If you have called tech support, one of the questions you will usually hear is "Have you tried restarting?" Yes, turning your device off and back on may actually fix many of the problems you are having.
There are many reasons why a restart can fix a problem. The data that your computer is actively using (in open programs and files) has to be refreshed by the computer regularly. If data gets corrupted on a refresh, it can remain corrupted until you restart. Depending on what got corrupted, this error might never cause a problem or it might crash the entire system. (The most likely outcome is somewhere in between the two.) Restarting your computer will force the computer to use the original data instead of constantly refreshing the corrupted data.
Memory leaks are another problem that can be solved with a restart. A memory leak occurs when a program constantly requests more and more memory. You may not be using that program anymore, but the memory may still be reserved for it. This limits the memory available for other tasks. (To visualize, think of memory like employees. If you keep taking employees away from their regular duties to work on one project, you can accomplish fewer tasks with the remaining employees.)
Restarting can also be a diagnostic tool. Even if the problem returns after a restart, you can use the restart to determine if a program is causing the problem. When the problem appears, think about the last program you opened. Then, test it by restarting and using only that program. If the problem appears, restart again and try using your computer without opening that program. If the problem does not surface, then you can check for updates or uninstall and reinstall that program.
Restarting even works on devices like routers and modems. I have saved many phone calls to my internet provider by simply unplugging my router and modem for a few seconds. Plug it back in, and the internet works fine again.
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