is using ctrl-alt-del to shut down computer harmful?

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My mom-in-law recently got a new e-machine running Vista Premium. She was
just getting accustomed to XP, so some of the new Vista details can be
troubling for her. I try to teach her whenever I can. (She's 76 and never
used a computer before. She's taking to it verrrry slowly.)
ANYWAY, she told me the other day she couldn't find the start button to shut
down, so she just unplugged the power. (geesh.)
I told her never do that, showed her the new Windows symbol where the START
should be, went through the shut down process a few times. Then I showed her
how to use the Ctrl-alt-del and choose shutdown, just in case she got
confused again. About a week later she told me proudly that she's been
shutting down the computer properly now every time with the ctrl-alt-del.
I always thought that was a worst case scenario kind of shut down, but is
it? Is it harmful to let her use that as the normal shutdown? Now that she;s
learned it, it may be hard to un-learn.
 
Using the shutdown command from within the Task Manager (ctrl/alt/del) is
the same as going through the Start menu. No problems there!
 
Amanda, why you don't want to show her the Power button on the front of
case? She can use it freely. There is no any harm for OS or PC itself, if
you and she will shut it down with this big button, which you and she use to
start machine.
 
Andy I always thought that shutting down with the power button was harmful to
the computer. Doesn't windows need to have that few moments to stop processes
& put away files? I've always used the shut down command instead.
 
Amanda said:
Andy I always thought that shutting down with the power button was harmful
to
the computer. Doesn't windows need to have that few moments to stop
processes
& put away files? I've always used the shut down command instead.
Click to expand...

When I press the power button, Windows automatically goes into its shutdown
procedure.
If I hold it in for more than four seconds, however, power is cut.

Tom Lake
 
This lets any open files be saved and processes be shutdown the way
the computer thinks they should be.
When I press the power button, Windows automatically goes into its shutdown
procedure.
If I hold it in for more than four seconds, however, power is cut.

Tom Lake
Click to expand...
This can create issues for the pc. If a program is open and you do
this it could cause issues the next time it is opened. Also any
unsaved work is lost.
 
A quick press and release of the power button simply initiates Window's
proper shutdown procedure. It does no harm at all and in fact is exactly
the same as using the Start button or the Ctrl Alt Del procedure.

If you press and hold the button in for several seconds, you will force the
computer to shut down immediately, without doing the proper procedure. In
other words, press-and-hold is for those rare occasions when your computer
has crashed so hard it won't respond to anything.

Steve
 
well, this is what I thought, that the power button was not the way to go. I
did not know though, that the windows shut down would come on.....I do feel I
should use the shut down sequence though. I just wanted to be sure the
ctrl-alt-del was not harmful. Once my mother in law learns something, it's
tough to unlearn. Thanks!@
 
A quick press and release of the power button simply initiates Window's
proper shutdown procedure.
Click to expand...


No, not necessarily. It *may* do that or it may do something else. The
setting that controls it is in Control Panel | Power Options.
 
Hi, Amanda.

Good for mom-in-law!
I always thought that was a worst case scenario kind of shut down, but is
it? Is it harmful to let her use that as the normal shutdown?
Click to expand...

No harm, no foul. ;^}

While it's not the best way to shut down, it sure beats pulling the plug!

On the Ctrl+Alt+Del screen, the Shut Down icon has a small triangular arrow
just to the right. Clicking this gets a smaller version of the Start
button's menu, with Shut Down still at the bottom. It might be easier for
her to select this option, which produces the same graceful shut down as
using the Start button.

(I accidentally Shut Down my computer 3 times by testing while typing this
Reply. :>( So maybe I'm not the best guy to be answering this question.)

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail beta in Vista Ultimate x64)
 
Amanda, just try one time. Don't be afraid.
When you push this switch just for second, as you do this when you start the
mashine, Windows will make shut down process in same order as it does when
you click on "Start" > "Shutdown" buttons.
BUT, if you will push and hold the Power switch for four (4) seconds or
more, the BIOS will shut down your machine immediately. Don't do this now.
Most manual books from PC manufactors are giving this advise to use the
front button also. Sadly, nobody read their manuals...
Amanda, my mom is 78, and she use the Power switch (front button) always.
 
Well, OK ANdy. I checked in Contro Panel | Power options as another person
had suggested, and sure enough it does say it is set up to use the power
button. I promise I'll try it this evening when I shut down for the night. I
love shortcuts, and this sounds like a good one.....Thanks! (I think I'll let
mom-in-law do it her way)
 
Hi, Andy.

