How to Reboot Your Computer System & The Server As Well?

Rebooting your Windows computer system and server is a common solution for resolving temporary system issues. You might also need to reboot your system to implement a Windows Update or apply changes to the registry.

Prerequisites Before Rebooting Your Computer System & Server

Rebooting a computer or server is a common practice to resolve issues, apply updates, or refresh system resources.

However, there are several prerequisites and best practices to consider before proceeding with a reboot:

1.  Save Your Work: Always ensure that all open applications and documents are saved. Unsaved work can be lost during a restart, especially if programs have not been designed to recover unsaved data automatically.
2. Check for Pending Updates: Before rebooting, check if any pending updates need to be installed. Many operating system updates require a restart to complete the installation process. You can verify this through the Windows Update settings or by using command-line feature to check for update statuses.
3. Assess System Stability: Evaluate the current stability of your system:

• If the system is unresponsive or exhibiting errors, a reboot may be necessary.
• Conversely, if the system is functioning normally, consider whether a reboot is essential at that moment.

4. Verify Active Users and Processes: For servers, ensure that there are no critical users logged in or processes running that could be disrupted by the reboot:

• Use tools such as Task Manager or Server Manager to monitor active sessions and processes.
• Inform users of the planned reboot to minimize disruption.

5. Remote Management Considerations: If rebooting a server remotely:

• Ensure that remote management settings are configured properly and allows remote commands without needing to log in directly.
• Utilize PowerShell or command-line commands (e.g., Restart-Computer -ComputerName ‘servername’ -Force) to execute the reboot if direct access is not available.

6. Check for System Reboot Requirements: Determine if a reboot is necessary based on recent changes or installations:

• Look for indicators such as messages from Windows Installer indicating a pending reboot due to configuration changes or software installations.
• Use logging options during installations to track whether a reboot is required after each step.

7. Plan for Downtime: If the system is critical, plan your reboot during off-peak hours when user activity is minimal. Notify stakeholders about the expected downtime and any potential impact on services.
8. Clean Up Before Restarting: Consider performing maintenance tasks such as disk cleanup or closing unnecessary applications before initiating a restart. This helps in optimizing system performance post-reboot.

Methods to Reboot Your Computer

The following are different methods to reboot your computer:

Method 1: Restarting Windows via the Start Menu

To reboot through the Start menu, follow these steps:

Your PC will begin the reboot process.

Method 2: Restarting Windows Using the Power User Menu

The Windows Power User menu offers quick access to some of the most crucial features and utilities. It also allows you to restart or shut down your Windows PC.

To reboot Windows using the Power User menu:

Step 1: Access the Power User menu by right-clicking on the Start icon or using the Win + X keyboard shortcut.

Step 2: Choose Shut down > Restart.

Your PC will reboot immediately.

Method 3: Using the Ctrl + Alt + Delete Menu to Restart Windows

You can also reboot your Windows PC through the Ctrl + Alt + Delete menu. This is likely your best option if the Start menu is not functioning.

Your PC will reboot immediately.

Method 4: Restarting Windows With the Alt + F4 Shortcut

You can also easily reboot your PC by accessing the Shut Down Windows dialog box.

To accomplish this, complete the following steps:

In addition to the above, you can also use the Shut Down Windows dialog to put your PC to sleep, shut it down, or hibernate it.

Method 5: Restart (Reboot) Your PC for Windows 10 Users:

Go to Start, select the Power button, and then select Restart.

Using shortcut keys:

Using shortcut keys to restart your computer quickly without opening the full Start menu can save time.

Here’s how:

1. Press Windows + X to Open the Power User Menu
2. Press U.
3. Press R to restart.

Restart (Reboot) Your PC for Windows 11 Users:

Go to Start , select the Power  button, and then Choose Restart.

How to Reboot Your Windows Computer Server?

Typically, users interact with local or remote Windows systems through a Graphical User Interface (GUI). However, there are instances where the system restart button may not be available in the GUI. In such cases, the command line can be used to reboot the server. 

Commands for Rebooting a Windows Server

The /r switch can be used with the shutdown command to reboot a Windows server from the command line.

Here are several examples of how to restart Windows systems using the command line:

1. To restart a Windows server, use the following command: shutdown /r
2. To force a local system to restart and close running applications, use the /f command line switch: shutdown /r /f
3. To restart a remote system, specify the system hostname with the /m command line switch: shutdown /r /f /m \\REMOTE-PC
4. To add a comment as the reason for rebooting the system, use the /c command line switch: shutdown /r /f /m \\REMOTE-PC /c “Post Installing Software”.

Disclaimer: The information outlined above for “How to Reboot Your Computer System & The Server As Well?” is applicable to all supported versions, including QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier, Accountant, and Enterprise. It is designed to work with operating systems such as Windows 7, 10, and 11, as well as macOS.