Restart or Shut Down a Remote Computer and Document the Reason
Applies To: Windows Server 2008
In order to use this feature, the Remote Registry service must be enabled on the remote computer. See Enable the Remote Registry Service for more information.
Access to the Remote Registry or membership in the Administrators group on the remote computer is the minimum required to complete this procedure.
Using the Windows interface
Using a command line
Using the Windows interface
To restart or shut down a remote computer and document the reason using the Windows interface
Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, and click Command Prompt.
Type shutdown /i to display the Remote Shutdown dialog box (Shutdown.exe).
Under Computers, click Add to enter computer names, or click Browse to open the Find Computers dialog box.
Under What do you want these computers to do, click Restart or Shut down.
Select the appropriate reason for the restart or shutdown from the list.
Note
If a comment is required, the OK button will not be available until you type at least one character in the text box.
Additional considerations
Another way to start Command Prompt is to click Start, click in the Search box, type cmd, and press ENTER.
The Remote Registry service must be enabled on the remote computer for Shutdown Event Tracker to record information.
To shut down or restart a remote computer, the Remote Administration and Windows Management Instrumentation firewall exceptions must be enabled on the remote computer.
Additional references
Using a command line
Membership in the Administrators group, or equivalent, on the remote computer is the minimum required to complete this procedure.
To restart or shut down a remote computer and document the reason using the command line
Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, and click Command Prompt.
Type **shutdown /[r|s] /m \\**ComputerName /c "Comment" /d [u|p] <xx>:<yy> and then press ENTER.
| Value | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|
/r |
Restarts the remote computer. |
||
/s |
Shuts down the remote computer. |
||
/m \\ComputerName |
Specifies the destination computer. |
||
/c "Comment" |
Enables you to comment in detail about the reason for the shutdown. You can use a maximum of 511 characters. Comments must be enclosed in quotation marks. |
||
/d [u|p] xx:yy |
Lists the reason for the system restart or shutdown, where xx specifies a major reason number from 0 through 255, and yy specifies a minor reason number from 0 through 65,535. |
||
/force |
Forces the computer to shut down if other users are logged in. If this is not used and other users are logged in to the remote computer, the computer will not shut down or restart.
|
||
/t xxx |
Sets the time-out period before the system shuts down or restarts to xxx seconds. The valid range is 0-600, with a default of 30. Using the /t flag implies the /force option. |
.gif)
ImportantFor more detailed information about the shutdown command and additional options, type shutdown /? at the command prompt.
Additional considerations
Another way to start Command Prompt is to click Start, click in the Start Search box, type cmd, and press ENTER.
The Remote Registry service must be enabled on the remote computer for Shutdown Event Tracker to record information.
To shut down or restart a remote computer, the Remote Administration and Windows Management Instrumentation firewall exceptions must be enabled on the remote computer.