Some of the most intimidating challenges regarding computers are the very first ones – getting the thing out of the box, plugged in, and turned on. And until it becomes a habit, turning the machine off sometimes causes misgivings. It really is not that scary, but there are very exact ways to both get the machine going and get it stopped. Let’s look at the stop and go of computing (in reverse order, of course).

Blast Off – Starting Your Computer

Your computer is now out of the box and set up, and you are ready to jump into the world of computing. Make sure everything is plugged in properly. If the monitor has a separate on/off switch, turn the monitor on. Look for the PC’s power switch; it could be a button or switch on the front panel or it could be located on the rear of the CPU. Turn on your computer.

Starting the computer is also called booting or booting up the computer. This comes from the term, “Pulling yourself up by the bootstraps.”

Although computers are getting quieter, in most cases when you boot the computer you will hear whirring, clicking, and/or grinding noises. You may also see lines of text scroll very quickly across your computer screen. This is a normal process that the computer goes through to self-test of all of its components.

When the computer is satisfied that everything is working properly, it loads the operating system, and your computer screen fills with either the Windows or Mac screen, which is called the desktop.

Helpful Tips

To cut down on confusion, I thought I would share a few little tips with you. If you use a power strip or surge protector and nothing happens when you turn on your computer, check to see if there is power to the power strip or surge protector itself. Another word to the wise, if you hear noise but have no picture on the monitor, check your monitor’s brightness and contrast controls, usually located below the screen or on the right side. Here is one of the most common occurrences that really unnerve new computer users: Because a Windows computer looks at the floppy drive first, if you leave a disk in the floppy drive and reboot the computer, you will get an error message. The computer will usually say something like this:  “Non-system disk error, replace and press any key.” Just remove the floppy, press a key, and the booting process will continue properly. (Apple computers don’t have this problem.)

Splash Down -- Shutting Down Correctly

After a great session surfing the Internet, e-mailing to family and friends, or even using Word or Excel, you are ready to call it a day and turn off your computer. Computers should be as easy to operate as televisions or refrigerators, and maybe someday they will be. However, right now, there is a necessary set of sequences to follow to properly shut down your computer before you turn it off.

·   Save your work.

·   Close all programs.

Mac users:

·   Click on Special from the menu at the top of the screen.

·   Choose Shut Down.

Windows users:

·   Click on the Start button.

·   Make sure that Shut Down is chosen.

·   Click OK. A screen informs you the computer is shutting down.

Windows XP users:

·   Click on Start.

·   Click on Turn Off Computer.

·   Click on Turn Off.

In most cases, the computer then proceeds to turn itself off. If your computer does not shut down entirely, you can press the on/off button to turn it off yourself. If the monitor does not turn off automatically, turn it off as well. If you computer hangs at the Shutting Down screen, give it some time. After an hour or so if the shutdown screen is still showing, you can turn the computer off without any harm.

Another Helpful Tip

In the computer world, it seems little is completely straightforward. I thought you might like one last helpful tip – this one about shutting down. The normal motion of pressing the on-off button and quickly removing your finger does not work with some computers. Some computers require you to press the on-off button and hold it in for about five seconds before the computer turns off.  This is an added precaution to prevent the computer from being accidentally turned off.

Never press the on/off button to turn your computer off without going through the proper shutdown procedures. Doing so may harm some of the computer’s files. The only exception to this rule is if the computer completely freezes; in that case you may have no other alternative except to turn it off.

The Leave It On/ Turn It Off Controversy

There is a commonly asked question about how often to turn the computer on and off. Many users want to know if they should leave their computer on all the time or should turn it on and off as needed. Some people worry that turning your computer on and off several times a day causes unnecessary wear on the on-off switch, hard disk, and mechanical parts. Others worry about using unnecessary electricity by keeping the computer on all the time. The new energy-saving features on the current personal computers help reduce the power consumption, but both positions make a good argument.

Here's a good rule of thumb. If you know you will not be using the computer for twelve hours or more you might want to turn it off. Otherwise, leave it on.

Avoid turning your computer off and on constantly. If you do leave it on all the time, it's a good idea to turn it off once a week to let the computer reset itself. And, even with a good surge protector, it's added insurance to turn your computer off when there's a lightning storm in the area.

Develop Good On-Off Habits

Procedures for starting your computer and shutting it off are not complicated, but they are pretty exact and must be done in the right sequence. Right from the start, it is wise to develop good computer habits so why not begin with your on-off procedures? You will save yourself a lot of time and worry if you take care of the on-off basics in a very routine way.