shutting down procedures

[GRamirez]

Why is it so important to shut down the computer through the shut down command. I know about the damage that can happen when the computer loses power when the operating system is writing to the hard drive. But does the hard drive itself have a "shutting down" procedure apart from the operating system preparing to shut itself down? And if so what is it? Also do other pieces of hardware have shutting down procedures like the graphics cards or the CPU?

 

[aharvek]

The OS just writes all of the data currently in cache to the disk, since cache can be lost if power is lost. The hard drive will since that it is losing power and put the head back in a safe place, ready for power up again. The Windows GDI empties itself as much as possible and your swap file is closed, and power down is ready. The rest of the hardware, since it is not completely in use while shutting down is fine losing power.

 

[bluto]

Do a Windows shutdown update.
C:\WINDOWS\WUPDMGR.EXE

 

[David Lindon]

The OS just writes all of the data currently in cache to the disk, since cache can be lost if power is lost. The hard drive will since that it is losing power and put the head back in a safe place, ready for power up again. The Windows GDI empties itself as much as possible and your swap file is closed, and power down is ready. The rest of the hardware, since it is not completely in use while shutting down is fine losing power.

Yep. As Zharvek said!

 

[bluto]

Why is it so important to shut down the computer through the shut down command. I know about the damage that can happen when the computer loses power when the operating system is writing to the hard drive. But does the hard drive itself have a "shutting down" procedure apart from the operating system preparing to shut itself down? And if so what is it? Also do other pieces of hardware have shutting down procedures like the graphics cards or the CPU?

No,none zilch.
but see Windows Update on this.Just remember to save before you "shut down" It's just Windows protection,nothing to do with anything else.