Using either method, however, does not usually shut down your PC right away.

Nowadays, modern operating systems are smart enough to recognize a power button press and apply the same process as using the built-in 'Shut down' menu. In the past, turning off your PC by pressing the power button was a bad choice. You go to the 'Start' menu, click 'Power,' and choose 'Shut down,' or you can simply hit the power button on your PC. Shutting down your PC properly isn't that hard. Power spikes can cause damage to your power supply-or to the computer itself-so it’s best to avoid this at all costs. Unplugging your computer to QUICKLY turn it off is never a good idea! Doing so can lead to data loss or corruption and potentially cause an electrical short, leading to a power spike. Turning something off sounds simple-switch off the lights when not in use, turn off the ignition switch on your parked car, press a button on the remote control to turn off your TV-so why isn't it easy to turn off your PC?

Shut down computer