Windows Vista / Getting Started

Can't Figure Out How to Turn Off My PC

Windows XP's Start button offered a convenient Turn Off Computer button. Vista, by contrast, places two buttons in that convenient spot, and neither one turns off your PC. The one on the left puts your PC in a "low power state," and the other quickly password protects your account when you walk away for a short period.

To turn off your PC, click the arrow on the right of the two buttons and choose Shut Down.

To transform the left button (shown in the margin) into a simple On/Off switch, follow these steps:

  1. Click the Start button, choose Control Panel, choose System and Maintenance, and choose Power Options and then in the task pane along the left, click Choose What the Power Buttons Do.
  2. Select Shut Down from the Power Button's pull-down menu, and click Save Changes.
[Previous] [Contents] [Next]