Turn Vista's Sleep Button Into a Power Button

conhyvong

Banned
Feb 25, 2009
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read more Turn Vista's Sleep Button Into a Power Button

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Perknose
Senior AT Mod


As a recent Vista convert (I just couldn't cling to XP any longer--a subject for another day), I'm mostly liking the OS. But I do have one small grievance: When I click the Start button and then click what looks like a power button, my system doesn't actually shut down. Instead, it goes to sleep.

Hey, Microsoft: I don't want it to go to sleep. I want it to shut down! But that requires an annoying extra step: I have to mouse over to another menu and choose Shut Down from a list of half a dozen options. If I'm in a hurry, it's way too easy to inadvertently click the wrong wrong.

Fortunately, there's a way to reprogram that "sleep" button to become an actual power button. Here's the process in a nutshell:

1. Open the Control Panel and go to Power Options.
2. Click Change plan settings for your selected power plan.
3. Click Change advanced power settings.
4. Expand Power buttons and lid.
5. Expand Start menu power button.
6. Change the setting from Sleep to Shut down.
7. Click OK.

Wow, could Microsoft have buried that setting any deeper? Thankfully, Windows 7 makes it much easier to reprogram this button's function. Now if we could just get an honest-to-goodness Shut Down button that doesn't require a visit to the Start menu, we'd really be making progress.

You are not as clever as you think you are, OP.

Perknose
Senior AT Mod


 

ImDonly1

Platinum Member
Dec 17, 2004
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Go to control panel. Power options. Then Whatever plan you are using click change plan settings. Then Change advanced plan settings. You will see it. It says power buttons and lid.
 

nerp

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2005
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Many people are confused by this. Newer systems that can handle S1 and S3 properly appear to be powered off in sleep, so many won't notice. One suggestion is to enable hibernation and have it hibernate after a set period of inactivity. It will transfer from sleep to hibernation and give you the same advantage as being fully powered off.

I see no reason to reboot other than to install updates or finish driver installation. Hibernation is the way to go.
 

conhyvong

Banned
Feb 25, 2009
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"I see no reason to reboot other than to install updates or finish driver installation. Hibernation is the way to go." I'm thinking about that
 

nerp

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2005
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It's a good idea. You get the benefits of powering off the computer while avoiding having to load the oS and wait for everything to boot. You can leave your browser and apps open the way you like them. And by setting the machine to sleep after say, 20 minutes, and hibernate after 45, or something, means you don't even need to deal with touching power buttons or anything when you're done. Just walk away and know that the machine will sleep. It's sort of like petting a cat and then leaving it on the couch in a sunbeam. You know it's going to drift into sleepyland.
 

heymrdj

Diamond Member
May 28, 2007
3,999
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I too have went the sleep/hibernate only methods. Beats the heck out of shutting down.