Microsoft → Re: Why is it bad to reboot a Windows PC?

Yep. I have been telling you that you are wrong because you are wrong.

When I press the power button (briefly) the computer is supposed to ask me what to do. No computer has ever "asked me what to do". The computer is non responsive ...unless I push for longer and then it does a nasty shutdown.

Explain to me how my computer is supposed to shut down gracefully, and without my intervention, if I have the setting on "ask me what to do"? Also, explain to me why my computer (or any computer) has NEVER asked me what to do. "Ask me what to do" is the most logical of the choices one can make but it doesn't work. Are you saying that "ask me what to do" works on your XP Pro computer? If so, then tell me how to get it work on mine.

Hibernate also does NOT work on any of my computers running XP. Hibernate works ONLY if I use Power Chute software, and it will put the computer into hibernation (and bring it out), if there is a power outage. But Hibernate as part of Power Savings, withOUT Power Chute installed, and USB connection used between APC UPS and the computer, does NOT work on XP. It works on Vista but not XP.

Edit: Simple Google search found sites saying things like this:

"Selection of “Ask me what to do” will display the shut down menu when power button will be pressed. That’s all you need to make the shut down menu appear when power button is pressed in Windows XP. "

But I have NEVER gotten the shut down menu when the power button is briefly pressed and the computer is not hopelessly locked and that is on more than one computer running XP. Power Savings is slightly better in XP than in 98SE but still is not very good because Hibernation also doesn't work, some other settings don't work, and programs like nVidia drivers can completely mess up Power Savings.

You previously claimed to only use the power button if your computer is "locked up", and pretty obviously, nothing is going to work if your computer is locked up. So we can immediately ignore your complaints that the option doesn't do anything when the computer is not working.

Pretty obviously, if the computer is working, it does not shut down without intervention if you have configured it to ask for intervention. (I will cop to prior ignorance of the ask-me setting, which I think is not the default).

Pretty obviously, the computer cannot shut down gracefully, or even ask you about shutdown, if it has already crashed (=totally ungraceful shutdown) or locked up (=isn't responding to input).

As for whether 'ask me' works when not locked up, you don't have to take my word for it, Dcotor Olds has already said that it does.

As for why it never works on your computers - because your computers are different to everyone else's, and are plagued by weird problems that no-one else seems to experience.

As for hibernate - entirely different issue, though the previous comment applies as well.

This...

You have a warped sense of logic. The most logical action for a *Power* button is to turn on/off the device. Otherwise, why would laptops bother to also have a sleep button and the option to automatically sleep when the lid is closed?

If I wanted the OS to ask me questions, I'd use the illogical *Start* button to shutdown/sleep/whatever.

The "Ask me" option however does have one redeeming benefit. It allows you to cancel if the button was pressed in error, something the other options don't have.....

Good point!

Our current standard desktop has the front USB ports right beside the power button and some of my users have inadvertently hit the power button while removing a USB stick. Since there are several USB ports in a row, I advise them to use the one furthest from the power switch.

I've also turned off my laptop by accident simply wiping the dust off. Still, given the number of times that I deliberately want to turn it off versus the odd time I might inadvertently do so, I'd rather not get asked.

This is where we differ. I want as FULL control as possible (without that control driving me insane...example being some of the more current classic HIPS programs compared to Process Guard) so I would rarely choose "automatic" shutdown or or other options that bypasse my control. You want an easy/lazy solution which is fine (it what 95% of computer users want as they hate computers per se but like what they can do with one) but I don't want that.

I always choose 'ASK ME anytime for the OS, or browsers, or other programs such as my Antivirus Program when given that choice. (I won't use an Antivirus program that does not give me control and many today do not including Norton that folks here argue does but it doesn't). I don't even allow Process Guard to act automatically most of the time. I WANT it to ask to me EACH TIME how handle a program etc that wants to start on my computer. I don't trust AUTO crap as you NEVER know when setting something that way will come back to bite you really bad.

Again the gratuitous bad-mouthing of anyone who likes anything different to you. "Lazy". "They hate computers". Where does all this bitterness come from?

In any case, a power button that shuts down the computer without asking whether you really want to shut down the computer seems unlikely to "come back to bite you really bad". And it certainly doesn't prevent you from still using the on-screen method (Start->Shutdown etc.) when you want something different.

So, why rant? Why even bother to use the logical power button?

Use the illogical *Start* button to shutdown/sleep/whatever. Maybe you'd like the OS to ask "Are you sure?" followed by "Are you sure you're sure?".

Look who you are responding to..

Of course, most folks hate computers. My friends all say they do. They don't want to have to learn how to use them properly. I too don't want to have to learn about some things. I had to master my complicated remote control for my new Samsung HD Smart TV. (User's manual is over 300 pages). I don't want to have to also master the remote for a set top box from my cable company, and remember all the settings on both remotes, and be able to access on both in the dark...tiny buttons, etc. So, I don't have a set top box. I get the local broadcast channels (and a few others) via clear QAM (although that will end in the next year or so probably). I can use my Samsung remote.

I don't want to have to learn how to use a tiny cellphone that strips me of all privacy and may give me cancer. So, I don't buy a cellphone. I don't miss having one at all.

So, I don't understand why folks (outside of school or business) think they have to have a computer. They don't and if they have no interest in learning how to use one properly then why buy one? Spend your money on something you will enjoy more and find more interesting and not frustrating. I know quite a few folks here who choose not to have personal computers or cell phones that have internet access. They don't feel computers/internet accessible cellphones are essential to a happy life.

You have never done anything accidentally? There should always be checks and balances. Hence, a prudent user would put the computer on "ask me what to do" if they hit the power button. (I'm talking about desktops only. I don't have experience with laptops so they may be different). A prudent user would always use the Start button to shut down as that way you have choices. But then this entire discussion is rather silly because who shuts down a desktop? They generally should run 24/7/365 except when the owner is on a vacation/trip of more than a few days.