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In win7, when I want to restart computer via keyboard until my operating system hasn't been loaded yet, I press Ctrl+Alt+Del.

What is equivalent to this command in Ubuntu?

(Note that I'm not asking for Task manager).

I wish to restart it if, for example, I pressed F10 but BIOS didn't load successfully so I have to reboot it. I really don't like brute way (using physical shutdown button).

WinEunuuchs2Unix
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mk1024
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  • Do you want to do this as a rescue operation because the mouse does not work, or because you want a convenient way to reboot? Or for some other reason (please specify)? – sudodus Jan 12 '18 at 19:13
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    To slightly improve upon the not-exactly-perfect-but-still-hopefully-useful workaround of using the terminal, with recent versions of Ubuntu which use systemd (16.04 or possibly earlier), you don't need sudo — just shutdown -r now will work. (The -r flag means restart, and now specifies the time.) Depending on which desktop environment you use (Unity, GNOME, XFCE?) you can specify a custom hotkey, for this command. – aplaice Jan 12 '18 at 19:15
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    @aplaice reboot is shorter – Rinzwind Jan 12 '18 at 19:30
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    in KDE, Mate and Cinnamon desktops, Ctrl+Alt+Del will bring up the shut down menu when you can choose to log off, restart or shutdown. – ravery Jan 12 '18 at 20:15

1 Answers1

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SysRq REISUB

Responding to your edited original question: I suggest the 'SysRq REISUB' method. This is a way to reboot linux systems gracefully, that often works to keep the file system healthy (in contrast to hard poweroff).

SysRq is often on the PrintScreen key:

  • Press Alt + PrintScreen continuously, sometimes the Fn key is involved too (in laptops),

  • and then slowly (one key after another) the keys R E I S U B to reboot.

    When you press the 'letter keys' you need not specify caps lock or shift.

The corresponding sequence to shut down the computer gracefully is:

  • Press Alt + PrintScreen continuously, sometimes the Fn key is involved too (in laptops),

  • and then slowly (one key after another) the keys R E I S U O to shut down.

    B 'Boot' is replaced by O 'Off'.

You find more details at the following links,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_SysRq_key

How to call up high priority responsive terminal window, even if Xubuntu is hopelessly frozen

Edit: The key combo is a bit tricky on some computers. On several Dell laptops, for example Dell Precision M4800, the following works

  • Press/hold both Fn and Alt
  • Press/hold Home/Sysrq
  • Release Fn
  • Press key sequence for example R E I S U B
sudodus
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    REISSUB= Reboot Even If System Utterly Broken. Might be useful to specify caps lock not necessary. – WinEunuuchs2Unix Jan 18 '18 at 12:50
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    I've just tried this - it's working like a charm. – pa4080 Mar 13 '18 at 08:27
  • For me, 'SysRq REISUB' only works with the left Alt key - PrtSc combo. It does not work with the right Alt. The left Alt - PrtSc combo is quite a stretch of the fingers. Laptop: Lenovo Ideapad 15 – Robert Anson Nov 30 '20 at 03:32