Preventing users from shutting Windows 7 PC

Posted Date: 07-Aug-2010		Category: Microsoft Windows
Author: Raghav	Member Level: Gold
Rating:	Points: 25 (Rs 20)

Sometimes there will be a requirement that others should not shut down a Windows 7 PC if they are not logged in. There is a button to shutdown your computer at the lower right hand corner of login screen. In this article, I will explain how to remove that Shutdown button from login screen so that PC can be shutdown only if you are logged in to the system.

how to prevent users from shutting down Windows 7 PC unless they are logged in

If you have observed the login screen of your Windows 7 computer, you will see a button at the lower right hand corner to shut down the computer. By clicking on that button, any one can shut down the computer even if that person is not logged in to your computer.

If your computer is a shared computer as in an internet cafe, it is not desirable to shut it down because other people are connected to the internet through your computer. In such a situations, you need to remove that shut down button in the login screen of your Windows 7 computer. Once that button is removed, you can shut down your computer only by logging in to the computer.

It is possible to remove the shutdown button in Windows 7 login screen by changing some settings in Local Security Policy in Administrative Tools.

Login into your Windows 7 computer using Administrator account. Click on Start --> All Programs --> Administrative Tools -->Local Security Policy.

Now the Local Security Policy dialog box will open. You should now click on the folder with title 'Local Policies' and then click on the folder with name 'Secuirty Options'.

Now you should be able to see a security policy with title 'Shutdown: Allow System To Be Shut Down Without Having To Log In' in the right pane. You just have to right-click on this option and select 'Properties'.

This option is enabled by default. You have to click on the radio button labelled 'Disabled' and then click on OK button. Now you can close the Local Security Policy window.

That is all. Now it is not possible for any one to shutdown the Windows 7 computer without logging into the PC. You have to login as some user and then only it is possible to shut down the computer.

Hope this is useful to all of you.

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