Windows Vista tip of the week: Change the behavior of the Start Menu Power button

This one's a quickie, and it comes courtesy of reader/listener Andrew:

In Windows Vista, there's a new Power button in the Start Menu. By default, this button will put your PC into Sleep mode when clicked. But you can change its behavior. The fastest way is to open the Start Menu and type power in Start Menu Search to find the Power Options application. Then, in the left column, select Choose what the power button does. You'll be presented with a UI for choosing between various power management options, including Do Nothing, Sleep, and Shut down.

Thanks Andrew!

Discuss this Article 3

radja
on Jun 16, 2008
The good old XP shutdown menu is still in Vista, just use Alt+F4 directly on the Vista desktop.
johnbaxter
on Jun 16, 2008
On my Sony Viao laptop (VGN N220E)--early Vista (now SP1), the described action does not change the function of the Start menu power button. It does affect the action of the machine's physical power button. I suspect this difference is related to the presence of Sonyware on the machine. It was a surprise when I ran upstairs to the machine--at 69 and overweight make that waddled--to try out the tip after listening to the podcast.
Hastin Zylstra
on Jun 17, 2008
Paul, you're tip is wrong, here's really what you have to do: 1. Go to Control Panel > Power Options 2. Click "Change Plan Settings" under the active Power Plan. 3. Click "Change Advanced Power Settings". 4. Under "Power Buttons and Lid", change the settings under "Start Menu Power Button". Done. ;)

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