The Most Simple Computer Tip: Turn It Off, Then Turn It Back On

The people that support a business’ information systems are widely renowned as nerds sitting in a basement office waiting for someone that matters to call them upstairs. Naturally, we think this characterization is at the very least inaccurate, but since our jobs are so technical, it can be hard to relate with clients all the time. Luckily for us, the most helpful tool we have in our repertoire is excruciatingly simple. To fix your computer problem, have you tried rebooting it? Turning it off and then back on again?

Is It as Simple as a Reboot?

To answer this, let’s consider what actions you take with your computer, or any other network attached electronic device. You start your computer, it loads programs, you download more programs, not considering just how much work goes into this. Most of the time, part of an action doesn’t function the way you’d expect it to. Activities run in the background. You keep using the device. Your system’s resources are being taxed by all these actions. Yet, you keep using the device. Ultimately, you’re working with a RAM-stuffed machine that is crawling along at a speed you don’t recognize. 

Then you reboot.

Suddenly, all those unnecessary processes stop. Once your machine is back up and running again, your RAM is clear, the processes that were dragging down the performance of the technology are no longer running. Your computer works as you expect it to.

You turned it off and you turned it back on, and now your computer is fixed. Simple, even funny in the right context. It’s no wonder that since this fixes a lot of problems that people think IT professionals are condescending nerds. 

On a side note: In no way will rebooting your computer fix a major issue with your computer. You can turn it off and on again, and if it still has a problem you likely have something else wrong. Then, go ahead and give the nerds a call.

For more great tips, call our IT professionals today at 703-359-9211, and stop back to the Macro Systems blog to learn more about IT.