shut down or just close the lid?

it goes to sleep, my computer will go to sleep if I let it go idle closing the lid doesn't shut it down.

When using a computer whether it be a laptop or a desktop you should always make sure that you shut it down completely. This is the proper procedure. If you do this you will prevent yourself from experiencing problems at a later date. I have a desktop and I always make sure that I shut down my computer properly after every computing session. I think that if you are just closing the lid on your laptop then it probably automatically goes into standby mode or hibernation mode, it depends on how you have your power settings configured. Anyway, good luck with your laptop. Andrew

I'm having a terrible time shutting my laptop off it just freezes up.

You have to shut it down like a desktop.

i have not read all the responses but thats the natural reaction too closing the lid it suspends the pc but most laptops will allow u to choose what u want it to do when u close the lid, shut down, suspend (hibernate) or even do nothing especially if ur laptop came with some sort of power management software from the manufacturer. u can check the power management tab in the control panel

It is best close your system thoroughly for the computer's sake. however, you just leave for a while, you can close your lid for a moment. you can go on with your work as soon as you come back.

You have to shut it down like you do on a desktop.

The only difference between a desktop and a laptop (apart from the obvious portability and look differences) is the power options (can be found in control panel, as I assume you are using Windows). For example, with the laptop you can set two different power schemes - for running on power or battery. Of course the desktop does not have the battery, and therefore this is not present. Also there is another setting in case of a laptop. When you close the lid of your laptop, it goes to sleep, which you could change not to do anything. The reason for this is because that is actually the default setting in power options. The same thing your desktop computer can do when you press the power button if you change the settings in the power options. And of course the laptop can shut down as well. Sleep mode is very different from shutting down the computer. Shut down is exactly that - the computer is in complete non working state and RAM is cleaned. Just like turning off the lights. But in sleep, the computer is still working, not fully though, and therefore the memory is not erased. So when you close the lid of your laptop, and then open it again, everything will be in the same state as it was previously.

I mainly use my laptop for school and such, not when I'm at home. So I'll usually shut down just because I'm never sure when I'll open it next. Also, it's an old laptop and the battery sucks even though I've replaced it. I will always shut down just to make sure no extra juice is sucked from my battery while it is waiting to go into hibernation.