How to Shut Down, Sign Out or Restart Windows 8 the Easy Way

Friday, January 11, 2013
Here's a quick tip on how to sign out, shutdown or restart Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012 from the desktop the easy way.  Simply click the Windows Taskbar to give focus to the desktop and press Alt-F4.

Windows 8 presents a dropdown dialog box like this where you can easily switch user, signout, sleep, hibernate, shutdown or restart the computer:

Windows 8 Shut Down Dialog

Windows Server 2012 presents the following dialog box where your can disconnect (if connected via Remote Desktop), sign out, shut down, or restart the server:

Windows Server 2012 Shut Down Dialog
That's a heck of a lot easier than navigating through the charms, especially if your connected via RDP!
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8 comments:

  1. Pat RichardJanuary 11, 2013 at 11:58 AM

    Very cool. I also use this on each server and workstation: http://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/scriptcenter/Create-a-ShutdownRestartLog-37c8111d

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 11, 2013 at 6:28 PM

    I use WinKey+C then go to settings, Shutdown, Restart, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 11, 2013 at 6:29 PM

    Simple but powerful. thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2013 at 11:09 AM

    Windows + r, shutdown /s /t 0 for shutdown.

    Windows + r, shutdown /r /t 0 for restart.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jeff Guillet - @exptaJanuary 12, 2013 at 11:13 AM

    Thanks, but neither of these alternatives are easier or better than the solution I posted.

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownJanuary 15, 2013 at 11:53 AM

    I prefer ctrl-alt-del, click the Shut Down button in lower right and chose option.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jeff Guillet - @exptaJanuary 15, 2013 at 12:04 PM

      Almost none of the special key combinations, like Ctrl-Alt-Del, are available in an RDP session.

      Delete
  7. UnknownJanuary 16, 2013 at 6:58 PM

    in RDP, it is CTRL-ALT-END to bring up CAD options

    ReplyDelete

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