Reboot

What Does Reboot Mean?

Reboot is the process of closing and starting a computer or its operating system from the initial boot loading sequence. This process reloads the operating system files and is used to fix many common computer problems, such as slow processing or freezing.

Techopedia Explains Reboot

Reboot is a standard feature found in most operating systems. It may be performed for a number of reasons, such as after installation of a new program, to reload a slow performing computer and/or after a system freeze. To reboot, users can press CTRL+ALT+DEL together in most Windows operating systems or select the restart option from the start menu. Generally, a system rebooted on a running system takes less time than a system that is started from shutdown or closed mode.

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Margaret Rouse

Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.

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