There are two types of resets..
A hard reset and a soft reset.
A hard reset reboots the machine to a functioning state as if you were to switch it back on after a period of the machine being off.
a soft reset - pcs in dos had a CONTROL - ALT and DELETE function which rebooted the machine within software hence a soft reset. Control Alt Delete brings up Task Manager in windows now from 2000 upwards and it allows you to stop programs from functioning which have crashed.
these are the options