it forgets what u last did! and there is probaly something wrong with your computer....
you would restart your computer to install updates or return your computer to a fresh state when you have been running a lot of prgrams that would still be running in the background even after closeing them
I don't know if this is the definitive answer, but to get started: The computer would have to have had an instruction, whether intentional or otherwise, to not pull up Desktop, prior to it having been turned off. Remember changes don't go into effect until you start the computer.
bad starter, or solenoid
In most cases, no you would not have to restart your computer after backing it up. A backup is just an extra copy of your data that your computer stores in another location. That way, if your computer has problems or your data is deleted you can restore the backup to retrieve your data. Creating a backup file does not require you to restart your computer, since all the computer is doing is copying your data to another location.
Sometimes a computer needs to restart because of programs it needs to upload, or updates to update. In some cases it restores because it is being over-heated you can put a fan near a place were its hot to cool it down so it doesn't shut down.
The Automatic Restart on Systems Failure option is enabled
I would try this first. Close everything and shut down the computer and unplug it. Then plug it in and restart the computer.
* What does the computer do when you attempt to boot it up? * What operating system? The computer would just shut down completely after selecting 'restart.' No problems booting up thereafter. I have Windows XP Service Pack 2. I have determined what the problem was. It was due to enabled software called Window Washer 5.0. When I disabled it, my computer is now able to go into restart mode.
It might be a virus. Or perhaps windows has a missing component
restart the computer
My first guess would be a bad switch.
That would be using the menu system to restart the computer. A shut down is a cool boot.