Rules for turning off the computer - how to shut down. Why you can’t turn off your computer without first shutting down How to turn off your computer

Turning off a computer is a fairly typical procedure that rarely causes any difficulties for anyone. However, if you need to turn off the computer not right now, but after some time, then everything is a little more complicated. Now we will tell you how to turn off your computer after a certain time.

Turn off the computer after a certain time using the command line

The easiest option is to use the shutdown command. This command can be entered into, but the easiest way is to open the Run window (using the Windows-R key combination) and enter commands into it.

The shutdown command has many options. If you want to get acquainted with them all, then run the command “shutdown/?”. We will consider only a few of the most basic of them:

• /s – shutdown:
• /h – hibernation:
• /f – forcefully closes all open programs without warning the user;
• /t – setting the timer in seconds;

So, in order to turn off the computer after a certain time, we need to run the shutdown command with the /s (shutdown the computer) and /t (set a timer) parameters. Thus, the final command to shut down the computer will look something like this:

• shutdown /s /t 60

After executing this command, the computer will turn off after 60 seconds. Naturally, you can specify not 60 seconds, but any other time you need (in seconds). If necessary, you can use the shutdown command to restart your computer or put it into hibernation. To do this, change the /s parameter to /r (reboot) or /h (hibernate).

Turn off the computer after a certain time using a scheduler

Another option is to use the Task Scheduler. To launch Task Scheduler, open the Start menu and enter the phrase “Task Scheduler” into the search. You can also start the Task Scheduler by running the taskschd.msc command.

After starting the Task Scheduler, you need to create a new task and configure it to turn off the computer after a certain time. To do this, click on the “Create a simple task” button.

After this, a window for creating tasks will appear in front of you. At the first stage, you just need to enter the name of the task and click on the “Next” button.

Next we need to select the trigger frequency for our task. If you want to turn off the computer only once, then select the “Once” option. If necessary, you can select the “Daily” or any other option.

The next step is to select the action that will be performed when the task is triggered. Here you need to select the “Run a program” option.

After this, you need to enter the shutdown command and parameters for it. For example, let's enter the /s parameter (shutdown the computer) and the /t parameter (60-second timer).

At this point, the creation of the task is completed; at the last stage, simply click on the “Finish” button.

After this, the task you created will appear in the Scheduler Library.

Turn off the computer after a certain time using programs

You can also use specialized programs to turn off your computer after a certain time. For example, we will look at two popular programs of this kind.

Airytec Switch Off is a small system program that allows you to automatically turn off your computer at a certain time. This program has a small number of functions and a fairly simple interface. Thanks to this, anyone can handle it. It should also be noted that this program has a WB interface. This allows you to turn off your computer over a local network or even over the Internet.

A powerful program to turn off your computer. This program has many settings, which allows you to adapt it to any task. Among the shortcomings of this program, one can highlight the very confusing interface, which can scare away inexperienced users.

Shutting down your computer seems like a quick and easy task for a confident PC user, but if the system is frozen, an incorrect shutdown can lead to loss of files and damage to programs running in the background. Find out how you can turn off a computer running Windows in different ways from our article.

Start Menu

Before shutting down, you need to close all files and running applications, then click “Start”, in the window that opens, select “Shut down” and click on the button of the same name. Instant access to the main menu is provided by the Ctrl + Esc keys or the Win button (Windows OS logo), then the session ends as in the method described above.

Keyboard shortcut

• Simultaneous key press ALT+F4 will minimize all windows, then display a menu in which you can select the “Shutdown” task, press “Ok” or Enter.
• Key combination Ctrl+Alt+Delete calls up a hidden menu that allows you to lock the computer, change the user, or launch the task manager, etc. The computer shutdown button appears in the lower right corner.
• Keyboard shortcut Win+I in the eighth version of Windows, it provides quick access to computer settings, including ending the session. Buttons Win+L in the same OS they are displayed on the lock screen with the PC shutdown icon.

Using hot keys is especially important if the computer is frozen and does not respond to user commands.

shutdown.exe utility

Shutdown.exe is a Windows system utility that shuts down or restarts the computer at a user-specified time. Its main advantage is closing background programs in safe mode. You can manage the utility in three ways:

• via the command line;
• through a specially created shortcut;
• using the Win+R buttons.

