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When Fast Startup is enabled, clicking Start > Power > Shut down turns off the PC but saves Windows’ kernel session and device drivers to the hibernation file. The next startup can restore that saved system state instead of starting the kernel from scratch. Microsoft Learn describes this as a hybrid shutdown. Restart is different: it performs a full boot cycle and does not use Fast Startup.
What happens when you click Shut down
With Fast Startup enabled, Windows ends your user session, saves the kernel session and device drivers in hiberfil.sys, and powers down the computer. At the next startup, Windows can reload that saved system state. Microsoft Learn puts it this way: “During Fast Startup, the kernel session is not closed, but it is hibernated.” Microsoft’s Fast Startup documentation
That explains the apparent contradiction in Microsoft’s user-facing guidance, which describes Shut down as turning the PC off completely. The hardware does power down; what differs is what Windows does with its kernel state for the next startup. Microsoft’s power options guide
Does Restart fully reload Windows?
Yes. Restart performs a full boot cycle rather than using Fast Startup’s saved kernel state. If you want Windows to reload its kernel state, choose Start > Power > Restart. This is a useful first step for a temporary driver or device problem, though it does not guarantee a fix. Microsoft Learn explains the Fast Startup behavior
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How shutdown, restart, sleep and hibernate differ
| Power choice | What Windows preserves | What happens when you return |
|---|---|---|
| Shut down with Fast Startup | The kernel session and device drivers are saved; user sessions are ended. | Windows can restore the saved kernel state. |
| Restart | Fast Startup’s saved kernel state is not used. | Windows performs a full boot cycle. |
| Hibernate | The current user session is preserved. | Windows resumes that session. Microsoft says hibernate uses less power than sleep but takes longer to resume; it may not be available on every PC. |
| Sleep | The current session remains available while the PC is in a low-power state. | The PC wakes back into that session. |
Microsoft’s guide to shutting down, sleeping and hibernating a PC explains the user-facing choices.
What the shutdown commands mean
Windows’ shutdown command distinguishes a hybrid shutdown from hibernation. The /hybrid option shuts down the device and prepares it for Fast Startup; /h hibernates the PC when hibernation is enabled. These options are not interchangeable. Microsoft’s shutdown command reference
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What to try if a device has trouble
- If a device or driver is acting up, try Start > Power > Restart to make Windows perform a full boot cycle.
- If the problem began after waking from sleep or hibernate, disconnect and reconnect the affected device.
- Check that the device has a current driver. If the issue persists, restart the PC; these steps are troubleshooting options, not a guarantee that Fast Startup caused the problem. Microsoft’s power options guidance
Windows version note
Microsoft’s user-facing power instructions cover Windows 10 and Windows 11. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, according to Microsoft’s Windows Startup Settings page. Available options and behavior can vary by Windows version, hardware and configuration.
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