Looking for a program to quickly shut down a computer

[Jeff7]

I've tried several "autoshutdown" programs out there, designed to turn off a computer when activated (such as by MotherBoard Monitor, for thermal problems). However, these all do basically the same thing - initiate Windows' shutdown procedure. They don't actually turn off the computer. If there is some sort of thermal emergency, the system must be shut down quickly - it may lock up during the shutdown sequence, leaving the system running and vulnerable. I'm looking for a simple program that will just immediately upon execution shut down the system. Is there such a program out there? (freeware would be nice too)

 

[xirtam]

You can write a program to connect to the serial port and drive a servo to activate a motor that pulls the plug.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
I've tried several "autoshutdown" programs out there, designed to turn off a computer when activated (such as by MotherBoard Monitor, for thermal problems). However, these all do basically the same thing - initiate Windows' shutdown procedure. They don't actually turn off the computer. If there is some sort of thermal emergency, the system must be shut down quickly - it may lock up during the shutdown sequence, leaving the system running and vulnerable. I'm looking for a simple program that will just immediately upon execution shut down the system. Is there such a program out there? (freeware would be nice too)

Sounds like your not looking for somethign to 'shutdown' the computer, but rather 'turn off' the computer. There is a reason that the OS goes thru the 'shutdown' it does, if flushes disk caches and makes sure the filesystem is in a coherent state.

Also your comment about it 'locking up' and then being 'vulnerable' doesn't make any sense to me, can you elaborate on what your worried about?

Bill

 

[Jeff7]

Example of what I mean:
If the heatsink fails for whatever reason, and the processor temp begins to climb rapidly, MBM must turn the system off FAST. If the system is doing its shutdown routine, that can take time, maybe 10-15 seconds, during which time the processor temp could reach dangerous levels, and in doing so, the processor overheat could cause the system to freeze as it is doing the shutdown procedure - that would leave the system in a fully "on state," leaving the processor free to continue to heat up and kill itself.
A program to just turn off the system at the first sign of a thermal emergency would be far safer - the system would be off right away, saving the hardware from heat damage.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Example of what I mean:
If the heatsink fails for whatever reason, and the processor temp begins to climb rapidly, MBM must turn the system off FAST. If the system is doing its shutdown routine, that can take time, maybe 10-15 seconds, during which time the processor temp could reach dangerous levels, and in doing so, the processor overheat could cause the system to freeze as it is doing the shutdown procedure - that would leave the system in a fully "on state," leaving the processor free to continue to heat up and kill itself.
A program to just turn off the system at the first sign of a thermal emergency would be far safer - the system would be off right away, saving the hardware from heat damage.

Gotcha, makes more sense now. I read 'vulnerable' in a security way (like you thought the system would keep processng internet requests, somehow creating an exploitable risk). I realize now you were talking about keeping the chip from just plain melting

Bill

 

[tenoc]

Haven't seen, in all these thousands of posts, any actual accounts of HSFs falling off.

Have seen several accounts of, ummm..., people leaving them off and/or dousing them with fluids.

If I hear a loud THUMP from inside my case, I think I'll hit the OFF switch!

The whole HSF-falling-off thing is THG's self-promoting, Intel-loving general BS.

 

[Jeff7]

I know, I know, but call me obsessive.
I'm kind of surprised that something like this doesn't already exist.

 

[farmercal]

I agree with Tenoc, I have a power station with a switched plug that the computer's power supply is plugged into and if something out of the ordinary happens I would just push this switch and power is removed from the computer (it works every time). Also, if properly mounted (in other words don't bend the clip so much that it is barely holding the HSF on) the HSF won't fall off the motherboard. Some people have way too much time on their hands.

 

[holycow]

you don't need a software to do it.. just use the 'power button' when you had emergencies like the ones describe.. it's the fastest way to shut down your pc..

 

[Jumpem]

Look for "Shut Down Now". It has a multitude of settings for how and when to shut down the pc. I have it set up so that when Motherboard Monitor see's a cpu temp of 60C it opens Shutdown Now. It'll close everything that's open and poweroff, usually takes 3-5 seconds. I'm almost positive that it powers off my machine, not just exit windows.

 

[GigaCluster]

There isn't a way to bypass the Windows shutdown procedure unless Microsoft programmed some special API that would allow this to happen. The reason for this is that if you run a Windows program, Windows stands in the way between the program and the computer... the program says "shut down", then Windows says, "OK, thank you, I'll take care of it." Then Windows does what it wants and the program has no control over the actual happenings.
As was already mentioned, for such a mission-critical event, use a hardware solution like a small robot-arm connected to a serial port.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: GigaCluster
There isn't a way to bypass the Windows shutdown procedure unless Microsoft programmed some special API that would allow this to happen. The reason for this is that if you run a Windows program, Windows stands in the way between the program and the computer... the program says "shut down", then Windows says, "OK, thank you, I'll take care of it." Then Windows does what it wants and the program has no control over the actual happenings.
As was already mentioned, for such a mission-critical event, use a hardware solution like a small robot-arm connected to a serial port.

But what about programs like AWDFLASH? That's able to immediately reset the system with a single keystroke. Couldn't something similar be made to turn off the system instead?

Farmercal - yeah, that works great - provided you're around the computer during the crisis. I'd like an automatic solution.

 

[GigaCluster]

I am not familiar with the program of which you're talking about.
Again, maybe Windows does offer some kind of "override" for this kind of programs that allows them to bypass Windows in order to quickly halt the machine... or maybe Windows has a special API that halts the machine for the program. But it's entirely up to the operating system whether to provide such a service to its programs or not.

 

[Haden]

I also was looking for such program, but without much luck.
Did some programming my self, but still there is nothing you can do, just default shutdown functions plus force option, which doesn't always give results.
I think maybe it's posible to use some motherboard function? Windows doesn't seem to block these (you can even flash BIOS while running win).

 

[nirgis]

I dont know if this helps, but my bios will automatically shut down upon a given temperature. You might try exploring this idea