Create Shutdown / Restart / Lock Icons in Windows 7 or Vista
If you dislike the new Windows Vista shutdown menu, you are probably in the majority. An alternative option is to create icons that will let you shut down, lock, or restart your computer without having to mess with that stupid popup menu.
Of course, Windows 7 makes the shutdown menu a lot better, but if you want a shortcut elsewhere or to assign a hotkey, this should help you out.
This tip is nothing new, and probably very old hat to most of the advanced geeks reading this feed. I’ve been asked this question so many times in the last month that I decided to finally just write it up for everybody.
First right-click on the desktop, choose New and then Shortcut.
In the shortcut location box, you’ll need to enter the correct command, which I’ve listed for you below.
Shutdown Computer
Shutdown.exe -s -t 00
Restart Computer
Shutdown.exe -r -t 00
Lock Workstation
Rundll32.exe User32.dll,LockWorkStation
Hibernate Computer
rundll32.exe PowrProf.dll,SetSuspendState
Sleep Computer
rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState 0,1,0
When you’ve clicked next on the above dialog, you’ll be asked to name the shortcut. Probably best to name it according to the right function.
After you click Finish, you should now have a new icon that you can double-click to immediately shutdown, restart, or lock your computer.
Change Shortcut Icon
The default icon is really ugly, and if you want to have separate shortcuts for each function you might want to change the icon. Right-click on the icon and choose properties.
Click the Change Icon button, and then you can pick from the available icons in the system, or you can use the Browse button to pick an icon you downloaded off the web.
Note that you can drag them to your quick launch bar if you’d prefer to have them there.
And so ends the tale of the shutdown icons…
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Thanx ! Great help for the less advanced geeks
Thanks
I don’t think these tips apply to just Vista. They should work in XP as well.
Ok.. that will certainly help me. Similarly, can I create shortcut icon for hibernating?
same as the lock workstation one except you use rundll32.exe PowrProf.dll, SetSuspendState for hibernate
@Enigma:
Thanks! I’ll add that one to the article.
You might want to remove the space from it EG rundll32.exe PowrProf.dll,SetSuspendState
I’ve recently updated to Vista, and it’s been running fine except that it doesn’t
allow me to use the ’scan’ function fully for my All-in-one HP 2175. I loaded
the original HP drivers which resulted in the system hanging so I removed them.
Subsequently, if I leave a programme running on Vista (e.g anti-virus) on
completion, Vista hibernates and on re-start the screen remains blank. Ctrl-Alt-Dlt
doesn’t work and nor does anything else. Consequently I have to do power-off and
restart thru’ blue screen. Any suggestions would be welcomed.
Thanks, I needed that (slap). There seems to be some discrepancy between your picture and the printed examples. Shutdown -s -t 01 or Shutdown.exe -s -t 00
Thanks for your useful topic
SLEEP:
rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState 0,1,0
doesn’t work on my laptop that has Hybirid Hibernation off.
How do I issue a sleep command in this case?
To be exact it puts the laptop in Hibernation, and not in Sleep mode…
By the way this only works if you are admin or have admin rights to the computer you use it on. This does not work on a network machine with poweruser access. I don’t understand how i can click start menu, shutdown and restart. I can not setup a task to automaticaly reboot the computer at a specified time.(needed for nightly backup)it tells me that you do not have privileges to do this.
Any comments would be appreciated.
Thank you for your time!
lock is also done by auto shortcut: win+l
nice… but I set the shutdown button to hibernate. I rarely shut down except to restart. I use the start menu for that :p Locking, I use windows key and L (at the same time). For sleep, I close my laptop screen, but I just lock if it’s plugged in. it doesn’t sleep when it’s plugged in
Or you can change the “Sleep Button” to “Shutdown Button”:
go to “Control Panels” > “Power Options”
“Change a plan’s settings”
“Change Advanced Power Settings”
“Power Buttons and Lid”
“Start Menu Power Button”
Change to “Shutdown”
Would love to know where to find all the appropriate icons. Restart and sleep for example cannot be had within “…\system32\shell32.dll.”
Thanks, this really helped out a lot. It was a pain in the ass before!
Where can I find the Restart icon?
I typed in the links for the shortcuts and still says cannot be found.
Hey Now HowTo,
This is just a great post. I’ve used this tip a few months back for shutdown. Now I find myself using this so much that I’m back for the hibernate shortcut. Very useful.
Thanks for the info,
Catto
@ Jacob “Or you can change the “Sleep Button” to “Shutdown Button” ”
You made my day; that’s been bugging me since I switched to Vista. Thanks!
have same problem as “anon”
both sleep and hibernate comands put my laptop into hibernate mod. and i want it to be sleep.
how can i fix that?
Here is a simpler solution! Use this gadget in the sidebar called “Vista Shutdown Control”
Download from the link below, works perfectly!! Enjoy
http://gallery.live.com/liveIt.....1&pl=1
Thanks.
I have Vista and i need i icons on my desktop arranged in a certain order. Every time i shut down the icons go back to some random order. Any way to fix this problem. Thanks so much.
Andy
right click desktop n pick sort by “and tick something besides name”
mine actually dont have “any checked” n i have icons along the bottom in windows vista n reboot n thley stay there “but once in a while playing games n changin screen resolution can mess up my icons “but had a program for xp im lookin into seeing if can get for vista that locked “my icons n let me save layout…and then if got messed up ya could click recycle bin
n pick “a choice to reset to how they was “or save as are now”
how ican stop all attention
and other qustion ” when i will do any thing the system ask me are
you allow or cancel”
do you have any method for this?
with best regard!
Thanks that was successful, but Can I remove the old one shutdown, restart, lock, etc menu? if “yes” I want them be remove if you have idea.
Thanks
Verry nice work! Thank you! 10/10 for you!
Fantastic but can you create one for the log off?
great for when you want to sleep from remote desktop. thanks!
I agree with Anon…the sleep command you listed seems to Hibernate. Via this method I have to hit the power button to start it up. Via the Built-in Win7 Sleep menu selection the keyboard can wake it.