Automatic computer shutdown is configured as follows:

1. Enter the “Start” menu - “All Programs” - “Accessories” - “System Tools” - “Scheduled Tasks”.
2. Click on the “Add task” line.
3. Open the program: click on “Browse” and in the C:\Windows\System32 folder find and select the shutdown.exe utility.
4. Specify the name of the task, its execution time, frequency (on Mondays, weekends, etc.) and the task start date.
5. Enter your account password (if there is no password, you need to create and install it).
6. Complete the task setup by specifying “Set additional parameters after...” in the settings and click on the “Finish” button.
7. Specify the command to shut down the computer: C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe –s, where s is the time to automatically shut down the computer.
8. Click on the “Apply” and “Ok” buttons.

If all these manipulations seem too complicated, you can download the PowerOff program. It can turn off and restart the computer using a timer, end the current session, etc. PowerOff has a simple interface; even an inexperienced user can set the settings to automatically turn off the computer.

Turning off the computer at a specified time is important when downloading heavy files. So, if the user downloads a file at a late time, so as not to leave the computer turned on all night, he sets parameters in the program. At the specified time, the system is activated and switched off.

If the computer does not respond to commands

If the computer is frozen and does not respond to hotkey commands, you need to press the on/off button on the laptop or system unit and hold it for several seconds. Unfortunately, this method does not guarantee the preservation of data, but it helps to get the computer into working condition.

Hello.

There are times when it is not possible to finish working on the computer in the usual way (via the Start menu). Either the monitor will burn out, or the mouse will stop working, or a system failure will occur when the ports become inactive.

True, this will not help everyone, but only owners of Windows systems.

Using keyboard shortcuts

There are several key combinations that allow you to safely shut down Windows:

Option one

Ctrl + Alt + Del. A well-known set. Press them at the same time, and a menu will appear in front of you, where you can use the arrow on the keyboard to reach the arrow on the red shutdown button located on the screen. Press Enter once to open its menu and a second time to select the desired action. In our case, “Shutdown”.

If your screen is not active, then this is done like this: Press the combination, then press Tab 9 times, then Enter, then ↓ once and Enter again.

Option two

Alt+F4. On laptops, you may also need to press the Fn button. Next Enter.

Hold down these hotkeys to hide everything on your desktop first. Do the same thing again. A window will appear in front of you asking you to turn off the computer. Press Enter.

Third way

Win. Click this button on the keyboard - the Windows logo is drawn on it.

It will expand the Start menu.

If you have Win10 and your screen is not active, then press Tab once. Then press the ↓ button for a few seconds and press Enter. The completion menu will open. Next, press ↓ again and then Enter.

If the screen is active, then in principle you can do the same thing, but you will accordingly see everything that is happening. Navigate through the menu using the arrows and use Enter to make selections.

That's all.

I will be glad if you come here again.

There are many situations when you need to leave your computer unattended. For example, this may be the need to download a large file at night. At the same time, having completed what was planned, the system must shut down its work to avoid downtime. And here you can’t do without special tools that allow you to turn off your PC depending on the time. This article will discuss system methods, as well as third-party solutions for auto-shutdown of a PC.

You can set the auto-shutdown timer in Windows using external utilities, a system tool "Shutdown" And "Command line". There are now many programs that shut down the system on their own. Basically, they perform only those actions for which they were invented. But some have even greater capabilities.

Method 1: PowerOff

Let's start getting acquainted with timers with a fairly functional program PowerOff, which, in addition to turning off the computer, can block it, put the system into sleep mode, reboot and force it to perform certain actions, including turning off the Internet connection and creating a restore point. The built-in scheduler allows you to create an event schedule for at least every day of the week for all computers connected to the network.

