Windows Server Shutdown Commands

Windows Server 2008 Shutdown Command LineSwitches

Shutdown is a useful built-in command line program found in Windows Server 2008 and client operating systems such as Windows 7.  Administrators love experimenting with this utility because it has such a dramatic effect – it can down or reboot a server.

Windows Server 2008 ‘Shutdown’ Topics

• Shutdown – The Basics
• Shutdown – Select your ComputerName
• Remote Restart Windows Server
• Shutdown – Explore the Additional Commands
• Windows 7 Shutdown Commands
• Windows 8 Shutdown Command
• Windows Server 2012 Shutdown

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Shutdown Command – The Basics

The shutdown executable is available at the command line in Windows Server 2008 and earlier operating systems right back to XP.  As we need the DOS box, begin by typing cmd; your first real decision is do you want to shutdown (-s), or reboot (-r) the local server?

Sooner or later, everyone makes the mistake of accidentally downing the local machine instead of the target computer.  To recover from this mistake pay close attention to the syntax of Shutdown’s abort switch -a.

Shutdown – Select Your ComputerName

The default computername is the local machine, naturally, for the ‘Remote’ switch you need /m.  The full command would be:
Shutdown /s /m \\ComputerName.  If the slashes look slightly strange, you could try
Shutdown -s -m \\ComputerName, in this example, ‘ComputerName’ is the hostname of the remote operating system.  None of these commands is case sensitive so sHUTDOWN /R /m \\ComputerName would work just as well.

Note 1:  There is no space between the double backslash and the computername
\\  ComputerName would not work.

Note 2:  If you substitute -r for -s that would mean ‘Reboot’ and not Shutdown.

  For testing /m on the local machine, try 127.0.0.1
For example, shutdown /s /m  \\127.0.0.1  Such a command is useful in batch files.  Alternatively, to reboot numerous computers try PowerShell’s command Restart-Computer.

Examples of Shutdown switches

shutdown /s /m \\Laptop – Shuts down, or stops a remote machine called ‘Laptop’

shutdown /r /m \\Laptop – Reboots a remote machine called ‘Laptop

Note 3: For once the sequence of switches is vital, hence shutdown /m /s \\Laptop does not work.

Shutdown – Explore the Additional Commands

-t is for time.  Is 30 seconds too short (or too long) a time?   You can adjust with -t: 60 to display the dialog box for one minute. Maximum is 600 seconds.

-a will abort or cancel.   See more about Cancel Windows Shutdown

-f is for force.  ‘Mr Nasty’, is coming – ready or not!  Shutdown -r -f as you may have guessed, restarts the machine, and closes any programs without warning.

-c is for a comment.  Would you like to put your stamp on the shutdown?  Let people know who is in charge, who is shutting them down?  -c "Guy is shutting you down"

-d p:4:1 reason.  Personally, I would avoid this switch, the syntax is tricky the numbers obscure and worst of all it does nothing exciting.  That said the idea is sound, it enters a reason for the shutdown in the event log.  If you activate shutdown’s help, then you will get a whole list of major and minor reasons that you could employ with this switch.  For me, this switch is an option, an option that I do not take.

Note 1: The shutdown command line switches work equally well with a forward slash, for example, /d, /r or /a  
(instead of -d, -r or -a)

Note 2: Here is another example of Shutdown in action

Tip – Launch The GUI With Shutdown /i

Consider making a shortcut to shutdown.  The advantage is that you can include the -i  (/i) for interactive switch.  The benefit is that you have a GUI to control your shutdowns or restarts. 

Just right-click the desktop,  New, Shortcut, type
Shutdown -i

A shortcut is born.  (See screenshot above right).

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Restart-Computer PowerShell Cmdlet

As an alternative to the built-in Windows Server shutdown command try PowerShell.  It has a family of cmdlets such as Stop-Computer and Restart-Computer.  A likely scenario is that you wish to automate the reboot of a remote server.  With a tiny substitution to the cmdlet’s verb you could change the command so that it simply shuts down the computer.  See more about using PowerShell’s restart-Computer cmdlet.

Separate Problem Event Tracker

How to disable the annoying shutdown tracker menu.

Here are instructions to modify group policy to disable shutdown tracker.

Summary of Windows Server Shutdown Commands

It’s fun to learn the Windows Server 2008 shutdown command line switches, and one day they will save you a long walk when you want restart or stop a remote computer.  My advice is to perfect the /a (abort) switch, that way you won’t panic if you issue a command to shutdown the local computer instead of the network machine. 

For beginners, shutdown /i gives you time to check the options in a GUI.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Topics:

• Server 2008 Home   • Overview   • What’s New?   • Migration Advice   • Install   • SP1 Review

• AD DC   • Roles   • Features   • Editions   • Hyper-V   • UAC   • IPv6   • Group Policy   • Free NPM Trial