Home » Tips & Tricks: PC

How To Change The Shutdown Button In Vista!

Posted By: Sunday 19 October 2008 14 Comments

If you’re using Windows Vista then you have probably noticed the quick power button on the start menu is used to put the computer into Sleep Mode by default. So by clicking it your computer doesn’t really turn off but it goes into Sleep Mode.

Sleep Mode is like pausing a dvd player: The computer immediately stop what it’s doing and is ready to start again when you want to resume working. So the computer saves all open documents and programs and allows the computer to quickly resume full-power operation within seconds.

This is something which I really don’t like to use, I rather have quick access to the shutdown button instead. I mean if I want to shutdown my computer I really want to shut it down and not putting the computer into sleep mode!

Anyway, There’s a way to change the button’s assignment and really shutdown your computer;

  1. Press Windows Logo KEY + R on your keyboard.
    (Note: You can also navigate to Start – Control Panel – Power Options – Click in the left side of the window on Choose what the power button does. Here you can change the button’s assignment too!)
  2. run powercfg.cpl ,1
  3. In the screen which just loaded, open the Power Button and Lid > Start Menu Power Button.
  4. Here you can select the action when you click on the start menu power button; In this case: Choose shutdown. As shown as below.

  5. Click Ok and you’re done!
  6. Now if you look at your shutdown button, you’ll see that the button is slightly different then it used to be. Like you can see below:

So next time you want to shutdown your computer, the computer will just do the right thing: Shutting down! :wink:

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Behrad

About Behrad:

I'm 29 years "old", married to Jannie and about to be a daddy! We live happily in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
In 2006 I started BioTecK.net just to show/share my portfolio. After a while I started to blog about my experiences and stuff I do in my life, my interests; computers & computer related stuff, tips & tricks and basically everything which I want to share.
Read more about me, follow me on Twitter @BioTecK or contact me .

14 Comments so far, be the next one! »

  1. Lyndi says:

    I still do not have Vista, I am still saving. All the possibilities you have been highlighting lately make me more and more inquisitive about Vista.

  2. reddebt says:

    Ehm, i have no vista yet. So, i bookmark this blog. Once i have vista, i try to do this. :mrgreen:

    reddebt´s last blog post..What do you know about Sleep Debt?

  3. shaxx says:

    learning something new again. thanks!

  4. BioTecK says:

    Well.. At first I didn’t knew if I was going to like it, but after a while I start to like it.. I think the best way is just to try it your self Lyndi.

    Cool! :D Let me know when you got Vista Reddebt.

    Sure, no problem Mr. Shaxx! :wink:

  5. gregor says:

    i agree, the default should be changed.

    gregor´s last blog post..swelter and sweaty, it’s global warming and energy crisis

  6. BioTecK says:

    Yep and it’s very easy to change the default shutdown button assignment Gregor.. :D

  7. NewsVids says:

    thanks for this pro tip! A nice little way of making Vista a bit less crap

    NewsVids´s last blog post..Healthy Cereals For Kids

  8. BioTecK says:

    Sure no problem NewsVids! :D
    If you visit regularly, you might find some more Vista tips&tricks! ;)

  9. I have no vista yet too. I’ll put this in my list. I’ll try to do this once I have.
    Anyway, thanks for the good info.

  10. John D says:

    Ah ha! I can honestly say i knew about this tip before you posted it :lol: . Should come in handy for a lot of people, as I too prefer to shutdown the PC completely, not standby.

    John D´s last blog post..Fight Spam with Spam Free

  11. BioTecK says:

    Sure, No problem Vev From Teak Furniture! :smile:

    Lol! :mrgreen: Damn.. so I was late with writing this post John D! :razz: But this is very handy indeed. I don’t know why Microsoft has decided to put the Sleep Mode as default…

  12. I like the trend, that the operating system is becoming more and more customizable. I like my PC to have a little personality.

    Simon@software reviews´s last blog post..Sound Editing Software

  13. BioTecK says:

    Yeah, me too Simon@Software Reviews! You can make your computer personal again with this kind of things! :wink:

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