Want to be able to click a button on your desktop to shutdown your computer instead of having to click Start -> Turn Off Computer -> Turn Off every single time? All you have to do is create a shortcut on your desktop that points to shutdown.exe with the right switches included. This article describes how to create shutdown and restart buttons your your desktop so you can shutdown and restart your computer with minimum effort.
How to Create a Shutdown button:
Right click the desktop and select new -> shortcut and the Create Shortcut wizard will appear. Click the browse button and browse to C:WINDOWSsystem32shutdown.exe and click OK.
You need to add a "-s" switch to actually make the computer shut down, otherwise it just logs out the current user. You also need to add a "-t 0" switch to make it happen immediately instead waiting 30 seconds. Add both switches "-s -t 0" (without quotes, zero not the letter o) to the end of the text in the location box.
Now click next and finish. You will now have a functioning but ugly shutdown button on your desktop. To make it look nicer rename the shortcut, then right click and select properties, and select Change Icon to select a better icon.
How to Create a Restart button:
Its a little strange but Windows XP restarts using the same shutdown.exe file. So to create a restart button follow the same steps but above but use a -r switch instead of -s.
For full tutorial including images visit: http://www.intrepid.com.au/create-shutdown-and-restart-buttons-on-your-desktop/
