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How To: Display The Shutdown Menu When Your Computer’s Power Button Is Pressed

4 March 2009 1,481 views 41 Comments

By default, your Windows XP will shut down when the Power button is pressed. It’s a good idea to change it so that the shutdown menu is opened instead, especially if you have little kids running around the house.

It’s quite easy to change it:

Step 1:

Go to your Windows XP’s desktop and right-click it. Select “Properties” and the Display Properties window will appear.

Open the “Screen Saver” tab and look for the “Power” button near the bottom of the window. Click it.

step1

Step 2:

In the “Power Options Properties” window that opens, go to the “Advanced” tab.

There is a dialog box in the “Power Buttons” section. Choose what you want Windows to do when the power button is pressed.

“Ask me what to do” will make it open up the shutdown menu.

step2

Step 3:

Click “OK” and restart your computer. From now on, pressing the power button will open the shutdown menu, letting you decide what you want to do.

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41 Comments »

Find Engine said:

Thanks for this tip. It is very handy especially when you have unsaved works on your PC and your kid accidentally press the Power button off.

# 23 March 2009 at 8:35 pm

Manish said:

good dude. such simple tricks makes user interested in computer.

# 1 April 2009 at 12:31 pm

keno probabilities said:

Pressing the POWER button on your computer will shut it down (close all programs, shut down windows, and turn off your computer). Pressing the RESET button will restart your computer improperly (without closing your programs & shutting down Windows). Only press this if your computer freezes. Do not use it as a form to restart your computer under normal conditions. Pressing the button probably won’t harm your computer but I wouldn’t take chances.Switching your power supply off will improperly shut down your computer (without closing your programs & closing windows). I also wouldn’t take chances with this button. (Only press it after properly putting the system in sleep mode (or shutting it down).) The only time you would want to turn this off if you need to open your computer (which you probably will never do).

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# 20 June 2009 at 8:45 am

Ashish said:

Thanx it was really cool

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