Quick Tip: Create Shutdown / Restart / Lock Icons in Windows 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.
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…
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