Windows XP / Getting Started

Using Shut Down and Restart Options

You can set up both the Shut Down and Restart icons mentioned earlier in this technique with options that you may find useful.

The number after the -t in the shortcut command specifies the number of seconds Windows waits before it makes its mad dash to the exits. If you want a bit of additional time, you can change that number. For example, if you use -s -t 15 Windows counts down for 15 seconds before pulling the plug.

If you have Windows wait a while before it shuts down or restarts, you can add your own message to the countdown dialog box that appears, ticking off the seconds.
The message in the dialog box is controlled by text that you use after the -c switch in the shortcut command. For example, this command:

shutdown -r -t 15 -c "To abort the shut down, double-click the 'Cancel' icon on the Desktop"

generates the System Shutdown warning box you see in Figure below. The -t 15 setting tells Windows to wait ten seconds before shutting down.

System Shutdown Warning Box

System Shutdown dialog box counts down the seconds.

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