Here are the not-so-obvious steps you need to take to properly shut down Windows and turn off your laptop when you're done for the day:
1. Save your work and close all your programs.
The generic Save command is Ctrl+S. The command to close most windows is Ctrl+W, although you sometimes need to use the weirdly obscure Alt+F4.
2. Click the Start button.
Up pops the Start menu thing.
At this point, things are different between Windows Vista and Windows XP. If your laptop uses Windows Vista, go on to Step 3a. If you have Windows XP, skip to Step 3b.
3. a. In Windows Vista, click the right-pointing triangle next to the padlock icon.
A pop-up menu appears with various shutdown options, as shown in Figure 1. Skip to Step 4a.
3. b. In Windows XP, click the Turn Off Computer button.
A colorful Turn Off Computer box-thing appears, as shown in Figure 2. Skip down to Step 4b.
4. a. Choose the Shut Down menu item.
4. b. Click the Turn Off button.
The laptop turns itself off.
Yes, that's correct: The laptop turns itself off. When the screen goes dark and the power lamp is dimmed, you can shut the laptop's lid and put away the laptop.
Windows XP offers you a cancel button (refer to Figure 2) so that you can change your mind before Step 4. In Windows Vista, choosing the Shut Down menu item immediately shuts down the computer - unless you still have unsaved files, in which case, you have an opportunity to save them before the laptop shuts down.
