Change Default Windows 7 Shutdown Options

Written by Allen White on March 11, 2011. Posted in SBS2008/2011, Server 2008, Windows 7

IT Problem

Nice simple one. You want to be able to change what the default option is in windows 7 for the power button.

I will show you how to do this on a single pc, at the bottom of the article you will see how to set it via GPO.

windows 7 shutdown

IT Solution

Ok, if you keeping hitting this by accident it can be a pain, so lets change the default setting.

First right click the windows 7 orb /start button and select properties.

right click windows orb

You will see the Taskbar and Start menu Properties screen.

taskbar and start menu properties

I want the button by default to lock my pc as I dont want my machine mssed with while im away from my desk.So I change the power button action to lock. Then Select apply. As you will see below my default option is now lock.

lock windows 7 menu

Job done.

Set start menu settings via GPO

If you want to set this across your network for all windows 7 pc`s then your domain must be at server 2008 R2 level.

Simply run the group policy administration console from your server, create a new GPO , call it manage windows 7 start menu.

Browse to User Configuration>Administrative Templates>Start Menu and Taskbar . You will see the options saying

Change Start Menu power button

This policy setting allows you to set the default action of the power button on the Start menu.

If you enable this policy setting, you can choose one of the following available options: Shut Down, Sleep, Log off, Lock, Restart, Switch User, or Hibernate. By default, Shut Down

Simply select your chosen option and then link the new GPO to either your domain or a specific OU.

Tags: settings

Allen White

Allen is an IT Consultant and holds the following accreditations. MCSA, MCSE, MCTS, MCITP, CCA, CCSP, VCP 4,5, 6 and HP ASE, AIS - Network Infrastructure.