Shutdown command on Start screen in Windows 8 does not perform the "real" shutdown:
- It logs off the current user, closing all the running applications, and then
- It puts your computer into hibernate mode.
It's called Hybrid Shutdown. It is done for quicker startup time: the system does not need to perform full boot process.
When you use shutdown
command, the OS shuts down completely and goes to power off mode.
This article "Windows 8: Fast Boot" provides detailed information on the old and new shutdown sequence.
To change the behavior of Shutdown button on Start screen,
- Open Control Panel, and click System and Security, and then click Power Options,
Alternatively click Battery icon on the taskbar and then click More Power Options.
- Click Choose what the power buttons do on the left pane.
- Scroll the page to Shutdown settings.
- If Turn on fast startup check box is selected, your system uses Hybrid Shutdown.
Clear this check box if you want "real" shutdown.
To change this setting, you may need to click Change settings that are currently unavailable link at the top of the page.
Sounds convincing. Is this new in Windows 8? Do you have a reference link? – Tymric – 2014-08-24T13:26:25.033
3This is new to Windows 8,
shutdown
command has new switch/hybrid
: Performs a shutdown of the computer and prepares it for fast startup. – Alexey Ivanov – 2014-08-24T13:38:39.547This is the way it's been since Vista, at least. In Vista it's Control Panel => Power Options =>System Settings to change it. – Daniel R Hicks – 2014-09-07T12:55:52.017
And "Hibernate" effectively turns the unit off (after caching RAM on disk), though USB ports may remain powered and portions of the CPU may be kept "warm". – Daniel R Hicks – 2014-09-07T12:59:03.517
@Daniel Yes, it's Hibernate under the hood, the difference is that you click Shutdown: Windows logs you off, closing your apps, and then hibernates. Vista or Windows 7 don't have Hybrid Shutdown, or Fast startup. – Alexey Ivanov – 2014-09-07T16:26:05.690