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Alt F4 does work, but you must click on the empty part of the screen. If your cursor happens to be on say calculator or calendar or some other displayed information on your screen, it will either do nothing or shut down that particular area or program. Just something that might confuse people. I don't necessarily close my calendar and To do list or my google gadget area when I shut off my computer.
Why would I now seek any other workaround, this is so straightforward that primitive shutdown from mouse or keyboard Is now obsolete
people just don't get it as now they are so used to shutdown from a start menu
people just don't get it as now they are so used to shutdown from a start menu
People are still used to a forced shut down using the power button, when windows would hang. Years ago, using the power button under any circumstances was nearly equivalent to a power failure, causing a "dirty" shut down - I.e. where files and programs were not closed in an orderly manner before the system shut down. (Even today, you can force it down by holding the power button until it stops.). This could cause file and program damage, possibly even preventing the system from booting again.
Many IT Deartments instructed their users to NEVER shut down using the power button. In fact, doing so was likely the single most common reason for system failures, when users got impatient and shut down systems this way during Microsoft Updates to the O/S!
For some time now, however, systems have been configurable for what they do when the power button is briefly pressed. I believe that on many laptops, vendors have set this to put the computer in a sleep or suspended state. Most desktops probably come with this configured to shut down in an orderly fashion. BUT truth is you can still Force a shut down by pressing and holding the power button, and unless the system is truly "hung", its still not a good idea.
Before using the power button to shut down, be sure you know what the power button is configured to do (power off, suspend, or sleep), and make sure you know the difference between pressing the power button briefly, and holding it down.
Many IT Deartments instructed their users to NEVER shut down using the power button. In fact, doing so was likely the single most common reason for system failures, when users got impatient and shut down systems this way during Microsoft Updates to the O/S!
For some time now, however, systems have been configurable for what they do when the power button is briefly pressed. I believe that on many laptops, vendors have set this to put the computer in a sleep or suspended state. Most desktops probably come with this configured to shut down in an orderly fashion. BUT truth is you can still Force a shut down by pressing and holding the power button, and unless the system is truly "hung", its still not a good idea.
Before using the power button to shut down, be sure you know what the power button is configured to do (power off, suspend, or sleep), and make sure you know the difference between pressing the power button briefly, and holding it down.
Jensen Harris talks about deciding to make something that's familiar versus making something than expands on the original. (http://uxweek.com/2012/speakers/jensen-harris/) I don't think what he says is gospel, and I think he likes Toyotas more than any one person should, but he touches on the basic concept of changing what everyone is familiar with to something believed to make the original product (environment?) better or different enough to get more people using it. Check out the aforementioned link.
What are the short cut commands for 1) restart in safe mode and 2) restart in safe mode with networking?
1) Open file explorer and find folder C:\Apps\pwr (see fig. pwr1) with icons created
from Greg Shultz article: Shutdown Windows 8 right from the desktop
http://www.techrepublic.com/photos/shutdown-windows-8-right-from-the-desktop/6396886?seq=2&tag=thumbnail-view-selector;get-photo-roto
Note: you can leave the taskbar option as shutdown if you prefer.
2) Click on Name header to reorder icons (see fig. pwr2)
3) Click taskbar, click toolbars and New Toobar (see fig. pwr3)
4) In New Toolbar, find folder C:\Apps\pwr and type pwr and click Select Folder
to make pwr option on taskbar (see fig. pwr4)
5) Click on >> beside pwr, click and hold shutdown icon to move it to the top of list. (see fig. pwr5 & pwr6)
6) Click on the toolbar separator to the left of pwr and drag it to the left (see
fig. pwr7) with about half the icon visible.
7) Click on lock toolbar so that pwr icons do not reorder.
Sorry! I can't figure out how to attached the figures referenced...
from Greg Shultz article: Shutdown Windows 8 right from the desktop
http://www.techrepublic.com/photos/shutdown-windows-8-right-from-the-desktop/6396886?seq=2&tag=thumbnail-view-selector;get-photo-roto
Note: you can leave the taskbar option as shutdown if you prefer.
2) Click on Name header to reorder icons (see fig. pwr2)
3) Click taskbar, click toolbars and New Toobar (see fig. pwr3)
4) In New Toolbar, find folder C:\Apps\pwr and type pwr and click Select Folder
to make pwr option on taskbar (see fig. pwr4)
5) Click on >> beside pwr, click and hold shutdown icon to move it to the top of list. (see fig. pwr5 & pwr6)
6) Click on the toolbar separator to the left of pwr and drag it to the left (see
fig. pwr7) with about half the icon visible.
7) Click on lock toolbar so that pwr icons do not reorder.
Sorry! I can't figure out how to attached the figures referenced...
With your mouse click the desktop background (in desktop)
Press + and up pops the shutdown dialog (standard one the same except window dressing since Windows 3.0)
Why do people always try the most complicated things to do stuff? All of the short cut keays are there from all of the old windows versions including all of the alt shortcuts, ctrl shortcuts and the windows keys short cuts (Windows+m) for show desktop.
