Starting Up

Windows Vista and your computer are designed to exist in more states than just being on or off. If you've been gone for a while, you've unplugged your computer, or you're using it for the first time, you'll need to bring it to life from its "off" state. Just like humans, Windows Vista and your computer both love to sleep. In the computer world, "sleep" is a state in which the computer stores your information on the hard disk and keeps it in memory, enters a very low-energy state, and then returns to full activity very quickly.

Start or Wake Up a Computer

Move the mouse button or press a key on the keyboard to see whether the computer is really off or just sleeping, or if it's simply resting with the screen off.

If nothing happens, turn on the computer, the monitor, and any peripheral devicesyour printer, for exampleand wait for Windows Vista to load.

Click your name. If a box for a password appears, type your password, and then press Enter to log on to Windows Vista.

How to Get Your Computer Going

Its state	What you can do
Off	Press the Power button, and log on.
Sleep	Press the blinking Power button or lift the laptop cover, and log on if required.
Hibernate	Press the Power button, and log on if required.
On, with a blank screen	Move the mouse or press a key.
On, with a screen saver	Move the mouse or press a key, and log on if required.
On, locked	Enter your password, or click Switch User to log on using a different name.

Caution

Personal accounts are very powerful in scope. Each user of the computer has his or her own folders for storing documents, and each user has individual and specific settings. You should never use someone else's account! If you do, everything from files to e-mail messages could be misplaced or lost.

See Also

"Leaving Your Computer" on the facing page for information about putting the computer to sleep, turning it off, restarting it, or locking it.