PC Shutdown...

[Loop]

There's a thing you can do wit a PC so when you shut it down, you don't have to press the Power button to turn it off; it does it itself.

How do I do this again? Or at least, how do I get rid of having to keep the Power button held down for four seconds before it turns itself off? :confused::head:

[Pearman]

Uh, go to the start menu, click shut down, then click the bubble next to shut down, and then click ok.

Is that what you mean?

[dj014]

no he means the "it is now safe to turn off your ocmputer" bit

im not sure how u do it sorry

[XBD]

I think its something to do with the motherboard, you can't turn it on or off, it just happens.

It didnt happen on my old WinME PC, but it does happen on my new PC with WinME.

I might be wrong though.

[Lee's Dad]

Loop, (slapped wrist) you shouldn't be turning off at that swith anyway! Does your PC run scandisk every time you start???

What you can do is create an icon on the desktop which when clicked, shuts everything down properly. This saves digging to shut down.If this is it, let me know, and I'll give you the string.

Another option is the power saving feature which puts the PC in standby mode after a certain period of inactivity - but I don't think that's what you mean.

[Loop]

No, I mean, when I click on Start--> Shut Down, and shut it down, instead of a screen saying "It's now safe to turn of your PC", it's a black screen, and to turn the PC off then, I have to hold in the Power button for four seconds.
It used to turn itself off at that point (the same PC), and I was wondering if anyone knew how I could get it to do it again.

BTW it does run ScanDiac a lot, but that's because The Sims crashed a lot. :(

[Lee's Dad]

Bad shutdowns are, it seems, a fact of life with windows, although I've not had that problem. Have you got the critical updates from the microsoft windows site? Some of these address shutdown problems.
In the meantime, try this: (it is valid for 98se, don't know about yours)

Right-click the desktop and select new/shortcut. In the 'command' box, put this: (copy/paste to be sure) C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE user,exitwindows

go 'next' and follow through.

When clicked, this will/should shut down the computer.
Let me know if it solves the problem.

If you keep it, you could make a snappy icon for it, as I have:
A red disc with 'OFF' written on it...........:rolleyes:

[Loop]

It's not a bad shutdown as such- More an option my Dad put on. But i don't know how to undo it. :(

[Lee's Dad]

Sounds like something's been changed in the BIOS, but best not to fiddle if you are on unfamilliar territory. I'll have a look at mine later and see if I can see a similar option.

To be honest, though, I can't see the problem. When I shut down, the PC shuts off but retains a lit LED, and the monitor goes into standby. To switch off completely I switch off at the mains after 'shutting down' the PC.

Just to recapitulate, you follow the normal shutdown routine, and then switch off at the mains, yes? And on the next boot, doesn't run scandisk? Starts as normal?

[Loop]

To recapitulate- Yes.
I'd just like to press in the Power buttononce, rather than hold it in for four seconds is all. OR have it turn itself off at that point.
Depends on what's possible, really.

[XBD]

I asked the computer technician guy at my college, and he said its probally an option in the BIOS.

He also said that 99% chance that you can't stop the 'hold down for four seconds' thing. Its a security type thing [i think] to prevent you accidentally switching off your PC without shutting down.

[Mattb90]

This worked for me once, go to device manager (via system properties [accessable by right clicking my computer]) and go to view -> show hidden devices.

If something comes up with a little exclamation mark, it isn't working properly or not on. View it's properties, and you should be able to sort it out from there.

[Lee's Dad]

I still think the koolest thing is to create that icon i mentioned.
It just takes one click to shut down then.

There is usually a power management setup section in the BIOS, where you can select soft power off to be instant or delayed 4 secs.......... are you familliar with BIOS, Loop?

[Mattb90]

Originally posted by Lee's Dad
I still think the koolest thing is to create that icon i mentioned.
It just takes one click to shut down then.


Yeah, but I like the XP fading to a grey scheme when you do the "Turn off Computer" option on the start menu.

[Dave2]

On a domain you don't get that. You also don't get the welcome screen or get to set a picture for yourself.

[Loop]

Originally posted by Mattb90
This worked for me once, go to device manager (via system properties [accessable by right clicking my computer]) and go to view -> show hidden devices.

I couldn't find the "View -> Show Hidden Devices". :confused::head::wtf: