What’s actually slowing this PC down?
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When Fast Startup is enabled, Windows powers off your PC but saves the kernel session and device drivers to hiberfil.sys. The next startup can restore that saved state instead of starting the kernel from scratch. Restart performs a full boot cycle and bypasses Fast Startup.
What happens when you choose Shut down
Fast Startup is a hybrid shutdown mode. Windows logs off your user sessions, saves the kernel session and device drivers in the hibernation file, then powers down the computer. On the next startup, Windows can reload the saved system state. Microsoft Learn explains that “the kernel session is not closed, but it is hibernated” during Fast Startup: Microsoft’s technical explanation.
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This does not mean the PC stays powered on. Microsoft’s user-facing instructions describe Start > Power > Shut down as turning the computer off completely: Windows power options. The distinction is what Windows saves for the next startup: with Fast Startup, the hardware powers down while the kernel state is preserved for reuse.
Restart is different
Restart performs a full boot cycle. It does not use the Fast Startup hibernation improvement, so it is the simplest documented choice when you want Windows to reload its kernel state. Microsoft describes the startup behavior in its boot and Fast Startup documentation.
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If a temporary driver or device problem persists, try Restart first. It reloads Windows through a full boot cycle, but that does not guarantee that every issue will be fixed or mean Fast Startup caused it.
How shutdown, restart, sleep and hibernate differ
| Power choice | What Windows preserves | What happens next |
|---|---|---|
| Shut down with Fast Startup | Kernel session and device drivers; user sessions are logged off. | The PC powers down; startup can restore the saved kernel state. |
| Restart | No Fast Startup state is reused. | Windows performs a full boot cycle. |
| Hibernate | The current user session is preserved. | The PC powers down and resumes the saved session; it uses less power than sleep but resumes more slowly. Hibernate is not available on every PC. |
| Sleep | The session remains available for a quicker return. | The PC enters a low-power state; Microsoft says hibernate uses less power, but resumes more slowly. |
Microsoft’s guide to shutting down, sleeping and hibernating covers these user-facing options. Availability and behavior can vary with the PC and its configuration.
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What the shutdown commands mean
Microsoft’s shutdown command reference distinguishes the two options:
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They are not interchangeable: hybrid shutdown prepares Windows to reuse kernel state, while hibernation preserves the current session. Command behavior can depend on Windows version and configuration.
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What to try when a device misbehaves
- If a driver or device problem appears after ordinary use, choose Start > Power > Restart. This performs a full boot cycle rather than using Fast Startup.
- If a connected device stops working after sleep or hibernate, disconnect it and reconnect it. Microsoft recommends this as a troubleshooting step.
- Check that the device driver is current. Microsoft also recommends checking for current drivers when addressing connected-device problems after waking.
These steps are troubleshooting options, not proof that Fast Startup is the cause. Microsoft’s power-options guidance includes the device and driver advice.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Windows version context
The Microsoft user guidance cited here covers Windows 10 and Windows 11. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, according to Microsoft’s Windows Startup Settings page. Options and command behavior can still vary by Windows version, hardware and configuration.
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