Instant Shutdown in Windows XP & Vista – Video Tip

Here’s how to create a desktop icon to shutdown Windows XP or Windows Vista instantly:

1. RIGHT Click on a blank part of your desktop
2. Click New –> Shortcut
3. Type the following phrase EXACTLY as shown in the box (or better yet, Copy and Paste it):    %SystemRoot%\System32\shutdown.exe /s
4. Click Next
5. Type a name for your shortcut like Shutdown, It’s Over, Time to Go…you choose
6. Click Finish
7. Now RIGHT click on the new shortcut you created
8. Click Properties
9. Click Change icon (you might get an error message, just click OK)
10. Click an icon you want to use for the shutdown
11. Click OK

You can see all these steps in action in the video below AND get a bonus tip of how to change the action of the little power button on the start menu.

Related articles:

1. Desktop Shortcuts Make Computing Easier – Video Tip
2. Copy Shortcut for a program to other Windows’ Users
3. Create a new toolbar in Windows – Video Tip
4. Drag and Drop
5. Add a new entry to the Send To menu

8 Responses to “Instant Shutdown in Windows XP & Vista – Video Tip”

1. dave says:

   December 6, 2010 at 2:41 pm

   This is not working for me , why ? I did the steps , I’m using windows xp..

   Reply
2. dave says:

   December 7, 2010 at 9:11 am

   I tried this on my work computer do yuo think my IT department forbids it ? Because is not working when I click on the icon to shutdown….

   Reply
   • Rick says:

     December 10, 2010 at 8:43 am

     Very possible there are some permissions that are keeping you locked down at work.

     Reply
3. Anonymous says:

   September 30, 2008 at 9:38 pm

   Is there one for hibrenate also!
   Chuck

   Reply
4. Rick says:

   September 30, 2008 at 10:36 pm

   In Step 3 above, you can substitute the following commands:

   Hibernate: %SystemRoot%\System32\shutdown.exe /h

   Log off: %SystemRoot%\System32\shutdown.exe /l

   Restart: %SystemRoot%\System32\shutdown.exe /r

   Reply
5. Anonymous says:

   January 11, 2009 at 8:18 pm

   Rick, I tried this command line on an XP machine (dumb, dumb, dumb) and now the machine will not shutdown, but restarts. I do not have Roxio installed and have already gone through the Microsoft knowledge base without any success. Any suggestions?

   Alec

   Reply
6. Anonymous says:

   October 1, 2008 at 7:55 am

   Your knowledge amazes me sometimes. Thanks Rick, you truly ARE the BEST!

   J.

   Reply
7. Anonymous says:

   October 5, 2008 at 5:40 pm

   I thank I worte to you about this before, but I missed a answer. How do you find the hidden files a clean them out in vista. I would like to know.

   Thank you

   Lana

   Reply