Vista Tutorial - Power Button

**Brink**

How to Change Power Button Settings for the Start Menu and Case in Vista

Information

This will show you how to change the function of the Computer Case and Start menu power buttons to either Do nothing, Sleep, Hibernate, or Shutdown when you press or click it.

RELATED LINKS:

EXAMPLE: Normal Start Menu Power buttons

SHUTDOWN ------- SLEEP or HIBERNATE

EXAMPLE: Classic Start Menu Shutdown button
NOTE: This will not change what the Shutdown button says in the Classic Start menu, but it will change what the default action (Sleep or Shutdown) is for the Shutdown window after you click on Shutdown.

Here's How:

1. Open the Control Panel (Classic View)
2. Click on the Power Options Icon.
3. Click on the Change plan settings under the Power Plan you have dotted. (See screenshot below)

4. Click on Change advanced power settings. (See screenshot below)

5. Click on Change settings that are currently unavailable. (See screenshot below)
6. Click Continue for UAC prompt.

7. Click + for Power buttons and lid. (See screenshot below step 9)

8. For the Computer Case Power Button -
A) Click + for Power button Action
B) Click on Setting: and click on the drop down arrow.
C) Choose the action you want the Case Power Button to do when pressed.
NOTE: Your options will be Do nothing, Sleep, Hibernate, or Shut down.

9. For the Start Menu Power Button -
NOTE: See the examples at the top of the tutorial.
A) Click + for Start menu power button.
B) Click on Setting: and click on the drop down arrow.
C) Click on the action you want the Start menu power button to do when clicked on.
NOTE: Your options will be Sleep, Hibernate (not for Classic), or Shut down.

NOTE: Make sure that your power plan is shown under the title bar. It is easy to accidentally change it with the mouse scroll wheel.

10. Click OK.
11. Close window from step 4 above.

That's it,
Shawn

ggbib · 07-02-2008

Ya, I wish tho that I could make that button on start menu 'restart' as the power button on the case works fine for that.

I really like having lock, sleep and hibernation missing, makes it almost impossible to miss restart on the drop down menu. Here's how it looks now:

**Brink** · 07-02-2008

Hi ggbib,

For the Sleep or Hibernate options, check to make sure that it is setup properly in Step Two of this tutorial.

Power Options and Sleep Mode Problems

and

Power Options and Sleep Mode Problems

For the Lock and Switch User options, check to make sure that they are enabled in these tutorials.

Fast User Switching

and

Lock and Switch User - Add or Remove

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Mustangsupra · 10-09-2008

under power options advanced settings there is a line that says "change settings that are currently unavailable." My computer doesnt say this, there is nothing there so I cant get to the other options. My os is Vista Home Premium x64. I would like to be able to change settings but it just wont work.

Jeremy

**Brink** · 10-10-2008

Hello Jeremy,

Are you logged on to an administrator account when trying to see this? I do not believe you will see it from within a Standard account.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Mustangsupra · 10-10-2008

It says i am in a admin account. I went ahead and created another admin account and the "change settings that are currently unavailible" shows up. I want to have this control, but my one account that isnt working has all my settings and files. I tried the elevate admin level and that did nothing. Is there something else I could try? Can I take all my settings and files and put them on the new admin account that has access?

It also wont let me change this account to a standard account. That option simply isnt there for this account. Also the UAC is on but I get absolutely no "pop ups" asking me if it is okay to do certain things. I kind of like this but i would like the more controls also.

Any other ideas?

Jeremy

**Brink** · 10-10-2008

Jeremy,

It sounds like you are in the built-in Administrator account. Does it have the exact name of Administrator? You will not have UAC bugging you or that option in Power Options in this account since everything you do is already elevated to allow you to do it.

Nothing to worry about. This is normal while logged on to the built-in Administrator account. For example, the option to Require a password on wakeup yes/no is normally grayed out until you click on the Change settings that are currently unavaiable link. You should be able to make this change.

Shawn