Why You Should Restart Your Computer

Your computer screen just froze, Outlook crashed, and you’re waiting on an important email! OH NO!

The good news is that a handful of your daily technological frustrations (i.e. trouble connecting to the Internet, printer, email, frozen screens, crashing programs) may potentially be fixed without dialing support. So, save yourself some time and try restarting your computer first.

Here are some tips from the article Why You Should Restart Your Computer Before Freaking Out

When Should I Restart?

  • If your computer is running slow
  • If your computer is acting “weird”
  • Unexpected system freeze-ups
  • Driver or hardware error
  • Lagging Internet speeds
  • Connecting to the internet
  • After a software or patch update
  • After any type of software or hardware installation

The Benefits of Restarting your Computer

  1. Flushes RAM – RAM stands for Random Access Memory and is your computer’s main type of memory. It’s also known as volatile memory because it is constantly in flux. RAM handles short-term tasks and data. Therefore, when you restart your computer, you flush out all the random, unimportant, and temporary data bogging down your device.
  1. Speeds up Performance – Reboots are known to keep computers running quickly. By flushing the RAM, your computer can run a lot faster without all those temporary files piled onto your PC’s memory.
  1. Stops Memory Leaks – These occur when a program doesn’t close properly. Many programs borrow your computer’s RAM while open then return it when you close the program out. However, outdated, overused or glitch programs may end up forgetting to return that memory, resulting in memory leaks. Rebooting can help prevent memory leaks from occurring.
  1. Fixes Internet Connection – Sometimes computers lose their connection to the Internet and will need to be reset. The first plan of action is to restart your computer. Restarting will reset the connection.  However, please note that if restarting your computer doesn’t solve your connectivity issues, you may have to reboot your router or require further servicing.
  1. Bug Fixes – Computers that go without reboots for extended periods are prone to an assortment of irksome bugs and glitches. These annoyances include programs running at a slower pace than usual, unexpected system freeze-ups. Rebooting your computer will prevent the systems’ processors from becoming overloaded and provide them with ample time to recharge.
  2. Saves Time – Rebooting your computer is one of the quickest ways you can fix an error with your machine. By following our guide for when to restart, you can avoid sacrificing time out of your work day. You will also be saving time that could be potentially wasted on future device sluggishness or potential bugs.

Other Recommendations

  • Lock your computer every time you step out of your desk. (For Security Reasons)
  • Log off or sign out every time you are going home or out of the office. (Remember to save all your files before you do this).
  • Do not turn your computer off. (It will allow your computer to get software updates and patches while you’re away).
  • Reboot or restart your computer every other work week before you do anything. The computer will perform as shown or said above under “Benefits of Restarting Your Computer”.