The program monitors the processor load - sets its minimum load and the time it is recorded, and also keeps statistics on work on the Internet. Conveniences available: diary and settings "hot keys". There is another option - managing the Winamp media player, which consists of shutting it down after playing a certain number of tracks or after the last one from the list. A dubious advantage at the moment, but at the time when the timer was created it was very useful. To activate the standard timer you must:

Method 2: Aitetyc Switch Off

To turn off the PC using a timer, the user has a choice. Standard OS tools make it easy to set the computer shutdown time. The functional continuity of different versions of Windows is also evident in relation to such tools. In the entire line of this OS, setting the timer parameters is approximately similar and differs only due to the features of the interface. However, such tools do not contain many useful functions, for example, setting a specific time to turn off the PC. Third-party solutions do not have such shortcomings. And if the user often has to resort to auto-completion, then it is recommended to use any of the third-party programs with advanced settings.

To ensure long-term uninterrupted operation of any computer, be it a home desktop PC or laptop, it is necessary to shut it down correctly. Many novice users neglect this point, not knowing or forgetting that incorrect actions at this stage can lead to the loss of working information. And over time, it threatens to require reinstalling the operating system. Not to mention the hardware failure of your PC. This happens quite rarely, but such a risk cannot be completely eliminated.

The shutdown procedure is very simple and can be done in several ways. Let's look into the details.

Do I need to turn off my computer?

You may think: why doesn’t someone turn it off? Yes, and there may be several reasons:

• the computer is sent to sleep or hibernation mode rather than turned off;
• the computer is simply not turned off so as not to waste time turning it on;
• The computer is not turned off at night so that movies or other files can be downloaded at night.

However, there are plenty of objective reasons for switching off. Below are just a few of them:

• A working modern computer is a rather “gluttonous” device in terms of energy consumption. Therefore, its aimless operation leads to a significant increase in the monthly electricity bill.
• The slight noise of the coolers of a working system unit, as well as the burning indicators of the system blog at night can interfere with restful sleep (if the computer is in the bedroom). Therefore, it is better not to download large files (torrents, movies) at night.
• It is undesirable to leave electrical appliances turned on in a house, apartment or office when no one is there.
• Long-term continuous operation of the computer reduces the service life of the equipment.
• All components of the system unit located in it are installed only with the power off. These are RAM modules, sound cards, processor, most hard drives, etc. We understood the detailed structure of the system unit. Therefore, if you need to install an additional module in the system unit, the computer will need to be turned off.

Forced shutdown of the computer

Constantly using the methods described below to turn off the computer is extremely contraindicated for the “health” of the computer. However, many novice users, due to ignorance of the correct ways to handle computer equipment, abuse this method of turning off the computer, and then wonder why their computer does not start.

Unplug the cord from the outlet... Caution!!!

The usual action of unplugging an electrical appliance from the socket is not applicable to a computer. No, of course, you can experiment...

But I can’t vouch for the continued normal functioning of the device!

The fact is that during operation, all the necessary data from operating system programs (you can find out what an operating system is and why it is needed at all) and documents are stored in the computer’s RAM. The hard drive is primarily used for persistent storage, and the correct steps must be taken to write data to it when it is turned off.

A sudden shutdown “from the socket” is an emergency option for stopping the computer, in which system files may be damaged, which will not allow the computer to start the next time.

Imagine that you are thinking about an important task and suddenly fall asleep! About the same effect will happen with a computer.

Similar consequences can occur if the uninterruptible power supply suddenly turns off. If you are not yet “familiar” with this life-saving device, then let’s briefly understand its purpose.

An uninterruptible power supply (also known as a UPS) can provide continuous power to your computer in the event of a sudden loss of electrical current in the network. Usually, it is not intended for long-term work, but only allows you to correctly save all open documents, close programs and turn off the computer within a few minutes. All working data will not be lost.

By the way, computer literacy tests often include the following question: “When you turn off the computer, all information is erased in...”

Answer: in RAM. Everything is saved on the hard drive.

Forcing the computer to shut down using the power button

You can turn off a frozen computer (which does not respond to keyboard or mouse presses) by pressing the power button (also known as the power button) on the system unit and holding it down. Shutdown will occur after approximately 3-4 seconds of holding the button pressed.

It is also undesirable to abuse this method, since this shutdown option is an emergency and can damage system files and lead to the loss of information important to you.

I use it only when the computer is really hopelessly frozen and does not respond to any actions for 15-20 minutes.

Therefore, I once again draw your attention!

