Restarting a computer?

Question

Wow, I feel like an IDIOT for asking now, but (and don't push it, I know a 13 year-old should know how to run a computer... heh heh) how can I possibly restart my computer? Like, the ctrl-alt-delete command isn't working and I have no way of accessing the start menu. I know not to unplug the computer (that would be a dumb move) so do I just restart it by hitting the off-button. I don't wanna completely wreck it. My dad always restarts it this way, but I think it's really harmful to the computer. Is it?

Yes.... -sigh- I'm 13 and I don't know this. I've never had to (my dad loves Windows, I love Apple... I've never had Vista problems to deal with :D).

I can't do it from the start menu because I'm dealing with the screen of death (as someone called it before in another one of my questions). Oh, that and the control, alt, delete isn't working because (this is what the computer's saying, not me) Windows is shut down to prevent damage. But the computer itself is still on. It's weird...

LOL, okay, I'm not the one who gave you a thumbs-down, though, dude. Don't worry- but I gave you a thumbs-up just to be a good sport. LOL!

I just restarted it. It's on safe-mode now, so I'm just going to wait 'til my dad gets home. Thanks to everyone for their help! ;P

Answer 1

Unplugging it and plugging it back in will not hurt it. It's no different than when you have a power failure.

If it's locked up anyway you will lose whatever files weren't saved. But that's the worst that will happen.

Answer 2

Im guessing you have an older windows...cuz thats the one that has issues like that (win98 and 95)
in case you do have xp, and you don't have access to the start menu there are a few ways to do it. in fact ill list some ways for old windows too.

Windows XP
either:
1. hit control shift escape to open up the task manager, select the processes tab on top, close the program called explorer (its probably not responding) then go to the applications tab, hit "new task" and type in "explorer" without the quotes of course. this will reboot explorer, and you will be able to access your start menu. alternetevly you can click shutdown and do that.

2. hit to bring up the run dialogue (run dialogue is equivelent to the "new task" thing that I talked about before so if you can't bring up the run dialogue, just do that. now with the computer asking for a command, type in "shutdown -s -t 10" without the quotes. wait for it and the machine will shut down. to abort a shut down, type in "shutdown -a"

Older Windows (e.g. win98 etc)

I think the script for shutting down goes something like this:
"RUNDLL USER.EXE,ExitWindows" again without the quotes
throw that into the run dialogue and run it.
no run dialogue? no problem. open notepad, paste the thing in there and save it as "shutdown.bat" in quotes this time.
now when you need to shut down, just hit run your batchfile.

hope that helped...
better still, if all that garbage doesnt work, buy a mac :D

Answer 3

if its a PC with Windows XP or Vista, go to the start button and click on restart. Also, it is not always best to just press the power button because there are programs and processes running that should be closed the right way. Holding down the power button will turn it off though (only do this if the computer is forzen or something)

Answer 4

You can push, sometimes you need to hold, the button. It's not best, but it works. Some computers have a soft push, where pushing it closes windows first, and shuts it down properly, even if you can't do it from the keyboard. You'll know which its doing once you do it!
It won't kill your computer, but figure out what's wrong that you can't shut it down. Some worms and virus' will turn start and task mgr. off, so sounds like you may have one.

Answer 5

*Sometimes* when the above does not work, ctrl-escape will bring up the menu. Just unplugging (or hitting the off-button) is harder on your computer, but sometimes nothing else will work. Expect it to spend a while doing a scan to check for damage when you start it up again.

Answer 6

no it is not, if u have xp by hitting the off button it will automatically turn off ur comp and it will save everything as if u hit the turn off button on the start menu, the sad thing is u have to click 2 times to turn off then turn on. ur 13 and dont know this? i'm 13 too...
ah... ty for the adition info, then the best thing u should do is save all ur files while u still can because it happened to be once and i had to format the whole hard drive and didn't get to save anything, so save stuff and install whole windows again.
and give me a thumb up again XD

Answer 7

Hey, Same happened to my comp. if you dont rember? Except when I was playing my game is when the screen came up. When I tryed to mess with it....well it only made it worse so I'd just wait till your dad gets home to help out....he is a computer wiss right? well w/e if he can't work it you might have to return it to change hardrives like mine @_@ but hopefully thats not the case.

Answer 8

go to start > shut down > restart

thats how to do it