Can XP be set to shut down at specific time?

[zettler]

Easy question but dificult to compose...

I have a son who likes to stay on his PC way past when he is supposed to and his grades are suffering.

Can I, as an administrator or whatever, in Windows XP Professional, set it up so that the PC's operating system will shut down at a specific time - or for specific periods of time???

I have been wanting to see what I can do to "help" him remember to get to bed or the like forever it seems - and I cannot keep staying up all night or disable the PC's in our home simply to "help" him not to forget going to bed....

Any counsel and assistance is appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[spyordie007]

You could create a batch script that initiates a shutdown and than schedule it using scheduled tasks in the control panel.

shutdown.bat example:
------------------------
shutdown -s -f -t 300

(shut down the computer in 5 minutes and force applications to close)

 

[Cal166]

or just download a simple program from www.download.com

 

[spyordie007]

shutdown comes with the OS; why download something if you've got a built-in tool that does it?

 

[zettler]

Thank you both! Let me add something to this, can you set it up so it's password protected or the like?

I love my son but he "needs" assistance to get him through these times and into a better routine.

I am a single (male) parent and times are challenging enough as they are....

Once again, thank you!

 

[spyordie007]

Not sure I understand what you're looking for here. Rather than having the machine shut down are you more looking to have it lock so he cannot continue to use it?

 

[BlueWeasel]

I highly recommend PowerOff

 

[zettler]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
I highly recommend PowerOff

That just might be what the doctor ordered! Thank you!!!

 

[stash]

I'm not a parent, and I dont want to tell you how to parent, so don't take this the wrong way But wouldn't it better to remove the computer from his room entirely? If his grades are suffering because he is using the computer too much, maybe some time away from it would get the message across.

 

[Jzero]

What stops him from starting it back up once it shuts down?

 

[JmE13]

I think a low tech solution would be better perhaps? As a parent, off the top of my head I think this is what I would construct:

A locking plywood box or plastic storage container (with ventilation) containing an on/off electrical timer (like for the lamps) and a UPS. The on/off timer turns the power to the UPS off at a certain time and will not power it back up until a certain time. When the timer goes off, the UPS kicks in for whatever time the battery allows. It tells the PC to shutdown. If it is designed well, it prevents the PC from being restarted until the next morning due to the timer.

Since we have gotten UPS really cheap and I am good with wiring, woodworking, etc, this is the solution I would develop.

 

[necine]

Just put a bios password on there and use the pcshutdown program or write a batch file. Only let the little runt on when you feel like letting him on until he gets enough cake to build his own comp or gets smart enough to work what you did. Either way, you're teachin him a lesson.

 

[jamesbond007]

Aren't there ways to abort a shutdown process, like what the blaster worm did? I remember typing in a command in the RUN process window to abort the shutdown. If your son were to look up such a command, I would think he can stop the process and continue using the computer. In this case, put the BIOS password on like necine suggested and physically go into the room and turn the machine off.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but a parent cannot be lazy when it comes to trying to help their loved ones get over an addiction, such as computing. Assertive action must be taken by you, the parent, to get the job done; not a computer program. I am not aiming this comment at you, but rather trying to help educate you to make a better decision.

At any rate, good luck! :thumbsup:

 

[stash]

I remember typing in a command in the RUN process window to abort the shutdown.

shutdown -a

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: STaSh

I remember typing in a command in the RUN process window to abort the shutdown.

shutdown -a

Yeah, that's the one! I couldn't remember at the time...me = tir3d...

 

[VirtualLarry]

If the issue is internet usage, it might be easier to get a router that can set per-PC limits on access, etc. SMC routers can, most LinkSys can, perhaps others as well. You as the parent could keep the router config password secret, although if the son is even halfway tech-competent, he could just reset it to factory defaults and go from there. (And while he was at it, reflash the firmware with a modified version that loaded the actual router settings from a hidden NVRAM file, all the while allowing the web-access screen to be used to config dummy values. But I digress.)

 

[JmE13]

Originally posted by: necine
Just put a bios password on there and use the pcshutdown program or write a batch file. Only let the little runt on when you feel like letting him on until he gets enough cake to build his own comp or gets smart enough to work what you did. Either way, you're teachin him a lesson.

Excellent suggestion.

I had forgotten that when our kids were younger, we had a BIOS password set so they had to come ask one of us to let them on the computer. Then we set a timer (cheap Radio Shack type). When the timer went off, we shut the computer off.

 

[JmE13]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
If the issue is internet usage, it might be easier to get a router that can set per-PC limits on access, etc. SMC routers can, most LinkSys can, perhaps others as well. You as the parent could keep the router config password secret, although if the son is even halfway tech-competent, he could just reset it to factory defaults and go from there. (And while he was at it, reflash the firmware with a modified version that loaded the actual router settings from a hidden NVRAM file, all the while allowing the web-access screen to be used to config dummy values. But I digress.)

The router in a locked closet or box (with ventilation) would prevent physical resetting of the router.