Turning off the computer by unplugging the power cord, pulling the power cord, or uninterruptible power supply (UPS) button without shutting down the operating system correctly will result in the loss of all unsaved data and, over time, the operating system will no longer function normally.

Modern operating systems will warn you about open programs before shutting down your computer.

Properly shutting down your computer

Preparation before shutdown

To ensure the safety of open documents and files that you directly worked with, before turning off the computer, you must perform a number of actions:

• save the results of your work in open programs;
• remove the disk from the drive, if it is there;
• close running applications/programs;
• give a command to turn off the computer using one of the methods that we will discuss below.

How to turn off your computer in Windows 7 via the Start menu.

Click on the button. It's located in the Start menu:

If there are open programs and unsaved documents, after clicking the button, the system will issue a warning asking you to close the programs.

If unsaved documents are not important to you, then you can speed up the shutdown process by clicking on the “Force shutdown” button.

If the documents are important, click the “Cancel” button, save the documents and close the programs and again click on “Shut down” in the “Start” menu

Next, wait until the system unit turns off (the screen will go dark, the system unit will stop buzzing, and the system unit’s power indicator will go out). After which you can turn off the UPS (uninterruptible power supply), if available, or the power strip key.
By the way, to protect your computer, another useful acquisition can be a surge protector (), just don’t confuse it with a simple extension cord!

How to turn off your computer in Windows 8 via the Start menu

To turn off your computer in Windows 8, just click on the start button (usually in the lower left corner of the Desktop). And then click on the computer shutdown icon in the upper right corner of the window.

From the menu that opens, select “Shut down.”

We wait for the system unit to turn off and turn off the power by unplugging it from the outlet or using the surge protector button or on the UPS.

Alternative options

Method 1 - start shutdown by briefly pressing the shutdown button

You can turn off your desktop computer by briefly pressing the power button on the system unit. Further actions in the case of open programs are similar to the steps described above.

If there are none, the computer will turn off automatically.

A short press on the computer's power button will begin the shutdown process (equivalent to selecting the Shutdown option in Windows, as described above).

Method 2 - How to turn off your computer using the keyboard

While on the Desktop, press the key combination “Alt+F4”. A shutdown window appears.

Click the “Ok” button. We wait for the system unit to turn off and turn it off

Turn off the laptop

When turning off the laptop, the methods discussed above are available, but there is an easier way. You simply close its lid. It automatically goes into “sleep” mode, and in case of further prolonged “rest” it will automatically turn off, saving everything stored in RAM to the hard drive. When you turn on the computer again, all data will be restored to the state it was when you closed the laptop lid. This is the default behavior of the laptop, however, it can be changed.

Be careful, your laptop may behave differently when closing the lid!

The behavior of the laptop when the lid is closed can be customized and we will talk about this in a separate article.

Automatic computer shutdown according to schedule (timer)

In your daily interactions with your computer, you may need to turn it off while you are away. For example, the process of copying a CD or defragmenting a hard drive, or processing a video file takes a long time, and you need to go away or just go to bed. How to optimally organize the computer shutdown in this case?

There are several options:

• Some programs have a designed function to automatically turn off the computer after completing assigned tasks (for example, uTorrent, Download Master);
• standard Windows tools allow you to configure shutdown automatically by time;
• There are third-party programs to automatically shut down your computer.

If you are still wondering what computer programs are, read.

As part of our “dialogue”, we will only consider using the standard “Task Scheduler” of the Windows system to organize the daily shutdown of the computer at a certain time of day. This is convenient, for example, for turning off the computer in the evening or at the end of the working day without your participation.

To start working with this program, go to the “Start” menu -> “Accessories” -> “Utilities”, select “Task Scheduler”.

We left-click on it and in the window that appears, select “Create a simple task...”

We call it arbitrarily, but it is clear to us, the planned action. Click the “Next” button...

We define the task trigger, that is, we set the mode of its execution.

Let's specify the time parameters.

In the next window we determine the required action. We are interested in “Running programs”.

We indicate the command to be executed and its additional parameters.

In the next window, after checking the entered data and clicking the “Finish” button, we will create a new task for the system.

Double-clicking with the left mouse button on it will open the task properties for editing.

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