There is a difference. When the computer enters "Hibernate" mode,
it stores the contents of RAM memory to a special file on the hard
disk (and there must be sufficient free space, or it won't hibernate),
then shuts off. Upon restarting, the boot process checks to see if
there is a valid hibernate file, and if so, it simply loads that to memory
and starts where you left off. This avoids having to run through a
lengthy series of program startups and dramatically shortens
the boot process.
Sometimes, however, it may be necessary to go through the
entire startup process, especially when installing certain
programs - or if it looses power unexpectedly!
Ours is set to restart on power loss. If power is removed during
hibernation it still wakes up normally. That's how we run our other
computers - normal routine is to press the sleep key (which is set to
hibernate in power options), and after the hibernate info writes, we
cut off power to everything via a single switch on a power strip.
The question is, how exactly does Media Center Edition wake up the
machine. I read somewhere that it uses the task scheduler. IIRC, I
tested that first to verify that it could wake the computer from any
mode (I need to verify that I guess). Yet when MCE has an event
scheduled, the computer will wake from hibernate but not from "off".
It's a minor issue, normal routine is hibernation anyway, but it's
good practice to reboot it once a week or so. As it is, we must make
sure there aren't events scheduled before initiating a full shutdown.
Ours is homebuilt, I think I'll check with a friend who has a top of
the line Dell to see if his acts differently.
Wayne
