Properly turning off the computer and monitor is a fairly an easy process, but if you don’t do it correctly it can cause damage to the hard drive and possible loss of needed information.

Why is it important to know the right way of turning off your computer?

  • It’s important to turn it off properly—not only to save energy, but also to ensure that your data is saved and to help keep your computer more secure.
  • Shutting down the computer and monitor within the operating system can help to maintain the program information as well as protect the computer hardware

To shut down computer in Windows Vista

You may shut down the computer by clicking on the arrow icon and choose Shut Down. The diagram below shows how you shut down your computer.

To put your computer in “Sleep” mode in Vista

Clicking on “Sleep” puts your computer in a low-power state, but doesn’t turn it off.

The main advantage is that it allows you to get back to work quickly, without having to wait for the computer to do a full reboot, which can take several minutes. Normally, pressing the computer’s power button “wakes it up” from Sleep mode, and is ready for action again within seconds.

To put your computer in “Sleep” mode, click on the arrow icon and choose Sleep (see the above image)