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Does your PC computer need to be rebooted? The science of proper computer reboot is not that easy - you don’t just press the power button to turn off your laptop.

To do computer rebooting the smart way - and to avoid serious operating system foulups and registry fuck-ups that could cause serious problems, read this article. I’ll provide 5 easy steps to properly reboot computers - any PC or Mac computer without damages to software.

Sometimes even a computer running slowly needs a good reboot to speed it up!

Step 1. Close and save programs

If your computer isn’t frozen up, make sure to close and save all programs and data. When computers reboot, they automatically dump and delete short-term memory. This means that any Microsoft Office document that you were working on will be deleted unless you SAVE IT.

Step 2. Make sure there are no scripts or processes still going

If there are running actions like a defragmentation hard drive or burning a CD in iTunes, these movements could be terminated and cause irreparable damage to both the software application itself as well as any associated files.

Step 3. Do a “soft PC reboot” through the Start Menu

I’m talking only to Windows OS users now, but the same general logic applies to Apple Macbook users too. Find the Shutdown options, and click “Restart”.

Step 4. If that doesn’t fix it, do a hard PC computer reboot

This is when all else fails and a soft reboot “Restart” isn’t working. Find your power button, and hold it down. Do not let go! That’s important - hold it down until your entire processor shuts off (usually in 5 seconds).

Your computer has been made to power down manually - what’s known as a hard computer reboot. This will cause data loss and in the wrong circumstances, corrupt software and OS files.

Step 5. Once your computer has restarted/rebooted

Do a check of major programs that load on rebooting. These are the first to get messy during rebooting procedures. Remember, proper rebooting eliminates the need to buy cheap computer repair parts!