Hard reboot
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Computing
A hard reboot (also known as a cold reboot) is when power to a computer is cycled (turned on and off) or a special reset signal to the processor is triggered (from a front panel switch of some sort). This restarts the computer without first performing the usual shut-down procedure. (With many operating systems, especially those with disc caches, after a hard reboot the system may well be in an "unclean" state, and require that checks and repairs to on-disc filesystem structures be performed before normal operation can begin.) It may be caused by power failure, be done by accident, or be done deliberately as a last resort because nothing else to retrieve the system from a "hung" state works.
Personal Digital Assistants
A hard reboot is a full restore of a handheld computer (or PDA) to its factory settings. It entails deleting all information stored in the handheld. This is essentially the same as reformatting a hard drive. A hard reboot may become necessary from time to time on a PDA which has too many unreliable programs on it, thus restoring integrity to the system. It should be used with caution, as it destroys all data stored in the unit.