Solved Silly Question - Just What Is the Reset Switch for?

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Prior to building my present rig, I've had two desktops, three netbooks, and one notebook (still have the notebook). None of them had a reset switch like my new machine does. I know it's for rebooting the machine but under what circumstances would you use it?

 

[Britton30]

Personally, I think it's a leftover from, maybe, Win 95 or 98 days. It can cause files corruptions since it cuts power to the machine and restarts like a cold boot. I have used it when my system has completely frozen in the past.

 

[TVeblen]

When a system freezes and is unresponsive to mouse or keyboard input the reset switch will restart the computer.
It is a notch better for the components than the "hard shutdown" - killing the power by flipping the power supply switch.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

That was what I kindasorta expected. Thanks, guys!

 

[Dude]

When a system freezes and is unresponsive to mouse or keyboard input the reset switch will restart the computer.
It is a notch better for the components than the "hard shutdown" - killing the power by flipping the power supply switch.

That is the exact reason I pick a case with this switch, as I like to OC and such

 

[essenbe]

I don't even have the reset switch connected. I just hold the power button down for about 15 seconds and it does the same thing.

 

[Solarstarshines]

I don't even have the reset switch connected. I just hold the power button down for about 15 seconds and it does the same thing.

+1 for that it's a double plus not negative for the power switch I found that out some time ago as I have the Element V case and the power and reset look the same and I always end up holding the power down till I realize the other button was right there good catch Steve

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Holding down the power button was the way I used to do it. With both my present desktop, however, as well as my notebook, hitting the power button initiates a proper shutdown. I generally do that with my notebook but head for the start button when shutting down my desktop. It's a matter of which is closest for me.

 

[essenbe]

Lady, maybe I am not understanding correctly, but if you can you should always hit the start button and then shut down. We were talking about the times when the computer freezes or locks up and you don't have that option. You can just press the start button on the case and hold it down, and the computer will shut down, not a proper shut down, but basically a hard reset.

 

[Dude]

Okay people, time to educate me. I always found the reset switch different. I play around with an overclock, get a hard freeze and pressing the power button and holding has no effect. But the reset does, it reboots and I can change my crazy Bios setting I tried.

 

[Britton30]

You might check in your BIOS Doug to see if you have the Power button shut down option enabled.

 

[Dude]

You might check in your BIOS Doug to see if you have the Power button shut down option enabled.

Thanks Gary, I will drill down in the bios and look. It works if I do it at any other time, I'm referring to a hard lock up.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Lady, maybe I am not understanding correctly, but if you can you should always hit the start button and then shut down. We were talking about the times when the computer freezes or locks up and you don't have that option. You can just press the start button on the case and hold it down, and the computer will shut down, not a proper shut down, but basically a hard reset.

I have the Power Options on my notebook set to do a proper shutdown whenever I hit the power button since it's an easy reach. I also could have set it to hibernate or sleep. It goes to sleep when I close the lid and I don't need hibernate on that machine.

I also have the power button on my desktop set to shut down the machine when I hit it although I usually use the Start Button option to shut down because it's a long reach to get to the power button on the machine and I have bad shoulders. I only shut the machine down when installing some programs or updates, to work on it, or if the OS gets scrambled somehow (it's happened only once since I built it and was probably my fault).

 

[essenbe]

I have no idea, Dude. It should work, unless you just aren't holding it long enough. I've never connected a reset switch and always just use the power button on the case to do a hard reset. I've never used a board or case that it didn't work. While I've never tried, maybe it won't work if you have the reset switch connected. Just a thought, I really can't answer. But, the situation you describe or the occasional freeze of the OS is when I use it.

 

[Britton30]

The power button should override everything and shut down if its held down for 4 seconds. Some BIOSes don't have options for it though.

 

[Solarstarshines]

You might check in your BIOS Doug to see if you have the Power button shut down option enabled.

Thanks Gary, I will drill down in the bios and look. It works if I do it at any other time, I'm referring to a hard lock up.

when a hard lock up occurs it only shuts down with the power button

Program crashes and the windows mouse emblem spinning would be able to use that as a reset but anything hard froze like keyboard mouse only the reset switch or power it down will work

 

[Dude]

Okay, thanks guys. I think Steve is right...I probably was in a panic and didn't hold it long enough. I haven't had that happen for a long time, was going off old memories.

 

[AddRAM]

Don`t forget you can use the power supply switch.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Don`t forget you can use the power supply switch.

Also known as Plan B.

 

[AddRAM]

Okay people, time to educate me. I always found the reset switch different. I play around with an overclock, get a hard freeze and pressing the power button and holding has no effect. But the reset does, it reboots and I can change my crazy Bios setting I tried.

Holding down the power switch will shutdown the pc ( improperly ) pushing the reset button will restart it ( improperly ) You will be ( should be ) asked to start windows normally with either option.