How different are Reboot and Reset?

What does reboot mean? What do you reset your computer, router, phone, etc.? It seems silly to distinguish them from each other but they are really different!

The important reason to know the difference between reboot and reset is because they do two very different things, although it sounds the same. You need to know when to do something.

All of this sounds confusing, but read on to find out what these phrases mean and to know exactly what to do to fix the problem or when you receive Technical Support.

Reboot means turning off something and then turning it on again

Restarting, the source cycle and soft setup all mean the same thing. If you are asked to 'reboot the computer', 'restart the phone', 'restart the router' or 'reset the laptop', you are required to turn off the device to No longer receive power from the source or battery and then turn on the device again.

Restarting is a common task that you can perform on all types of devices if they don't work as usual. You can restart routers, modems, laptops, tablets, smart devices, phones, desktops, etc.

Technically, restarting a device means repeating the source state cycle. When you turn off the device, the device will not receive power. When the device is turned on again, it will get energy again. Restarting is the only step that involves turning off and then turning on the power for something.

Note: There are also terms such as hard / cold boot and warm / soft boot. When most devices (like computers) are powered off, all software programs are also turned off in this process. This includes everything loaded into memory, like any video you are playing, web pages you open, documents you are editing, etc. After the device is turned on again, applications and files must be reopened.

However, even though the software is running off with the source, both the software and the program you have opened are deleted. The app is simply turned off when the power is out. When the power is supplied again, you can open the software programs, games, or files, etc.

Note: Put the computer into hibernation mode and then turn it off, completely unlike normal shutdown. This is because the memory content is not erased but instead is written to the hard drive and then restored the next time you restart the computer.

Unplugging the power cord, removing the battery, and using software buttons are a few ways you can restart the device, but not a good way to do it.

Reset means delete and restore

What is the definition of "reset" can be confused with words like "reboot", or "soft reset" because sometimes they are used interchangeably, despite two completely different meanings.

The easiest way to distinguish is to understand that reset is the same as deleting. To reset the device, reset the device to the same condition it was when you purchased it for the first time, commonly known as restoring or restoring the factory settings. Literally it means deleting and reinstalling the system because the only way to actually reset is to completely delete the current software.

For example: You have forgotten the password for your router. If you only restart the router, you will be in this situation when it is turned on again: you do not know the password and there is no way to login.

However, if you have reset the router, the original software that it has shipped will replace the software running on it right before the reset. This means that any customizations you have made since you purchased it, such as creating a new password (you forgot) or Wi-Fi network, will be deleted because the new software (original) has been replace. Assuming you have actually done this, the original router password will be restored and you can log in with the router's default password.

Because it will erase all settings, resetting your computer or other device should be limited unless you really need it. For example, you can reser your PC to reinstall Windows from scratch or reset your iPhone to delete all your settings and applications.

Note: Remember that all the following words refer to the software deletion: reset, hard reset, factory reset, master reset, and restore.

Why should we distinguish reset and reboot?

This difference has been mentioned above, but it is important to understand the consequences of confusing these two common terms.

For example, if you are asked to "reset the computer after you install the program", what you are being instructed to do is delete all software on your computer just because you have installed a new program. u? No, this is obviously a mistake and the exact request is to restart the computer after installation.

Similarly, just restarting your smartphone before you sell it to someone is definitely not a wise decision. Restarting the device will only turn off and on again, not actually resetting / restoring the software as you really want, in which case the device will have to be reset, ie delete all custom applications. and delete all attached personal information.

If you're still having trouble grasping the differences, keep in mind: restarting is to restart a boot and reset is to set up a new system.

See more:

1. How to use the Reset feature on Windows 10
2. Instructions to reset the network, reset the network connection on iPhone
3. Instructions to reset Windows Store application on Windows 10