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Step 1
Restart through the operating system. The latest Dell laptops come equipped with a Windows-based operating system, typically Windows XP or a later version. To restart your laptop using Windows, first click on the "Start" menu at the bottom left of the screen. (In Vista, this is replaced by a circle icon with a Windows logo.) Next, click the power icon (in XP) or the small button with a right-facing triangle on it (Vista) to access the options for powering down the laptop. Select "Restart." This will shut down the laptop and automatically turn the laptop back on.
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Step 2
Push and hold the "Power" button. To manually restart the Dell laptop, hold down the "Power" button, which is typically located above the keyboard. Do not release the button until the laptop's screen turns black. You might also hear the laptop's fan and power supply shut off.
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Step 3
Wait at least 30 seconds. Do not turn the laptop back on immediately after turning off the power. Powering on and off too quickly can cause severe damage to the motherboard and can otherwise damage your laptop's critical hardware components.
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Step 4
Press the "Power" button again once you have waited at least 30 seconds to turn the laptop back on. Pay special attention to your laptop when the operating system begins to load so that you can note any errors or other abnormal changes.
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Step 5
Restart through the operating system to avoid other errors. When your operating system has completely loaded, and after all of your startup programs have loaded, reboot your laptop through the operating system. This will help prevent other errors from occurring after a manual reboot because a manual reboot can cause minor errors and lost data in software applications.
How to Reboot a Dell Computer Laptop
