The site is getting hammered now, but according to http://www.codejacked.com/restarting-windows-without-restarting-your-pc-vista-or-xp/ if you hold in the SHIFT key while clicking the restart button in Vista or XP, the computer will reboot, but not reboot the BIOS.

Cool little tip, assuming it works.

I know it worked in 3.11/95/98/me and I think 2000. You probably remember the "Windows is now restarting..." text at a console screen while it happened.

but really, how long does your POST sequence take? If it's long enough that you search for tricks like this, figure out why

I just came across that. Cool little trick.

Besides, POSTING doesn't take long, but going through RAID controller initialization and DMI pool screens take a little more time. Can't hurt to save some seconds.

get a better RAID controller

.. or an OS that doesn't make you restart all the time :D

I <3 my 3ware escalade (yes, I put Ds on that bitch)

Yeah, i could do that...or i could just simply hold shift for a second...

Yeah, i could do that...or i could just simply hold shift for a second...


or ditch windows entirely.. :)

...that wouldn't fix a slow BIOS if I did have one.

Also, I just tried this, and it would fail to restart when I held in shift. Stupid PC.