Saving 30 Precious Seconds For Windows

By Author: Daniel O`Connor
Total Articles: 14
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There are fewer things more frustrating when you`re in a hurry at the end of a working day than having to wait for your computer to be good and ready to shut down. You`re nodding your head in indignant agreement right now, aren`t you?!

You`re against the clock. The train home you want to catch is exactly 12 minutes from your desk if you walk briskly. It`s too hot outside to run. You absolutely want to leave *right now*.

But your computer is being as pedantic as ever.

As always, it wants you to go to the `Start` icon in the bottom-left of the screen, then `Turn Off Computer`, then the choice between `Stand By`, `Turn Off` and `Restart`. And all the time you`re starting to sweat and shake with irritation. You click the mouse in desperation and realise you`ve carelessly missed the `Turn Off` icon and hit `Restart` instead. Noooooo..

But there`s a better way.

How grateful would you be if I told you the way to make a button on your desktop which would zap the computer to sleep immediately? Seriously. I`m talking Vulcan nerve pinch here. You`d be interested, wouldn`t you?

Here`s how you ...
... do it:

Desktop Shutdown Button

- Right click your mouse on the desktop
- Click on `New` then `Shortcut` and open the Create Shortcut Wizard
- Type `shutdown -s -t 00` in the box, exactly as I`ve done here, but without the apostrophes
- Click `Next` and put in the name of the button - `Shutdown`, maybe
- Click `Finish`

It`s as simple as that. Double-clicking the new shutdown button you`ve created will switch the computer off immediately. No more fussing around and no more having to rush for that train.

Here`s how to make your button more noticeable by assigning it a graphic icon:

- Right click on the button
- Click `Properties`
- Select the `Shortcut` tab
- Click `Change Icon` and choose from the selection it gives you

Desktop Reboot Button

If you want to have a button that immediately reboots your computer instead of shutting it down, that`s just as easy. This is what you do:

- Everything written above, except that you type `shutdown -r -t 00` in the box and not `shutdown -s -t 00`
- And don`t forget to call the button `Reboot`

And assigning it a graphic icon is just as easy as with the Shutdown button. Just follow the same steps as above.

Hey presto! How much do you love me now?