Want to just restart windows without your whole pc? Heres a good tip
If you hold the Shift key down while clicking on SHUTDOWN button, your computer would restart without restarting the Computer. This is equivalent to term"HOT REBOOT".
For windows 98 just hold the shift key down when you click the ok button to restart. Also click restart not shutdown then hold shift. Im not sure how fast it works but its all according to your pc speed.

-Cowsgonemadd3

That is a very good tip. Here is one similar to it.

On my computer, I have shortcuts for both restart and shutdown...This way, I can just click either one, and walk away without me having to wait for applications to close. Here is how to do them. Sorry-only works on XP Home or Pro

Restart:

• right-click desktop and select New->Shortcut
• type this into the target box: %windir%\System32\SHUTDOWN.exe -r -t 01 (01 is time, in seconds)
• name it and you are finished

Shutdown:
Similar to above, except change the -r switch to -s

I have a post just like that. It also works on 98,me,2000,xp. Just look at my post about shutdown shortcuts for more. Im glad you liked my post. Have a good day!

Cowsgonemadd3

the idea of hot reboot is appealing to me as a real time saver but it didn't work for me. what am i doing wrong.
i use xp so i click start then turn off hold down shift and click turn off. the pc shuts down OS and all
pls help out.

This works for Vista Home Premium too. I have used this on every computer I've had, 95, ME, Xp and now Vista.

When windows restarts, Does it go through the entire process to boot up? Like having to pass through a BIOS-protected password?