How To Restart Windows Without Restarting The Computer
In Windows 8, resetting was broken into two parts: resetting and refreshing. Resetting would erase everything, including apps and user data from the hard drive. Refreshing would leave a user’s personal data untouched.In Windows 10 both Refresh and Reset features are placed under a common label called Reset. When you begin resetting Windows 10, you are prompted to pick one of the two options - whether you want to keep or remove your personal files when the operating system is restored back to factory defaults.You can reset your PC from within Windows 10 or by starting the computer with Windows 10 bootable media.
- How To Restart Windows Without Restarting The Computer Password
- How To Restart Windows Without Restarting The Computer Windows 7
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How To Restart Windows Without Restarting The Computer Password

Both methods are explained below in detail:Resetting Your Computer from Within Windows 10■After booting your Windows 10 PC, sign-in using an administrator account.■Click the Start button when on the desktop window.■Click Settings from the left pane of the Start menu. ■Wait until your Windows 10 is reset to factory settings and the computer restarts automatically.Resetting Your Windows 10 Computer ExternallyIf your Windows 10 computer fails to reset using the above method, you may need to restart it in the ‘Advanced startup’ mode and reset the operating system from there.You can restart your PC in the ‘Advanced startup’ mode right from within Windows 10 and then reset the operating system while removing or keeping all your personal files. Here’s how:■Follow the above steps from 1 to 5.■From the right pane of the Recovery category, click Restart now from under the Advanced startup section. ■Follow the on-screen instructions after selecting your preferred reset method.■Wait until your Windows 10 PC resets and then restarts automatically.Starting Your Windows 10 PC with Bootable Media to ResetIf the Windows 10 PC fails to boot altogether, you must use a bootable media (a DVD or USB drive) to start the computer and reset the operating system externally. Here’s how:■Turn on your computer.■Before the Windows logo appears, use the appropriate keys to enter the BIOS setup.Note: Depending on the vendor of your computer or its motherboard, the key or key combination to enter the BIOS may differ.
How To Restart Windows Without Restarting The Computer Windows 7
Generally, the correct key(s) are displayed on the screen along with the vendor’s logo as soon as the PC is turned on.■In the BIOS interface, go to the Boot tab.■Use the appropriate keys to make the DVD or USB drive the first boot device.Note: Depending on the type of BIOS, the keys to change the boot device order may differ. The instructions on how to do so are present somewhere on the same screen itself.
You may think that you need to restart your computer in order for registry changes to take place. Not necessarily. Restarting the explorer.exe process performs the same function. Explorer.exe is the program component in Windows that provides the Windows Shell. The Windows Shell or Explorer creates and presents the entire Windows user interface, such as the Taskbar, the desktop, Windows Explorer, the notification area (system tray), Start menu, dialog boxes, and interface controls.You may have heard about terminating the explorer.exe process using the Task Manager.
Using the Task Manager may be effective, but it is forcibly killing the process instead of terminating it properly, giving the process the change to exit safely and completely. In Windows 10, you use the task manager to end the process.
There is a hidden option in the Start menu in Windows 7 and Vista and an extra function in the Shutdown menu of Windows XP that allows you to terminate and restart the explorer.exe process correctly. Windows 10In Windows 10, you first have to open the Task Manager by pressing CTRL + SHIFT + ESC on your keyboard or by typing in task manager after clicking on Start.Up at the top where it says Apps, find Windows Explorer and right-click on it. One of the options will be Restart. In Windows 10, the process is killed and then automatically restarted. You don’t have to go to File – Run New Task to start it up again like you do in Windows 7 and earlier. Windows 7 and VistaTo correctly shutdown the explorer.exe process in Windows 7 and Windows Vista, open the Start menu. Hold down the Ctrl and Shift keys and right-click on any empty space on the Start menu.
A short, popup menu displays with two options. Select the Exit Explorer option. The Taskbar goes away and the desktop icons seem to disappear. To access the Task Manager to restart the explorer.exe process, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete. A screen displays with five options.
Select Start Task Manager.In the Task Manager, select New Task (Run) from the File menu.The Create New Task dialog box displays. Type “ explorer.exe” (without the quotes) in the Open edit box and click OK. The Taskbar, desktop, and other components of Windows are restored.To close the Task Manager, select Exit Task Manager from the File menu.Windows XPTo correctly shutdown the explorer.exe process in Windows 7 and Windows Vista, open the Start menu and click the Turn Off Computer button at the bottom of the menu.The desktop turns shades of gray in the background and the Turn off computer dialog box displays with three options and a Cancel button. Press and hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift and click the Cancel button.Just like in Windows 7, the Taskbar goes away and the desktop icons seem to disappear. To access the Task Manager to restart the explorer.exe process, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete.

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In the Task Manager, select New Task (Run) from the File menu.The Create New Task dialog box displays. Type “ explorer.exe” (without the quotes) in the Open edit box and click OK. The Taskbar, desktop, and other components of Windows are restored.To close the Task Manager, select Exit Task Manager from the File menu.Exiting the Explorer process cleanly allows you to shutdown Explorer without risking locking up your Windows session if you forcibly kill the explorer.exe process using the Task Manager or the command.