Why Does My Computer Need To Be Restarted?

Description

Scheduling UCO computer restarts during maintenance helps keep the UCO digital environment secure, stable, and up-to-date.

Benefits of restarting UCO computer workstations include:

  • Security
    • Software vendors release security patches, which often require your computer to restart before they can take effect. The most common occurrence of this is known as Microsoft’s “Patch Tuesday”. This is typically the second Tuesday of each month.
    • Apple also releases regular security patches for Mac OS X.
  • Operating System Upgrades
    • Windows has moved to a “Software as a Service” model. This means that instead of major operating system upgrades every few years (i.e., Windows 7 to Windows 10), Windows will receive smaller, incremental updates approximately twice per year. In addition to security and bug fixes, these upgrades add new functionality and features to Windows. In order for these updates to process, a restart is required.
    • Apple releases cumulative patches to Mac OS X on a bi-monthly basis.
  • Application Deployments
    • On occasion, UCO IT will deploy new applications. Restarts are not always required, but preparing your computer for a reboot is the most important thing you can do to protect your work during application deployments.

Instructions

When you leave UCO before a scheduled maintenance period, please take the following steps to ensure your computer is prepared for monthly maintenance:

  1. Save all of your work.
  2. Close all applications.
  3. Log out of your computer. Instructions for logging out on Windows 7, Windows 10, and Mac OSX follow.
    • Windows 7
    • Windows 10
    • Mac OSX

 

 

Related Knowledge

https://www.uco.edu/technology/about/maintenance

 

 

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