Windows 2000 Quick Fixes

Shut down without having to log on

It’s a hassle to have to log on when what you really want to do is shut down the computer, particularly if you’re installing software or doing testing that requires frequent restarts. If you don’t have access to the Shutdown button on the Log On to Windows dialog box that appears when you press Ctrl-Alt-Del, you can easily enable it. Then when you need to shutdown, you can just click Shutdown on the dialog box without logging on.

Add Shutdown to the logon dialog

You configure the system to allow shutdown without logon through the security policy for the computer. This policy can be configured in the domain security policy or at the local security policy level. If it’s defined in both policies, the domain policy takes precedence.

Use the following steps to enable the Shutdown button on the Log On to Windows dialog box:

1. Open the Local Security Policy console from the Administrative Tools folder in the Control Panel.

2. Open the Local Policies\Security Options branch.

3. Double-click the policy “Allow system to be shut down without having to log on.”

4. Set the policy to Enabled and click OK.

5. Close the Local Security Policy console. The next time you log on you should be able to click Options to expand the dialog box and then click Shutdown to shut down the computer.