Shutting Down, Sleeping or Hibernating?

Plugging in...
Some computer users think that shutting off their computer is as simple as closing the lid, or logging off. Unless someone has modified the settings, these actions usually put the computer to sleep, which is fine, if the computer user occasionally shuts the computer OFF or restarts it. Occasionally, like, once a week.

There are times when, for lack of a better description, the computer gets confused by everything it is being asked to do. Though it usually listens, and reacts appropriately, sometimes the internal confusion is just too much and it won't behave. The most common "won't behave" scenarios are trying to use the Internet and it won't connect, or email won't come, and email won't go.

First line of defense? Shut the computer off, not sleep, not hibernate, not even restarting. Just shut it down for about 30 seconds. There's a lot of maintenance that goes on behind the scenes when a computer is turned off. When it sleeps or hibernates regularly, the computer doesn't have the opportunity to clean up, maintain, put things in order, etc. It will take you less than five minutes to shut down, wait and turn it back on. It may immediately fix the problems you were having... or not. If "or not" is what happens, the problem may require some assistance from, say the Computor Tutor. Otherwise, you have solved the problem yourself, pat on the back there.

ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, have you shut it off and turned it back on, and is it turned on?

Unplugged