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PowerShell Shutdown Command - Stop-Computer

PowerShell Stop-Computer Cmdlet

If you want to use PowerShell to shutdown your machine, choose the Stop-Computer cmdlet.  The PowerShell stop-Computer cmdlet is very similar to the operating system's built-in shutdown command.  A likely scenario is that you wish to down a remote server.

Topics for PowerShell Shutdown Command

• Stop-Computer - Basics of Shutdown
• Simple Example of Stop-Computer
• Problems with Stop-Computer
• Restart-Computer

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Stop-Computer - Basics of Shutdown

If you want to use PowerShell to shutdown your machine, choose the Stop-Computer cmdlet.  However, let us start by investigating PowerShell cmdlets containing the noun 'computer'.  If you don't see stop-Computer among the results this will remind you to get the latest version of PowerShell v 2.0.

Researching Stop-Computer

Before we stop our first computer using a PowerShell command, it's well worth calling for help so that we can check the syntax and examine the parameters for stop-Computer.

Note 1:  I like to append the -full switch so that I can see the examples.  Two interesting parameters revealed with help are -force and -credential.  It's also worth noting that stop-Computer uses WMI, hence there are possible firewall restrictions on this command.

Note 2:  In the case of stop-Computer, I can see many opportunities to add the -confirm switch.  Admittedly I reached this conclusion only after I had shot myself in the foot, and downed my local machine instead of the network server I was aiming at!

Guy Recommends: A Free Wake-On-LAN Utility

Encouraging computers to sleep when not in use is a great idea - until you are away from your desk and need a file on that remote sleeping machine!

Wake-On-LAN really will save you that long walk to awaken a hibernating machine; however my reason for encouraging you to download this utility is just because it's so much fun sending those 'Magic Packets'.  As Wake-On-LAN (WOL) is free, see if I am right, and you get a kick from arousing those sleeping machines.  WOL also has business uses for example, wakening machines so that they can have their patches applied. 

Download your free copy of Wake-On-LAN

Simple Example of Stop-Computer

Example of Stop-Computer on Multiple Servers

Note 1: This example reboots multiple computers, the names of which are stored in a variable called $Victims.  You could extend this idea by employing Get-Content to read the names of the servers stored in a text file.  Incidentally, I have shortened the parameter -computerName to -comp, in PowerShell you can shorten parameters so long as the truncated word is unambiguous.

See also VBS Shutdown script.

Problems with Stop-Computer

• Error Message: The RPC server is unavailable. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x800706BA)
• Cause:  Firewall blocking the WMI / RPC command.
• Solution:  Turn off the firewalls, alternatively, open just the RPC ports 135 and 445.

Summary of Windows PowerShell Stop-Computer

Stop-Computer is very similar to the old shutdown command which has been built-in to generations of Windows operating systems.  The advantage of stop-Computer is that it's simpler than remembering whether you need a switch such as -s or -r, furthermore the backslashes can be troublesome with the shutdown command.

See more PowerShell examples for Shutdown commands

• PowerShell Home   • Syntax   • Stop-Computer   • Restart Computer 

• Get-Credential   • Windows PowerShell

Please email me if you have a better example script. Also please report any factual mistakes, grammatical errors or broken links, I will be happy to correct the fault.

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