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Starting & Shutting Down Your Computer

Starting and shutting down your computer may sound like a trivial thing, but it is very important that it is shut down properly.  Especially since it has to remember certain settings and a cold shutdown can disrupt this process, resulting in errors.  The following text is assuming you are using a Windows 95/98/NT environment.  Most rules still apply even if you are using Windows 3.11 or a Macintosh computer.

Starting Your Computer

Power Surge Protector (Power Strip):  Typically, ALL of your plugs should be on a power surge strip.  This is a long bar with many outlets for plugs and a switch for turning them all on/off with that one switch.  The reason for this surge protector is twofold:  a) you can turn on/off all your computer components with just one switch rather than turning them all on/off one at a time.  This includes the tower to your computer; the monitor; the printer; and any other devices such as scanner, zip drive, external modem. etc.  b)  the second but most important reason is that this helps protect your computer from being damaged by sudden changes in the voltage of the electricity.  Even the slightest surge (increase) in electricity though the outlet/socket can fry out your computer, resulting in excessive and costly repairs and loss of all of the data stored on your computer, including installed software.  A power surge strip is well worth the $10-15 investment.  Lastly, this WILL NOT protect your computer during thunder/lightning storms.  If you are ever using the computer during a lightning storm, shut down the computer properly and remove the plug from the power strip from the outlet/socket immediately and do not plug it back in until the storm has passed.

Starting Your Computer (Boot Up):  Assuming that all the components of your computer system is plugged into one power surge protector/strip, (printer, computer tower, monitor, scanner, etc.), you should just turn the red switch on the power strip on and all of your computer components should start.  With some of the newer computers, you may also have to press the power on button on the computer tower itself.

Once all is turned on, be patient and wait for the music from the computer.  This music usually indicates you are all "booted up" and soon your software will finish loading to start working in any program or application.

Shutting Down Your Computer (Log Off): Never, as in never ever shut your computer down cold just by turning the switch on the surge off, or individually.  The ONLY exception to this rule, is sometimes when your computer locks up and will not allow you to shut down properly, then this is the only way to "reboot" or re-start.  Computers are not perfect, they do crash, they do "lock up" and sometimes you will have to shut it down cold to restart.  But other than that, here is the proper and mandatory way to shut your computer down safely:

• Click the START button in the lower left hand corner of the task bar

• Select the SHUT DOWN option

• A screen will then pop up with further options, select SHUT DOWN

• Click OK

• Wait for the black screen with the large red lettering to read "You may now safely shut off your computer".  Again, with some of the more modern, newer computers, the computer will shut off itself, but even still, be sure to turn the power off on the powerstrip as well.