DOCUMENT:Q102228 26-SEP-1999 [msdos] TITLE :Hardware Troubleshooting: Cold Booting Versus Warm Booting PRODUCT :Microsoft Disk Operating System PROD/VER:MS-DOS:6.0,6.2,6.21; WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== 3.00 3.00a 3.10 3.11 | 6.00 6.20 6.21 WINDOWS | MS-DOS kbhw kbtshoot ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 6.0, 6.2, 6.21 - Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11 - Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= When troubleshooting hardware issues, using the power on/off switch yields the most consistent testing procedure. If you suspect a hardware problem, particularly an adapter card problem, using the power switch, rather than the CTRL+ALT+DEL key combination or the Reset button, is recommended. MORE INFORMATION ================ A warm boot, accomplished by pressing the CTRL+ALT+DEL key combination, restarts the computer through the INT19h ROM BIOS routine. This warm-boot procedure usually does not go through the complete boot process; generally, it skips the power-on self test (POST) to save time. In addition, a warm boot frequently fails to reset all adapters in the computer's adapter slots. If you use the Reset button to cold boot the computer, it generally restarts the boot process, including the POST. However, this procedure does not necessarily discontinue power to the motherboard. If the power is not interrupted, the cold boot may fail to reset all adapters in the computer's adapter slots. To ensure that all adapters are properly reset, you should use the power switch to turn the computer off. Leaving the power off for ten seconds ensures that all the capacitors on the motherboard have time to discharge and should also give the hard disk drive a chance to stop spinning. NOTE: Using other reboot methods, such as CTRL+ALT+DEL or the Reset button, is acceptable when a hardware problem is not suspected. If you are using a write-behind cache, ensure the contents of the cache have been written to the disk before using the power on/off switch. When using SMARTDRV.EXE version 4.0 or later, typing "smartdrv /c" (without the quotation marks) accomplishes this. Additional query words: tshoot 3.0 3.00 3.00a 3.10 3.1 3.11 6.00 6.20 6.2 6.21 ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbAudDeveloper kbWin3xSearch kbWFWSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin300 kbWin300a kbWin310 kbWin311 kbWFW310 kbWFW311 kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600 Version : MS-DOS:6.0,6.2,6.21; WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1999.