Shutting down Vista?

Question

On my start menu in vista, in the bottom right there are two symbols, the shutting-down one, and the lock-computer one. I have had my computer since november last year, and all that time I have used the shut-down icon and the computer has, as promised, shut down. Recently, about a couple of weeks I guess, it has just put the computer into sleep mode. When you hover over the icon, it describes sleep mode rather than shut down. I've scoured control panel and can't find a way to change what those icons do, and there haven't been any changes to anything on the computer during the time where it changed. Can anyone help? Its getting really irritating having to go to the drop-down menu to shut down every time.

Answer 1

You probably downloaded an update to allow your laptop to enter what is known as "S3 Sleep Mode" (Vista's default off state).

It basically powers your RAM and nothing else and usually takes like 2 Watts.  It is usually a good thing for people who use a lot of programs and don't want to restart everything every time they log on.  In addition, SuperFetch doesn't have to load everything back into your RAM because it usually takes several minutes for it to get to optimal state if you have a lot of RAM like 4GB.

It also takes about 5 seconds to bring the system back up.  For example, I never shut down my computer unless it has to for an update or it crashes. :P

It's not like XP anymore, because I guess they figure most people like the speed rather then to save a little bit of battery life.

If you are not familiar with SuperFetch...

Vista uses extra RAM to store commonly used files in a new activity known as “disk caching” (SuperFetch). The computer uses artificial intelligence to determine which files will be used most and copies it to RAM (where it is much faster than accessing your hard disk).  This includes components of the programs you use on a regular basis.  When you need more RAM for programs you launch, etc. the computer purges the “least likely used” files from RAM to make room for the new program.  So in theory, the more RAM (for disk cache) you have, the faster your computer will operate.  This can also be augmented (to a lesser effect) with a flash drive/card with a technology called ReadyBoost.  Just stick it in and select “Speed up my system” and leave it there. Google “AnandTech ReadyBoost Performance” for basic test examples.

Understanding how SuperFetch uses RAM to enhance system performance…

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/window...

High RAM will be especially helpful for those people who like to leave all their windows open and use Vista’s “S3 sleep mode” (2 watts) so they can resume where they left off almost immediately after they turn their computers on.  Your apps are pre-opened where you left them and your RAM cache is loaded too, just as if you just walked away and came back.

Answer 2

You can't override that. You have to use the drop-down.

Answer 3

Control panel power icon you will find what you want there.