Shut Down, Restart and Sleep
Shutting Down your computer has numerous benefits including ensuring high performance and good connection to our management servers.
The terms Shut Down and Restart are self-evident. Here is a functional definition of Sleep:
When you "Sleep" a computer, all the data currently in any files that are open are stored in RAM which is temporary memory. Any programs that are running are also stored in RAM. Storing a program like this is keeping it running, which is not the same as resting. When you come back this is all restored from RAM and you can pick up from where you left off. HOWEVER, if something like a power outage occurred while you were out to lunch, it would wipe out any data in RAM. It's good practice to save your progress on anything you are working on if you will be stepping away from your computer. You don't want to come back from lunch to find that 10 page document you spent the morning on no longer exists.
Below are the steps to perform a shut down, restart or put your laptop into sleep mode.
1. Save any files that may be open on your computer. Close any open software programs. (To close programs, click the X at the upper-right corner of each program window).
2. Click Windows Start button in the lower left of the taskbar. 
3. Click the power button symbol and a fly out will appear with options to Sleep, Shut down or Restart. Clicking again on the desired action will make the computer proceed and take the action selected.
Shut down is highlighted above in a red box.
Hard Reboot
If your computer freezes, you can do a hard reboot. This achieves the same results as turning off your computer normally (in that the computer shuts off,) but it is only to be used as a last resort. Do not perform a hard reboot regularly.
- Press and hold the power button on the front of the computer for approximately 5 seconds. The computer will shut off. No lights should be near the power button. If lights are still on, you can unplug the power cord to the computer tower.
- Wait 30 seconds.
- Push the power button to turn the computer on again.