Shut down times

[Thorny]

On Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:32:06 +0200, Amedee Van Gasse (Ubuntu) posted:

> On Sun, March 29, 2009 13:33, Thorny wrote:
> 
>> I don't understand the people's objection to clicking more than once, I
>> don't know from where they get their experience, you can't shut a
>> Windows box down without clicking more than once. That is, unless you
>> use the power switch and is isn't recommend there any more than it is
>> here.
> 
> Actually, the power switch on modern computers doesn't switch it off
> immediately. It gives a signal to the operating system to shut down. I
> think this is done with ACPI, but I'm not an expert in this matter.
> Windows as well as Linux respond to this signal with a proper shutdown
> sequence. You can even configure that it doesn't shutdown, but goes to
> suspend or standby.
> Only when you press the power button longer than a couple of seconds, then
> you really cut the power like in the old days.
> 
> All of this may of course be irrelevant for older computers that don't
> support ACPI.

As far as it goes you are correct, in the cases where the BIOS is
configurable for the front power switch, although, some power supplies in
desktop systems also have a switch on them that does indeed cut power to
the mainboard for servicing. In addition many people plug into a power
bar/spike shunt in which case power to the unit is killed. I did not word
my response in precise enough terms, I almost worded it as pull the plug
so I should have thought to be more precise. Mea culpa. 

At any rate, lurkers still have the opportunity to learn from our
discussion, thanks for the good catch.