Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Disable the Turn off computer button on the Welcome screen

By default, the Microsoft Windows XP logon screen displays a Turn off computer button. This display seems convenient, until one of your kids happens to shut down your computer and close all your programs. To prevent this from happening, you can disable the Turn off computer button. You can still shut down your computer; you just have to log on with a computer administrator account first.

Turn off computer button on the Welcome screen

To disable the Turn off computer button on the Welcome screen

1.

Log on to your computer as an administrator. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

Start menu with Control Panel selected

2.

Click Performance and Maintenance.

Control Panel window with Performance and Maintenance selected

3.

Click Administrative Tools.

Performance and Maintenance window with Administrative Tools selected

4.

Double-click Local Security Policy.

Administrative Tools window with pointer on Local Security Policy icon

5.

Expand Local Policies by clicking the plus sign next to it, and then click Security Options.

Local Security Settings page

6.

In the right pane, double-click the Shutdown: Allow system to be shut down without having to log on policy.

The Local Security Settings page with the Shutdown policy selected

7.

Click Disabled, and then click OK.

The Shutdown policy dialog box with Disabled selected

Windows XP removes the Turn off computer button from the Welcome screen—so no more shutting down without logging on!

2 comments:

Zom-B said...

Useless. I agree, the button on the log in screen is gone, but when I press the power button, a dialog asking to shut down or stand by still appears, and works.

How do I get rid of any possibility to have unauthorized users shut down my computer while my screen is locked??

Zom-B said...

Addendum:

I could just disable the power button altogether by assigning it to "Do nothing", but I still want the power button to function when I'm logged in and not locked.