Solved Question about shutdown.exe

Made shortcuts on my vista desktop for shutdown and restart. Restart works fine but shutdown does not function.
1) When I click on the shortcut nothing happens.
2) When I click directly on C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe, the command prompt window flashes momentarily, then nothing happens.
3) If I click on shutdown from the start button, Windows will shut down properly.

Why will the shutdown.exe file in Sys32 not shut down the system? What is the location of shutdown.exe from the start button?

Hi markaz,

Shutdown is a little different as it needs some switches to work right. Here's a tutorial that should help (and provide other options like a delayed shutdown): http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76841-shutdown-shortcut.html.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

That'll work.

I think so, too. That's why even clicking the System32 .exe file didn't work - there were no switches.

Incidentally, if you prefer or desire, you can add the shortcut to the Quick Launch Menu for even faster access.

Personally, I rarely turn off my laptop unless necessary for an installation (and actually use restart rather than shutdown) or once every few weeks just to reset things (though that is most likely me rather than necessary). I use Sleep Mode instead as it makes it much faster starting when I want and sleep is a simple matter of closing the lid. With my desktops (like you have), I actually never turn them off (except, again, to restart for installations or automatically through the UPS in power failures) - I just let them go to screensaver (and use the totally black one to better preserve the monitor). It's a bit more wear-and-tear (though some argue that it may be less than shutdown and startup) and it isn't very "green" oriented, but I've been doing it for decades and the only reason I've ever replaced a PC is because I wanted to upgrade - never due to any type of problem. In the end, I believe it's mostly a matter of choice and doesn't really matter as far as the computer is concerned.

Good luck!

P.S. EGAD! You're up as early as I am (considering your profile location) - maybe earlier as I pretty much start online immediately.

Funny you say that. The last time I intentionally shut down my PC was 2007 and the only reason I'm doing so now is that I'm moving. One difference is I never use screensavers on my PC. and the laptop only sleeps when I close the lid. The only time it shutdown was when I let the battery run dry by design to time how much I could get from one charge.
I had always thought that shutdown.exe was the file from which the switch had to be made for restarting (which I did with no problem), but I was completely unaware that a switch had to be created for the shutdown operation itself.
Thanks for your help. It's greatly appreciated.
-Mark

It was my pleasure - glad I could be of help. Thanks for the rep and the nice comment. I assume it worked and so I have requested that this thread be marked as solved.

Perhaps we'll see you again here - and I hope it's a nice, relatively easy question and not some sort of problem (but we'll help you in eiher case). Drop by anytime, even if you just want to chat in the Chillout Room or do some learning in our Tutorial section (or searching the threads). People like you are always welcome here.

Good luck and best wishes!