Computer Froze, how do I Reboot to Restart Computer?

Question

Computer Froze, how do I Reboot to Restart Computer?

My Mac Mini Froze which doesn't do too often just once in a while say like once a year. When my computer does Freeze how Do I restart or reboot my computer from the Keyboard? (Force Quite Computer) I have a Apple white key, clear bottom Keyboard.
I tried to turn off the computer from the back Power button that didn't work, so I had to pull ot the Power Plug (cold shut off) from the back to turn off my computer then plug the computer back in and did a Reboot.

Can someone tell me how to do a computer reboot from my keyboard after a computer Freeze?

Mini Mac, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Aug 14, 2007 10:14 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

DaddyPaycheck

Level 6

16,037 points

Aug 15, 2007 4:29 AM in response to Trisha Foster

Hi Trisha Foster-

If it takes unplugging the Mac in order to force it to shut down, you aren't going to be able to reboot from the keyboard.

You may be able to force-quit an application that is causing you problems. The key combination for that is option-command-esc. If it works that will bring up a "Force Quit Applications" dialog box from which you can select the offending application.

Have you any need or desire to troubleshoot what is causing the freeze?

Luck-

-DaddyPaycheck

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Answer 2

AndyO

Level 6

17,064 points

Aug 15, 2007 4:36 AM in response to Trisha Foster

Holding CTRL and Eject on a MacOS X system would normally bring up the Restart/Sleep/Cancel/Shutdown dialog, where then hitting return will action the shutdown since it's the default selection in the dialog, but there is no standard key sequence which will go directly to shutdown. You may be able to set one however in the keyboard shortcuts tab of the keyboard and mouse preference pane if you feel you need one.

It has to be said however, that if the system has frozen, chances are that a key sequence won't be recognized - in which case the only method is to press and hold the power button until the Mac goes off. Normally it takes about 5-10 seconds of holding the power button for the system to power down. Pulling the power cable out is not recommended since it's an abrupt disconnection which can cause spikes and other problems, where holding the power button in generally causes the system to ensure everything is shut down rather more gracefully.

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Answer 3

Aug 17, 2007 10:06 PM in response to AndyO

AndyO,
Where in the Keyboard Shortcut Tab of the keyboard and Mouse Pref. How do I set a keyboard shortcut to do a Keyboard shortcut to do a Force quite when or if I get another computer and Mouse Freeze?

I did Try pressing the Back Power button but nothing happened, maybe I didn't wait long enough for it to take effect.
I only once pulled the plug out from the computer, do you think I may or might get some major computer problems from the cause of this? if so what kind of computer problems I might have or get from this?

Thanks,
Trisha Foster

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Answer 4

Henry G4

Level 4

1,865 points

Aug 17, 2007 11:02 PM in response to Trisha Foster

Hi.

You should never turn off your computer by unplugging it from the power outlet. If you ever have to force shut-down, just press and hold the power button until it turns off.

You should run Disk Utility from your Tiger DVD and Verify/Repair the startup disk.

The keyboard shortcuts for restart and shut-down are as follows:

Command ControlEject (restart)
Command Control+OptionEject (shutdown)

But once the system has frozen, it don't think they could work.

Good Luck.

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