The shutdown command in Windows 10 doesn't truly power off your computer.
The shutdown command in Windows 10 doesn't truly power off your computer.
Another person shared a comparable discussion a few months back regarding their network usage.
Check this helpful article on EightForums about Windows 8/8.1/10’s Fast Startup feature. In short, what Samfisher and FuzzyYellow mentioned is accurate: the standard shutdown doesn’t fully power down the kernel. It mostly closes open connections, removes most RAM processes, and saves drivers and system files in a hibernated mode. Perfect for portable devices, but I turned it off on all my machines due to issues reported by Recon801. I’ve faced problems like the Start Menu failing to load even after logging out, video drivers not loading properly after resuming, and Bluetooth stopping completely unless a full restart is done. I understand these are hardware-related driver issues, but I think Microsoft made some serious mistakes here.
It seems you're experiencing several issues: File Explorer freezes, the Start menu locks, and the graphics driver fails. Let's troubleshoot these one by one.
The Start Menu issue in Windows 10 is a recognized problem. Simply close Cortana in Task Manager and it should resolve itself. It continues to run in the background even when disabled, managing Start Menu and Search tasks. Ending the task will restore normal functionality.
Thanks for the advice! It's reassuring to hear that a big company like Microsoft actually releases OS versions with known issues in key areas like the System Menu. Still, it makes sense—Windows is what it is. If Linux were the case, I could easily switch shells, fetch the source, and rebuild it myself.
A faster way exists if you prefer not to adjust any settings—just make a shortcut named shutdown. When prompted, type the command to launch it immediately without delay. Instantly, you’ll have a complete shutdown of the computer.
I disconnect the power cord once I stop using it. It doesn't affect me at all.