Thanks for that information! I didn't know that - and now I do. ;<)

And Thanks to Amanda and her mom-in-law for starting this conversation.

I probably will continue to shut down by pushing the Vista button onscreen,
after putting away my toys, because old habits die hard. But it's nice to
know that I CAN shut down by pushing the computer case's Power button if I
want to. ;<)

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail beta in Vista Ultimate x64)
 
OK, well I tried it myself & sure enough, it works beautifully. Just a quick
push on the power button, voila, a proper shutdown. I love to find new ways
to do things on the computer. It's so cool to me that there's usually more
than one way to accomplish things....thanks again to all who responded....who
knew this subject would spark so much discussion! :-)
 
Well, OK ANdy. I checked in Contro Panel | Power options as another person
had suggested, and sure enough it does say it is set up to use the power
button. I promise I'll try it this evening when I shut down for the night. I
love shortcuts, and this sounds like a good one.....Thanks! (I think I'll let
mom-in-law do it her way)
Click to expand...

Why do you shut your pc down at night? I have a bunch of pcs and never
turn them off. Some have been running non stop for over 3 years! Newer
pcs use very little electricity and if you just press the power button
on the monitor the total use is even less.
 
Hey, f/fgeorge, have you a light bulb in your household wich you did not
shut down for three years?
It is ridiculous give people advise to waste their money. This is your own
personal hobby, to throw away money from the window. Please, keep yor
personal attributes with you, buddy.
 
You are joking, buddy!
If not, your are the first MVP in my live, who did not know that....
Good luck so far...

P.S. your are second MVP, who I know.
;)
 
Hey, f/fgeorge, have you a light bulb in your household wich you did not
shut down for three years?
It is ridiculous give people advise to waste their money. This is your own
personal hobby, to throw away money from the window. Please, keep yor
personal attributes with you, buddy.
Click to expand...
Do you unplug your microwave after every use? It has a clock and uses
electricity! How about your clock radio, after you get up and do not
need it all day , do you unplug it? Why not, your pc uses little more
when in a resting state?
You are thinking old time pcs and the days of 286 and 386 pcs. I said
earlier, newer pcs use little more than a light bulb and there is MUCH
discussion about whether, since it is electronic and the heating and
cooling of soldered HAS been shown to cause failures, turning a pc on
and off is more dangerous than just leaving it run all the time.
ALOT of people have come to the conclusion that just leaving them run,
with the monitor off, is better in the long run. YOU can do what you
would like to do, I was questioning the wisdom of your choice and
trying to enlighten you as to some of todays thinking. But YOU are the
one sitting with the pc and it is YOUR choice whether to leave it on
or turn it off.
Do you really think most businesses go around and turn off their pcs
every night? No they do not, it causes them to fail! Is your pc any
less valuable to you then their pcs are to them?
 
f/fgeorge said:
Do you unplug your microwave after every use? It has a clock and uses
electricity! How about your clock radio, after you get up and do not
need it all day , do you unplug it? Why not, your pc uses little more
when in a resting state?
You are thinking old time pcs and the days of 286 and 386 pcs. I said
earlier, newer pcs use little more than a light bulb and there is MUCH
discussion about whether, since it is electronic and the heating and
cooling of soldered HAS been shown to cause failures, turning a pc on
and off is more dangerous than just leaving it run all the time.
ALOT of people have come to the conclusion that just leaving them run,
with the monitor off, is better in the long run. YOU can do what you
would like to do, I was questioning the wisdom of your choice and
trying to enlighten you as to some of todays thinking. But YOU are the
one sitting with the pc and it is YOUR choice whether to leave it on
or turn it off.
Do you really think most businesses go around and turn off their pcs
every night? No they do not, it causes them to fail! Is your pc any
less valuable to you then their pcs are to them?
Click to expand...


I agree, you are 100% correct that thermal shock is harmful.
 
Amanda said:
OK, well I tried it myself & sure enough, it works beautifully. Just a quick
push on the power button, voila, a proper shutdown. I love to find new ways
to do things on the computer. It's so cool to me that there's usually more
than one way to accomplish things....thanks again to all who responded....who
knew this subject would spark so much discussion! :-)
Click to expand...


You had the best method to begin with, (apart from not shutting it down
at all of course) and it's good that the power button can be made to
work for you but as Ken pointed out that does not apply to all machines
and I even know of cases where it "Should" apply but doesn't - never
assume that two machines will work the same even if they are "Similar".
 
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