing the system and keep a lot of files open. When the system's power is switched off, these files are not closed properly and may become corrupted. Depending on what files become damaged, the system might be rendered completely unusable! In any case, you'll have to go through a long filesystem check procedure on the next reboot.

- and now in SIMPLE layman's term of explanation -

you sure dont wanna go thru all those hell of a week (or even months) of troubles and damn being hazzled by your computer in exchange over few minutes waiting to shut it down properly, ohboy trust me.

Answer 4

Today's operating systems are incredibly complex. The shutdown process is there for a reason (sving system settings, applying patches.. etc), and should be used everytime. Personally, I never turn my computer off unless I'm upgrading hardware.

There have been instances where I've had to just shut the computer off. Usually because there was a problem, and the computer was unresponsive. The best way to do that is just hold the power button in until it shuts off.

I would never suggest just unplugging a running system.

Answer 5

If you unplug the computer while Windows is running, you run the risk of losing some files, they say. I have had to "pull the plug"
-- actually turn off the surge protector -- and have never had any damage to files. So I only do it in emergencies. I wouldn't do it as a steady habit. Now I turn off my computer every night but I hybernate the computer. The computer turns off but the desktop setting is stored on the hard drive. So when you start the computer, Windows comes up really fast. If you actually turn the computer off or pull the plug, upon turning it on you have to wait until all the drivers and programs are up before you have access to Windows. With hybernation all those programs and drivers are already there, and the boot up is so much faster.

Answer 6

Sometimes when you shut down "improperly" you lose some data, and possibly mess up some pathways. Your computer should act differently when you turn it on after unplugging it, it should have to do a scan on your files before it will load. If not, that would be a better question. If you shut down properly, when you re-boot it, it will instantly start loading your programs, without first having to scan files for errors. Check to see if this is the case on yours. Re-booting after you unplug it, look to see if it says "windows was shut down improperly, and must scan registry for errors" then it will auto-start a scan. If not, find out why. Also, without closing out programs and proper shut down you may lose any data that was input during that session. This includes downloads and documents, etc...

Answer 7

Windows uses buffering and cache to make your computer respond faster to you.

The volatile electronic memory is over 1,000,000 times faster than the hard disk drive in all cases. So the buffering and cache make a big difference in your computer performance.

This means that instead of writing data to the disk drive when it needs to, it saves it in volatile memory, which will never get written to the disk drive if you just power it down.

A shutdown will force windows to write all your data to the disk drive before it shuts off. This is one of the reasons it takes to shutdown, and why most people don't want to wait until it shuts down properly.

If you just turn it off, some of your data and/or program files, or operating system may become corrupt, and then you have to retype it at the very least. The worst case is, if an operating system file becomes corrupt, is that the computer will not boot up.

Answer 8

You're right, pulling the plug and shutting the computer down both have the same result: the computer will shut off.

However, there IS in fact a difference. You see, when you shut down the computer manually, the command itself tells the computer to shut down directly and you have the choice of closing open programs and saving files, etc. However, if you just pull the plug out, the computer will never know and it will just go dead off of whatever you were just doing. Choosing this way, you could risk losing memory you will not have wanted to lose.

Answer 9

Your computer is diffrent from your cell phone and your TV. It has two kinds of memory a hard drive and RAM. Everything that is saved on the computer is saved onto the hard drive. When you turn on your computer the OS is moved from the hard drive to RAM, and part of it onto a swap file on the hard drive. RAM is much faster to access than the hard drive which is why your computer does this. When your computer is not shut down properly it can not properly return the files that were in used in essentially the proper order to restart them. By unplugging your computer your computer will be unstable. Files can become missing and damaged, programs will soon not work as properly.

Answer 10

since I used the system of having a filing cabinet with folders full of papers for years before I got a computer,, I still think of the computer having the same system. So i think of it like this,, if I turn the computer on it's like going to the filing cabinet and getting an arm load of folders to work with,, everything i will need to work and I bring it to my desktop, ready to open and go to work. someone calls me to ask me about some contract from 5 yrs ago,, I go to that folder and open it,, get the info ,, etc. At the end of the day,, I have two choices,, either put all the folders back in the filing cabinet all in order so that I can find them tomorrow,, or just let things stay scattered all over the desktop, floor, etc. so when I go back to work I have to look for files for half the day before getting started again,, and take the chance that something gets mixed in with the wrong folder, etc.
You can shut down by pulling the plug,, but after time things won't get back where they belong,, and the computer will slow,, eventually the operating system will crash and you can start all over,, but many of your files will be lost forever.. but it's up to you.