Web TechJunkeez.com

Speedy Shutdowns For Windows XP

By Mohammad Yousef | June 2004

I'm a very impatient type of person and I'm easily irritated by anything that would waste my time. If you're like me (and you don't already know these tips), you're bound to like what I have in store for you. From the title, you must've guessed what this is all about: fast shutdown. And I don't mean the time Windows takes to close all the processes and save your personal settings. What I mean is the time it takes you to command Windows to shutdown.

There are plenty of ways to turn off your PC, so check them out and see which one suits you best.

A similar approach to the traditional way is going to your desktop, pressing Alt + F4 on your keyboard and then pressing "u". This is faster than the typical method if your hands are already on the keyboard.

Want a quicker technique while still using your mouse? Here's what to do. Go to your desktop and create a shortcut to "SHUTDOWN -s -t 01".

1. Right-click anywhere on your desktop (except on an icon).

2. Move your pointer to "New" and click "Shortcut."
   (An alternative to steps 1 and 2 is pressing Shift + F10, press "w" then "s").

3. Type "SHUTDOWN -s -t 01" (without quotes), click "Next."
   (For Windows 9x and ME, use this shutdown command instead: "C:\windows\rundll.exe user.exe,exitwindows" - also without quotes.)

4. You should see a textbox where you enter a name for the shortcut. By default, the name is "shutdown." Choose a name and click finish; you should see the new shortcut created.

These shutdown commands can be used in the Run dialog box from the start menu as well. Just type the command and press enter.

The list of methods of shutting down Windows goes on and on, but now's the time for the grand finale... the one-click shutdown.

1. Open the Display Properties (Right-click on your desktop and click Properties).

2. Go to the Screen Saver tab and click Power.

3. Click the Advanced tab.

4. You'll find a section called Power Buttons; choose from the combo boxes whether you want to shut down using the Power Button on your PC case or the Sleep Button on your keyboard (if your keyboard has one, that is).

5. Click OK in the 2 open windows.