Alt-tab works both in desktop and metro, and alt-f4 also closes metro apps as well.
Remember that anything you would swipe with a finger also scrolls with the mouse wheel as well, such as the start screen, scrolling the mouse wheel moves the screen side to side.
So my best advice for mouse and keyboard on Windows 8, use the mouse wheel and alt key shortcuts and you will be fine.
Press + and up pops the shutdown dialog (standard one the same except window dressing since Windows 3.0)
Why do people always try the most complicated things to do stuff? All of the short cut keays are there from all of the old windows versions including all of the alt shortcuts, ctrl shortcuts and the windows keys short cuts (Windows+m) for show desktop.
Alt-tab works both in desktop and metro, and alt-f4 also closes metro apps as well.
Remember that anything you would swipe with a finger also scrolls with the mouse wheel as well, such as the start screen, scrolling the mouse wheel moves the screen side to side.
So my best advice for mouse and keyboard on Windows 8, use the mouse wheel and alt key shortcuts and you will be fine.
Sure, we geeks do, but the average user figures the mouse is the 'easiest way to do it'. How many 'Windows for Beginners' classes teach keyboard shortcuts?
I feel Shutdown/Restart on right click menu on desktop is elegant as I read in some PC magazine.
The following registry entries do the trick. The entries contain Lock Computer, Shutdown, Restart, Hibernate and Sleep. You can selectively add the functions. This also works in Windows 7.
After adding the entries to registry, right click on the desktop back and select the shutdown or other options.
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Lock Computer]
"icon"="shell32.dll,-325"
"Position"="Bottom"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Lock Computer\command]
@="Rundll32 User32.dll,LockWorkStation"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Restart Computer]
"icon"="shell32.dll,-221"
"Position"="Bottom"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Restart Computer\command]
@="shutdown.exe -r -t 15"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Shut Down Computer]
"icon"="shell32.dll,-329"
"Position"="Bottom"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Shut Down Computer\command]
@="shutdown.exe -s -t 15"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Sleep Mode]
"icon"="shell32.dll,-331"
"Position"="Bottom"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Sleep Mode\command]
@="rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Hibernate Computer]
"icon"="shell32.dll,-16771"
"Position"="Bottom"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Hibernate Computer\command]
@="rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState 0,1,0"
The following registry entries do the trick. The entries contain Lock Computer, Shutdown, Restart, Hibernate and Sleep. You can selectively add the functions. This also works in Windows 7.
After adding the entries to registry, right click on the desktop back and select the shutdown or other options.
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Lock Computer]
"icon"="shell32.dll,-325"
"Position"="Bottom"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Lock Computer\command]
@="Rundll32 User32.dll,LockWorkStation"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Restart Computer]
"icon"="shell32.dll,-221"
"Position"="Bottom"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Restart Computer\command]
@="shutdown.exe -r -t 15"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Shut Down Computer]
"icon"="shell32.dll,-329"
"Position"="Bottom"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Shut Down Computer\command]
@="shutdown.exe -s -t 15"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Sleep Mode]
"icon"="shell32.dll,-331"
"Position"="Bottom"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Sleep Mode\command]
@="rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Hibernate Computer]
"icon"="shell32.dll,-16771"
"Position"="Bottom"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Hibernate Computer\command]
@="rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState 0,1,0"
Just set this up on a client's PC and thought I'd see what happened if he (accidentally or deliberately) closed the Shut down taskbar.
Well, what I saw was that it was no longer available in the list and that the original folder in which I'd created the shortcuts to the various power options (including customising icons) had disappeared, too.
Well, what I saw was that it was no longer available in the list and that the original folder in which I'd created the shortcuts to the various power options (including customising icons) had disappeared, too.
Working with Students with limited know-how--or actually caring-I put two icon shortcuts on the Desktop: SHUT DOWN and RESTART.
They both have keyboard commands if they want to use them.
They both have keyboard commands if they want to use them.
Great article. This non third party approach is great for getting use to W8 while still holding on to UI items we need for productivity (a security blanket so to speak) while transitioning. Life should be fun and being dumped into a whole new interface and way of thinking about our navigation is no cake walk for some (most normal ones anyway) users. Thanks Greg, I'm sure I'll use your many tips-n-tricks where they can add user comfort and relieve frustration.
I don't like to have to remember too many shortcuts to do the same thing. The one works both places and if you have some app like calculator, To do or Sticky Note up on your desktop Alt F4 will have to close each individually before it shuts down, so you would have to Alt F4 several times whereas with CTL ALT DEL it is just one time.
Bonus - If you are loading a small app automatically at boot like a sticky Note on your desktop, guess what, you boot directly to desktop.
Bonus - If you are loading a small app automatically at boot like a sticky Note on your desktop, guess what, you boot directly to desktop.
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