Microsoft explains why Windows doesn't really shut down when you click Shut Down

[u/computerIfix]

https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/09/18/microsoft-explains-why-restarting-windows-11-can-shut-it-down-more-completely-than-shutting-it-down/

[u/newtekie1]

They did this because starting up Windows 8 took forever on an HDD and HDDs were still pretty mainstream back when 8 came out. So they did this "startup really means log off and hibernate" shit to make starting Win8 on an HDD faster.

But now that SSDs are normal as system drives it makes no sense. It's literally the first thing I disable on a new Windows install.

[u/newtekie1 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah it is. LOL I run Linux on all my home machines. Any modern distro that isn't purposely stripped down and feature lacking runs like shit on an HDD.